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The Winnipeg Jets won 37 games last season, and the franchise hasn't won more than that since 2006-2007 in Atlanta, the last -- and only -- time that they have reached the playoffs.

 

Off-Season Game Plan looks at a Jets team that has an interesting core, a new coach and a problem between the pipes.

Many of Winnipeg's core players are in their twenties, in and around their prime years, so while that's reason for optimism, it's also reason for some urgency to take advantage of the kind of production being provided by the likes of Andew Ladd, Blake Wheeler and Dustin Byfuglien.

 

Byfuglien is an interesting case for the Jets, having shifted from defence to forward part way through last season. While Big Buff is an effective winger, his preference is to play defence, which might make him appealing as a trade candidate for other clubs that are willing to accomodate that desire.

 

But, if Byfuglien sticks around, the Jets have a quality group of forwards, with potential to be really good if Evander Kane and Mark Scheifele continue to develop. Their defence isn't as strong, overall, without Byfuglien, but Jacob Trouba's strong rookie season was encouraging. Basically, the Jets have a competitive group of skaters. Not great, necessarily, but competitive.

 

Then, it comes to goaltending, and that appears to be the area that needs fixing, only GM Kevin Cheveldayoff has backed Ondrej Pavelec as the team's starting goaltender going into next season. Maybe that's the stance that a GM has to take with a guy under contract for three more seasons, but his performance has been crippling to the Jets' playoff chances and if he starts 50-plus games again next season, that is a serious roll of the dice that the Jets are taking with a goaltender that has finished with a league average save percentage once in five NHL seasons.

 

The Jets did fare better under new head coach Paul Maurice, going 18-12-5 in the last 35 games, but that was largely due to favourable percentages and their possession stats only improved slightly over that span.

 

They are close enough to contend for a playoff spot next season, with a couple of savvy moves this summer and further development from young players, but if they don't do something to upgrade in goal, it may all for naught.

 

The TSN.ca Rating is an efficiency rating based on per-game statistics including goals and assists -- weighted for strength (ie. power play, even, shorthanded) -- Corsi, adjusted for zone starts, quality of competition and quality of teammates, hits, blocked shots, penalty differential and faceoffs. Generally, a replacement-level player is around a 60, a top six forward and top four defenceman will be around 70, stars will be over 80 and MVP candidates could go over 90. Sidney Crosby finished at the top of the 2013-2014 regular season ratings at 87.12.

 

Salary cap information all comes from the indispensable www.capgeek.com.

CF% = Corsi percentage (ie. percentage of 5-on-5 shot attempts), via www.extraskater.com.

GM/COACH
 

Kevin Cheveldayoff/Paul Maurice

Returning Forwards Player Rating GP G A PTS CF% Cap Hit Dustin Byfuglien 77.01 78 20 36 56 50.4% $5.2M Blake Wheeler 75.85 82 28 41 69 49.9% $5.6M Evander Kane 74.81 63 19 22 41 51.5% $5.25M Bryan Little 74.61 82 23 41 64 52.9% $4.7M Andrew Ladd 73.59 78 23 31 54 52.9% $4.4M Mark Scheifele 66.91 63 13 21 34 48.6% $863K Jim Slater 57.45 27 1 1 2 49.6% $1.6M Eric Tangradi 57.40 55 3 3 6 53.8% $675K Anthony Peluso 54.84 53 2 3 5 45.6% $563K

Free Agent Forwards Player Rating GP G A PTS CF% Class '13-'14 Cap Hit Michael Frolik 68.98 81 15 27 42 53.0% RFA $2.333M Olli Jokinen 64.17 82 18 25 43 49.2% UFA $4.5M Devin Setoguchi 63.46 75 11 16 27 48.8% UFA $3.0M Matt Halischuk 58.07 46 5 5 10 44.5% RFA $650K Chris Thorburn 57.18 55 2 9 11 43.3% UFA $867K James Wright 53.76 59 0 2 2 47.7% RFA $650K

Shifted to forward at the end of his run by since-departed coach Claude Noel, Dustin Byfuglien appears to be set for that spot again next season. That presumes that Byfuglien doesn't get moved in the summer, which is always a possibility, but also operates under the premise that the Jets are better with Byfuglien at forward. Byfuglien, individually, had a 51.7% Corsi percentage before he was moved to forward and 48.0% after.

 

That aside, in 32 games at (mostly) forward, Byfuglien had 10 goals, 12 assists and 102 shots on goal. On a per-game basis, those numbers would have placed him with pretty nice company last season. It's a little interesting that the bottom name on that list is Brent Burns, the Sharks' winger who also used to play defence.

 

Over the past three seasons, Blake Wheeler has 174 points, which ranks 22nd in the league over that span and last year's 50 even-strength points was tied for 13th in the league with David Krejci and Thomas Vanek. Wheelers is big and can move, which allows him to create mismatches depending on what gives him the advantage on a particular defender.

 

Evander Kane uses his terrific speed to generate shots at an elite level, but has been a relatively low-percentage finisher. Some of that is due to not getting first-unit power play time and, even at even-strength, could use better linemates to help him out. That doesn't absolve Kane of any responsibility for his production, which has dipped since scoring 30 goals in 74 games in 2011-2012, but there's still a lot to like about what he brings to the game.

 

After scoing 23 goals and a career-high 64 points, there is a case to be made for Bryan Little as an advanced stats All-Star as one of a handful of players to face top-tier competition, start more shifts in the defensive zone and still have a relative Corsi over plus-10 per 60 minutes. The common perception of Little might be that he's a good second-line centre but the 26-year-old is coming off a season in which he was a full-fledged No. 1 pivot.

 

Team captain Andrew Ladd has scored 98 goals over the past four seasons, ranking 24th in that span. He's a reliable two-way player that can be used in any situation and he is, averaging 19:46 per game in four seasons with the franchise.

 

Mark Scheifele had rounded into form, with 12 goals and 29 points in the last 39 games he played before suffering a season-ending knee injury. Considering that Scheifele managed five points in his first 24 games last season, and had his Corsi percentage rise from 46.7% to 49.7% over those splits, counts as positive indications that he could fulfill the second-line centre role going forward.

 

A sports hernia cost Jim Slater two-thirds of last season, and he's mustered a grand total of two goals and four points in 53 games over the past two seasons. While he's hit double-digits in goals three times in his career, Slater has also missed at least a dozen games in six of nine seasons, so it's getting difficult to count on him, even in a fourth-line role.

 

Though he has a paltry 15 points in 136 career games, big winge Eric Tangradi held his own in a depth role last season, putting up positive possession stats. As an inexpensive fourth-line option, the Jets could do worse.

 

Like most forwards that play less than six minutes per game, Anthony Peluso can't risk playing too many minutes, lest he be exposed. He's a scrapper who can handle the big boys, though, so as long as the Jets are going to leave a roster spot for that role, Peluso can fill it. At the same time, they could probably do without.

 

26-year-old Michael Frolik established that he hasn't completely forgotten how to create offence, scoring 42 points, his most since 2009-2010. He's still a low-percentage finisher, but a versatile forward who can play both ends of the rink.

 

A couple years removed from a career-best 28-point season, Matt Halischuk has been battling to keep a regular spot in the lineup and, last season, he was overrun in possession terms. He's a viable fourth-line forward, but also one that could quickly be replaced.

24-year-old James Wright has good size, but there isn't much else justifying his place on an NHL roster. Last season, he was one of eight forwards since 2000-2001 to play at least 500 minutes and not register a single goal.

 

The Jets have a solid core of forwards, but can use a couple of top-nine forwards to effectively take spots of unrestricted free agents Olli Jokinen and Devin Setoguchi. Given the free agent alternatives at centre, the Jets could be okay doing a short-term deal with Jokinen and then find a solid checking forward, like Blake Comeau, Jesse Winchester or Daniel Winnik could round out the group nicely.

Returning Defence Player Rating GP G A PTS CF% Cap Hit Jacob Trouba 71.45 65 10 19 29 49.0% $894K Grant Clitsome 67.12 32 2 10 12 51.7% $2.067M Tobias Enstrom 66.89 82 10 20 30 50.6% $5.75M Zach Bogosian 63.37 55 3 8 11 49.4% $5.143M Mark Stuart 61.70 69 2 11 13 47.6% $2.625M Paul Postma 58.59 20 1 2 3 47.4% $713K

Free Agent Defence Player Rating GP G A PTS CF% Class '13-'14 Cap Hit Adam Pardy 57.93 60 0 6 6 53.7% UFA $600K Keaton Ellerby 57.48 51 2 4 6 48.0% RFA $735K

 

One of the reasons that the Jets might have felt able to move Byfuglien to forward was the emergence of Jacob Trouba, who recovered from a neck injury and led the Jets in ice time following the Olympic break, averaging 23:33 per game. A 20-year-old who can skate, hit and contribute offensively, Trouba will have more responsibility heaped on him, but he has the makings of a No. 1 on the blueline.

 

Back surgery ended Grant Clitsome's season early, but he was logging nearly 20 minutes a night, with positive possession stats at the time of his injury. Clitsome can move the puck and play a solid game, though he's never played more than 63 games in an NHL season, so there's still some unknown regarding his performance over the course of a full season.

 

While Tobias Enstrom's offensive production dipped to a career-low 0.37 points per game last season, he still delivered relatively steady play while facing tough competition. He's small, but mobile and his ability to move the puck is important to the Jets' defence.

Zach Bogosian hasn't really made the mark that was expected when he was drafted third overall in 2008 and, on top of being bitten by the injury bug -- he's missed 70 games over the past four seasons -- Bogosian hasn't been able to successfully lock into a shutdown role. That's the objective, but there is still some unexplored potential in the 23-year-old's game.

 

A rugged veteran, Mark Stuart combined for 389 hits and blocked shots last season, ranking third among defencemen (behind Cody Franson and Radko Gudas), so there's no denying that he lays his body on the line. He also tends to spend more of his time in the Jets' end of the ice, though last season he was taking on tougher matchups, playing more minutes once Byfuglien moved up.

Paul Postma hasn't been able to hold down a regular spot in the lineup, playing 57 career games and while he has some puck skills and a big shot that suit him on the power play, Postma struggled at even-strength last season.

 

Between Postma, Keaton Ellerby and pending unrestricted free agent Adam Pardy, the Jets had a battle for playing time at the bottom of the defence depth chart. Ellerby could take on more minutes if Pardy departs, but that may just mean a more regular turn in the lineup.

 

The wildcard could be top prospect Joshua Morrissey, who is a fast-rising offensive defenceman. If he makes the club, that could raise the group's ceiling.

Returning Goaltender Player Rating GP W L OTL GAA SV% Cap Hit Ondrej Pavelec 60.64 57 22 26 7 3.01 .901 $3.9M

Free Agent Goaltender Player Rating GP W L OTL GAA SV% Class '13-'14 Cap Hit Al Montoya 68.70 28 13 8 3 2.30 .920 UFA $601K

 

Over the past three seasons, Ondrej Pavelec has cost the Jets approximately 45 goals compared to the league average, according to Hockey Reference's Goals Saved Above Average measure. It's one thing to be at the bottom of the league in save percentage and another to continually get played at a starter's workload. The Jets have invested money in Pavelec, but it's really had to rationalize him in a starter's role, especially if the team considers itself ready to contend for a playoff spot.

 

There may be challenges to getting rid of Pavelec, not least of which is that Cheveldayoff has said that Pavelec will be the No. 1 goalie next year, but he also may not be particularly appealing to other teams with the Jets paying half of his salary.

 

Given how much it has been a problem lately, though, the Jets have to investigate opportunities to upgrade their goaltending. A trade for Manitoba native James Reimer could work, or signing a free agent like Jonas Hiller, Brian Elliott, Ray Emery or Tomas Vokoun could be worthwhile.

Top Prospects Player Pos. Team/League Stats Joshua Morrissey D Prince Albert (WHL) 28-45-73, +6, 59 GP Nicolas Petan C Portland (WHL) 35-78-113, +47, 63 GP Adam Lowry LW St. John's (AHL) 17-16-33, -1, 64 GP Eric Comrie G Tri-City (WHL) 2.57 GAA, .925 SV%, 60 GP Scott Kosmachuk RW Guelph (OHL) 49-52-101, +52, 68 GP Andrew Copp C Michigan (Big 10) 15-14-29, +1, 33 GP Connor Hellebuyck G UMass-Lowell (HE) 1.79 GAA, .941 SV%, 29 GP J.C. Lipon RW St. John's (AHL) 9-32-41, even, 72 GP Brenden Kichton D St. John's (AHL) 10-38-48, +8, 76 GP Julian Melchiori D St. John's (AHL) 1-10-11, +19, 50 GP Eric O'Dell C St. John's (AHL)

17-25-42, +9, 42 GP

 

The 13th pick last summer, Joshua Morrissey had an outstanding year in Prince Albert. If the Jets are willing to live with the mistakes of a smart, teenaged offensive defenceman, then Morrissey (who has six points in eight AHL playoff games) could be a viable challenger for an NHL job as a 19-year-old.

 

An undersized playmaker, Nicolas Petan was a second-rond pick last summer and has been tearing up the WHL for the past couple seasons. Between regular season and playoffs, he's tallied 289 points (in 176 games) and while size may be an issue, the only way to find out if it's going to pose a problem is to wait and see how he does at the next level.

 

A 6-foot-5 winger-turned-centre, Adam Lowry completed his first pro season and is probably not far from challenging for a spot in Winnipeg. The third-round pick from 2011 picked up his play after Christmas, scoring 28 points in his last 43 regular-season games.

One of the game's better goaltending prospects, Eric Comrie was a second-round pick in 2013. He struggled in a couple of AHL games at season's end, but had a tremendous season in the WHL. He's also only 18-year-old, so it's going to take time before he's the answer to the Jets' goaltending questions.

 

Drafted in the third round in 2012, Scott Kosmachuk has improved steadily throughout his junior career and had a monster year with a powerhouse Guelph team in the OHL. He can make the jump to the AHL next season to see if his scoring will come to the pro game with him.

 

A solidly-built centre who was picked in the fourth round last year, Andrew Copp is making quick progress, coming off a strong sophomore season at Michigan while also putting up five points in five games at the World Juniors for Team USA.

 

There's not much more that Connor Hellebuyck can do in college to raise his profile. Through two years at UMass-Lowell, Hellebuyck has a .946 save percentage and a dozen shutouts. He's signed with the Jets and might be expected to start in the American Hockey League, but if he keep stopping pucks, there should be room for him.

 

An aggressive winger picked in the third roudn last summer, J.C. Lipon had a solid pro debut and wasn't shy about it, leading the Ice Caps in penalty minutes with 136.

 

Not the biggest blueliner on the block, Brenden Kichton was initially a fifth-round pick of the Islanders, was not signed, and then was drafted in the seventh-round by Winnipeg in 2013. A heady player who can quarterback a power play, Kichton ranked sixth among AHL defencemen in points as a rookie pro.

 

A third-round pick in 2010, Julian Melchiori is a big, stay-at-home defenceman who has missed time with injuries in each of his first two pro seasons.

 

Eric O'Dell turns 24 this summer, which puts him on the older side as a prospect but, in addition to scoring 97 points in 101 AHL games over the past two seasons, he also played 30 games for the Jets last season (3 G, 4 A, 51.0 CF%) so he's able to contribute now.

Jets advanced stats and player usage chart from Extra Skater

 

DRAFT
9th - Nick Ritchie, Nikolaj Ehlers, Jake Virtanen, Haydn Fleury

 

FREE AGENCY
According to www.capgeek.com, the Jets have approximately $49.9M committed to the 2013-2014 salary cap for 16 players.

Check out my possible Jets lineup for next season on Cap Geek here.

 

Needs: Two top nine forwards, one top four defenceman, goaltenders.

What I said the Jets needed last year: Two top six forwards, two top nine forwards, one top four defenceman, goaltender.

They added: Michael Frolik, Mark Scheifele, Devin Setoguchi, Jacob Trouba.

TRADE MARKET
Dustin Byfuglien, Evander Kane

 

If you believe the rumours then no he isn't trade bait and LA is considering buying him out.

So LA can spend money to lose him for nothing or take an asset we can't use while sending Richards to a team he wants to go to (if in fact he does).

No need for sarcasm.

 

 

 

How about Burmi for Mike Richards?

 

Maybe LA retains some salary 

Oh wait you were serious... Let me laugh even harder. If the Kings want out from Richards contract they'll find a taker and I'd be shocked if it wasn't a better return than having to retain salary to pick up a KHL player. 

 

I don't know, that's a pretty ugly contract. He's been trending down the last three seasons and his contract pays him a lot of money until he's 35.

 

yeah but there's teams with cap space who would be willing to take a chance on him bouncing back. He does have a lot of winning experience. 

 

We already have a cheaper version of Richards in Ladd.  And Ladd is scoring.  Getting a non-scoring Ladd and upping his salary x1.5 is a tough sell.

 

Even post-buyout Richards would not come cheap.  There is always some owner who is willing to offer a dumb contract that they will then complain about the next time the CBA is negotiated.  Cheap is the only way he fits here and someone will offer him more.  From a home town boy angle, quality 3rd line center angle, pedigree of a winner angle - all good fits.  Doubt it happens.

True.

 

Thats sort of why I wondered if there was a deal to be had with LA where we can avoid a bidding war.  Richards is, what, $5.6m?  We paid Jokinen $4m to be a 3rd line centre.  If LA retained $2m in salary per year and we gave them a 3rd round pick plus maybe Burmi's rights, does that get it done and is it worth it? 

 

Id love to see Richards here.  Even if he's bought out, we might have a chance at him with his local connections.  He's the type of player that could be the difference between just missing the playoffs and just making the playoffs.

Another problem with getting him here thru free agency is that Richards has pride and believes in himself, just like most pro athletes.  Selling him on coming here to play 3rd line center?  It wasn't that many years ago he was a first line guy.  He wants to re-ignite his career and some team will tell him tales about top 2 line glory.  A trade is probably the only way he's playing on our (or anyone's) 3rd line - remove the voluntary part from the equation.

 

Burmistrov is one of the best examples of management ruining a player.  He had no business playing in the NHL yet.  He needed time to mature as a person and to mature his game.  He got neither.  It's possible that this stuff may show up on it's own eventually but it's more likely that he farts around Russia and Europe for a half dozen more years until he's worn out his welcome everywhere.  Noel didn't do anything to him other than try and get him to grow up, but calling immature people on their immaturity tends to end in immature responses.  Surprise surprise.

 

You can't offer trade value for top-end Richards; that's a bad deal.  LA would want more than the value of bottom-end Richards cause they can get it.  Is your deal proper value for median stats Richards?  It might be doable.  $4 mil is too much to pay for the way Richards played this year, but you have to assume that he'll be better than that in 2015.  If not, why acquire him at all?

Atlanta hurt Burmi a lot.

 

I remember there being an issue during the lockout when the Jets wanted Burmi to play for the Caps and he had an offer to play for the KHL.  He eventually chose to do as management instructed and went to the Caps.  But I wonder if that soured him a little.  In other words, he did what was asked and then didnt get "his chance".  Personally I think it came down to Burmi being immature as you say and not wanting to do as he was told.

 

But he's young and I think he will be back in 2015.

Another problem with getting him here thru free agency is that Richards has pride and believes in himself, just like most pro athletes.  Selling him on coming here to play 3rd line center?  It wasn't that many years ago he was a first line guy.  He wants to re-ignite his career and some team will tell him tales about top 2 line glory.  A trade is probably the only way he's playing on our (or anyone's) 3rd line - remove the voluntary part from the equation.

 

Burmistrov is one of the best examples of management ruining a player.  He had no business playing in the NHL yet.  He needed time to mature as a person and to mature his game.  He got neither.  It's possible that this stuff may show up on it's own eventually but it's more likely that he farts around Russia and Europe for a half dozen more years until he's worn out his welcome everywhere.  Noel didn't do anything to him other than try and get him to grow up, but calling immature people on their immaturity tends to end in immature responses.  Surprise surprise.

 

You can't offer trade value for top-end Richards; that's a bad deal.  LA would want more than the value of bottom-end Richards cause they can get it.  Is your deal proper value for median stats Richards?  It might be doable.  $4 mil is too much to pay for the way Richards played this year, but you have to assume that he'll be better than that in 2015.  If not, why acquire him at all?

richards is the kings 4th line centre right now so playing third line here would be a step up

 

I'd see if he was bought out, then if he was offer him a deal in the 3 million range, 3.5 even, got a few guys on ELC's here so 3 3.5 for richards aint gonna break the bank, especially if we move buff or kane or even don't resign jokinen.

Kind of wont happen but... the ideal situation this summer for the jets would probably be something like

 

Trade Kane to Florida for the 1st overall pick and a prospect. Take Bennett who can play LW and would probably look great with scheif and wheeler.

 

Maybe even try Kane to florida for the 1st overall and Huberdeau, Scheif and Hubs has history together, played very well at the world juniors together.

 

Hubs,Scheif,Wheels.

 

Ladd, Little,Frolik.

 

Bennett,Richards, ??

 

??,O'dell/Slater,??

 

could address those 3 question marks on offence with a trade of BUFF.. get back a pick a good 3rd line winger or ideally a 2nd line winger and move frolik to the third line with bennett and richards.

 

Yeah none of this will happen, just saying. 

I am not anti-Kane.

 

You may be overvaluing Kane.

I think Chevy is going to be looking at moving up in the draft.

 

I would trade Kane for 1st over-all.  I'd like something else as well because it's not like we're talking McDavid so even though 1st overall should be a no-brainer, you never know.  But maybe we make a package thats Kane + a prospect for 1st and a roster player that helps us now.  We could swap 1sts, but boy i'd love to snag 1st and keep the 9th as well.  We might end up stepping back this season but its a reloading.

 

Under that scenario, maybe we keep Buff just to have some skill and stability but I'd go all the way and trade Buff to someone like Philly thats willing to part with some solid roster players that help us now, get us a bit younger.

 

A guy like Richards might seem counter-intuitive to the idea of trading Kane and Buff for even younger pieces, but I think he'd a great guy to keep us from completely slipping.  He's a compete guy.  And if we trade a core piece, we can certainly afford it.  He might be the type of guy that is the aging veteran grey-beard that helps us when our team is really competing in 2-4 years.

I am not anti-Kane.

 

You may be overvaluing Kane.

I havent *really* thought about it nor do I know the details of the top 3 picks and where their talent level is and when they will be roster players but I think Kane is worth more than 1st over-all.  He's the type of player Florida should want.  He's a potential 40 goal guy.  Gritty, lots of effort, big personality and would fit in there.  He's young, has a good contract.  If the conversation starts at Kane for 1st overall I think the add-ins on either side could get it done but its not going to be Kane for 1st and Huberdeau but maybe Kane & Postma/Redmond for 1st +... maybe?

I would trade Kane for 1st over-all. 

 

 

Yeah but Florida wouldn't. You know what Florida is looking for to give up the #1 overall? A legit top 4 defenceman and depending on how good the guy is maybe a +. They are rumoured to be hot and bothered for Ekblad so if you want that pick from them better start giving up pieces on D. 

I am just going to come out and say it right now, a lot of you really really really over rate the value that Jets pieces have. 

Nobody in their right mind would give up a 1st rounder for a problem named Kane. Kane has yet to fulfill his potential and has accumulated a ton of bad habits and poor attitudes.  That said, I think someone might bite on Kane, our 9th pick and a developmental player (like JC Lipon) for 2nd or 3rd pick overall.

 

Would you do that one?

I am just going to come out and say it right now, a lot of you really really really over rate the value that Jets pieces have. 

Exactly. Lets trade Jokinen and Paul Postma for Sid!!! lol

Nobody in their right mind would give up a 1st rounder for a problem named Kane. Kane has yet to fulfill his potential and has accumulated a ton of bad habits and poor attitudes. That said, I think someone might bite on Kane, our 9th pick and a developmental player (like JC Lipon) for 2nd or 3rd pick overall.

Would you do that one?

A late 1st rounder for Kane is plausible. But definitely not a top 5 pick

A 6th to 12th pick overall for Kane would be a Chevy-miracle! Unless we soup it up with another player or pick!

 

More likely a 17th to 30th overall would be acceptable to most fans. Straight up.

Ludicrous.  A late first rounder?  Are you guys crazy.

 

Its way to simple for people to say "oh you crazy Jets fans over value your players".  If Chevy announced an auction for Kane and Buff tomorrow, the bidding would be surprise a lot of you.

The bidding for Buff would not surprise me at all.

 

Kane has shown he could potentially be a top line NHL forward BUT he has never played above the level of a second line forward in his short career and LATELY he has played below the level of a second line forward.

 

What would I be hoping to get with a top 5 draft pick?  A top line forward, at least eventually.  Based on how Kane's career has averaged out so far that would mean the team trading a high pick is losing value on the deal.  And from the monetary sense they are losing value there as well, as they lose out on the 3 cheapest years of a pro hockey player - the rookie years - and get a guy who is already locked in at 5 million per.

 

The skills Kane has are among the best in the league, he just doesn't have a complete toolkit.  If Maurice can school him up and make him a more complete player then he'll reach his potential as a top line player.  And if he can do that then I don't want him going anywhere.

Kane is a bonafide number 1 left wing right now.  There is no debate on that.

Ludicrous. A late first rounder? Are you guys crazy.

Its way to simple for people to say "oh you crazy Jets fans over value your players". If Chevy announced an auction for Kane and Buff tomorrow, the bidding would be surprise a lot of you.

You don't think they haven't entertained offers for those guys?

Kane is a bonafide number 1 left wing right now.  There is no debate on that.

You're in the middle of a debate about it, so that probably means there is.

 

Kane is a bonafide number 1 left wing right now.  There is no debate on that.

You're in the middle of a debate about it, so that probably means there is.

 

Bazinga??

 

Bazinga.

 

Kane is a bonafide number 1 left wing right now.  There is no debate on that.

You're in the middle of a debate about it, so that probably means there is.

 

Touche.  There *shouldnt* be a debate about it.  He's the #1 LW on the team (regardless of who is the so-called first line).  Kane-Scheif-Wheeler is the top line on this team right now, barring trades.

If Kane can work on seeing the ice better and contributing to developing plays, especially on medium tempo rushes rather than his 100mph sprints, he can become one of the best left wingers in the league.  It's a disservice to call him a one-trick pony because he has way more skill than that, but he still needs to add more tools to his game.  He forces plays with his speed because it's done some good things for him in the past, but this is not the only way of generating offence.  In the past he had no one to play with him and had to do so much on his own that this made sense.  Now he has better players around him.  He needs to play off of them rather than always forcing them to keep up with him.

i'd probably debate if kane scheif wheeler is our number 1 line, i'd say its ladd little frolik actually.