As usual, the Winnipeg Jets were quiet on the opening day of Free Agency, but the team still did sign a couple goaltenders and a defenseman.
Players entering….G – Kaapo Kahkonen (1 yr at $1M), RD – Colin Miller (2 years at $1.5M/yr), G – Eric Comrie (2 yrs at $825k)
Other National Hockey League GM’s did not follow suit, as teams’ have made 170 signings for over $345M in salary cap hits in just the first day. Some of those were formerly wearing a Jets’ uniform and here is the list of players searching for new homes.
Players leaving…..C – Sean Monahan (CLM), W – Tyler Toffoli (SJ), LD – Brenden Dillon (NJ), G – Laurent Brossoit (CHI), LD – Kyle Capobianco (DAL), LW – Jeff Malott (LA), LW – Jeffrey Viel (BOS), G – Colin Delia (EDM)
After Kevin Cheveldayoff’s limited moves, he still has $10,261,309 left to spend to fill out his roster. Here is what Winnipeg’s current depth chart looks like:
Focusing first on the Winnipeg Jets’ possible lineup, if I approximate what the RFAs will end up getting paid: Cole Perfetti ($2.75-3M), David Gustafsson/Logan Stanley/Ville Heinola ($2.85-3M), that would leave around $4,661,309 to $4,261,309M to add a player to potentially replace Brad Lambert at center
OR
Give the young Lambert & his inexpensive $887k contract a shot in the NHL and use the remaining $3,774,309 to $3,374,309 to upgrade another position. Lets say that you think Mason Appleton is no longer needed, then add $2,166,667 to that amount and you could easily afford a legit top six talent with $5.5-6M. Or maybe you want even more room and can find someone that can afford Alex Iafallo’s $4M contract and have over $7.5M to play with? Perhaps even aim higher and find a way to move Neal Pionk’s $5.875M contract and use the left over money to find an improved 2nd pairing RD (around $9.5M in space if they don’t have to eat any of Pionk’s contract).
With limited UFA options remaining unsigned at this point (Henrique (C), Brodie (RD/LD), Tarasenko (RW), Sprong (W), Addison (RD), Janmark (W), etc), I really think the Winnipeg Jets main path to improving the above lineup is via the trade route. Possibly moving one or some of the following can fill potential weaknesses like 1st or 2nd pairing RD or top six scoring/talent (prospect Rutger McGroarty, pending UFA Nikolaj Ehlers, or other players & picks).
When it comes to what the Manitoba Moose will look like next season, there are definitely holes to fill in the forward corps and the left side of the defense needs serious reinforcements. Both the Moose & Jets seem fairly much set at the goaltending position though.
The pace of things will likely slow down a bit, but maybe that will allow the trade market to heat up a bit more. We will just have to wait and see how things play out. Regardless, Chevy must be happy the opening day of Free Agency is in the books….he must hear something along the lines of “No“, “Nope“, “Not interested“, “Maybe if my client gets no other offers” so many times that he must have flashbacks to his high school prom.
****Newly added section (July 3rd)****
Okay, not much has happened with the Winnipeg Jets since the opening day of Free Agency, other than the signings of likely AHL depth forwards Jaret Anderson-Dolan & Mason Shaw, as well as defenseman 6’4″ Hayden Fleury. However, I updated the organizational depth chart to include them, the new draft picks, skaters under contract with the Manitoba Moose, and the age of each player.
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