Note: It was supposed to be a quiet little Friday with the Jets off after returning from their five-game road trip. Instead we started to hear rumblings about an Adam Lowry extension which eventually became news that he and Winnipeg had agreed to a five-year extension. He spoke later in the afternoon and his comments will probably earn him a key to this city.
Note II: As if the Lowry news wasn’t a lot to digest then the NHL and Jets announced schedule changes for the upcoming week including changing tonight’s game from 9 PM to 6 PM. Which changed things up this morning. Now the Jets will hold their morning skate at 9:30 AM with media availability underway at 10 AM. Check back for the pre-game report following skate in Winnipeg for updates as well as for the media availability with players and coach Paul Maurice. Join us afterwards for our post-game show here (be sure to smash that like/subscribe button).
Note III: The Moose did hit the ice on Friday for a practice and they got some good news as head coach Pascal Vincent, in his media availability, advised that Jets prospect David Gustafsson and Dylan Samberg both skated after missing the last series against Belleville with injuries. It wasn’t all good news however as veteran defenceman Jimmy Oligny, who missed the last three games against the Senators, is done for the season.
Note IV: Be sure to join us on the Illegal Curve Hockey Show today as we will be chatting all about the Winnipeg Jets and Manitoba Moose this morning starting at 9:00 a.m. CDT. Today’s guests include Sean Reynolds (Sportsnet), Harnarayan Singh (Sportsnet) and Dave Jamieson (TSN 1260 Edmonton). You’ll be able to watch via YouTube live here. If you cannot watch live you will still be able to get the show via Podcast.
Jets news:
Winnipeg Sun: Loving his fit with the Jets, Lowry signs on for five more years. Lowry was already a fan favourite in this town and then he dropped a “I told my agent I want to stay in Winnipeg” and that sort of positivity towards this city on the prairies may end with him as mayor whenever he stops playing hockey.
Winnipeg Sun: Jets Snapshots. Paul covers: 1) Surprise, surprise: first division title within Jets’ grasp. 2) Ehlers in line to be ice king of Denmark. 3) Changes to the Jets schedule.
Edmonton Sun: So much for second? Edmonton Oilers chasing a flying Jets squad. It still seems very possible that the Jets and Oilers will be doing battle for 2nd and 3rd and then ultimately in the first round of the playoffs.
Sportsnet: Jets extend contention window by locking down Adam Lowry. Quite the centre depth for the Jets with Scheifele, Dubois and Lowry up the middle for years to come. Add in a guy like David Gustafsson next season and it should make Winnipeg one of the deepest teams up the middle which helps when you are trying to challenge for a Stanley Cup.
Winnipeg Free Press: Speedy, skilled star Nikolaj Ehlers is using his powers for good. (Paywall). His game is entering another stratospheric level this season as he continues to make his contract look like a total steal.
Photo Credit: Colby Spence (Illegal Curve)
Winnipeg Free Press: Jets lock up Lowry. (Paywall). While Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff isn’t known for getting extensions done midseason the cost of this was seemed too good to pass up.
The Athletic Winnipeg: What Adam Lowry’s contract extension means for the Jets. (Paywall). Murat looks at cost analysis, Kraken protections, lineup impact and more.
