While the focus of the hockey world remains on the Stanley Cup playoffs or even the Memorial Cup with prospect Logan Stanley going for the championship with his Windsor teammates, Capfriendly tweeted out a friendly reminder that teams have until June 1st to sign their drafted players or lose their rights. The Jets have two prospects on that list in Matteo Gennaro and Marcus Karlstrom.
Marcus Karlstrom is a Swedish defenceman that was drafted in the 7th round by Winnipeg back in 2013. After a suggestion to use Eliteprospects (stick tap Shane via twitter) rather than hockey DB we see his 2016-17 stats were two goals and six assists in 38 games with Kallinge-Ronneby IF last season in Hockeyettan (Third-tier in Sweden). Wouldn’t expect the Jets to sign him at this point.
Matteo Gennaro is a left shooting centre from Alberta who seemed to blossom in his fourth season in the WHL last year. The 2015 7th rounder played 69 games for the Calgary Hitmen adding 43 goals and 37 points for 80 points in 69 games. This was a big jump from the 18 goals and 25 assists he had with Prince Albert/Calgary back in 2015-16. In February we spoke with Guy Flaming who covers the WHL quite extensively about a number of Jets prospects including Gennaro and he described Gennaro as a “late bloomer…could be one of those depth guys who could contribute”. There was some thought he would play for the Moose along with prospects Jansen Harkins and Michael Spacek at the end of this past season but we heard that Gennaro was banged up in his playoffs with the Hitmen. We will have to wait and see what the Jets do with this late bloomer.
