Note: With the Jets having done their damage on Monday (signed Paul Stastny, traded for Brenden Dillon) and Tuesday (traded for Nate Schmidt, signed Eric Comrie)the local NHL club wasn’t expected to be a player on Wednesday. So instead we take a look at which players who played for Winnipeg last season are heading elsewhere for the 2021-22 season.
Note II: One player who will be sticking around and bringing an absolute ton of energy is Nate Schmidt who held his first media availability as a member of the Jets on Wednesday afternoon.
Note III: GM Kevin Cheveldayoff only made two moves on Wednesday as the team announced they had signed a pair of minor league players in Mikey Eyssimont (played for the Ontario Reign last season) and Luke Johnson (who played for both the Minnesota and Iowa Wild last season). He did speak though about the other moves he made on behalf of his club the previous days, confirmation that Eric Comrie appears to be the backup for next season and more. You can watch the full media availability here.
Jets news:
Global News: Hextall on Hockey: Jets’ off-season looking positive so far. When you are able to address your team’s biggest needs without giving up a roster player or even a prospect you are having a pretty, pretty, pretty good day.
The Athletic: LeBrun: The Jets have won the offseason so far. (Paywall). High praise from the hockey insider as to what the local NHL club has done in the last week.
Sportsnet: Cheveldayoff opts for trades over free agency to complement Jets’ core. Choosing cost certainty and avoiding the Winnipeg “tax” is a pretty smart way to get your business done. The Jets have addressed the biggest area of weakness and it appears set this team up for a decent shot the next few years.
Photo Credit: Colby Spence (Illegal Curve)
Winnipeg Sun: Jets newcomer Schmidt clears air on no-trade clause, vows bounceback after tough year in Vancouver. If you needed an energy boost then the media availability with Schmidt was the place to be. It was clear he had either heard or read the reports and began today’s chat by clearing the air.
Winnipeg Sun: Cheveldayoff quiet as free agency opens, having cooled off-season hot seat after landing quality in trade market. After seeing some of the deals across the NHL the best thing an NHL GM can do on this day is turn off their phone. There is no doubt that the Jets GM hit this last week out of the park between the NHL Draft and pre-free agency.
Winnipeg Free Press: Chevy’s work not over yet. (Paywall). While he knocked out a couple of dingers there is still some small ball to be played as he fills out the rest of his roster.
Winnipeg Free Press: Jets in the driver’s seat. (Paywall). Hard to see how Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff could have sold to his players not making any moves to improve the backend for a second straight summer. This group is in win now mode and they don’t really care about a 3rd round pick in 2023 when the alternative is a player that could potentially help get them over the hump.
Winnipeg Free Press: Dynamic blue-liner Schmidt says he has more to give. (Paywall). His arrival will solidify the Jets on the right side and allow a prospect like 2017 3rd rounder Johnny Kovacevic the opportunity to continue to show he is a top pairing guy with the Moose who will eventually earn himself a shot with the big club. With an audition or two that will likely come this year.
Global News: Nate Schmidt is ready to reset and re-energize with the Winnipeg Jets. The Jets can be somewhat of a stiff/serious team so a character like Schmidt could be just what the doctor ordered for this locker room.
Illegal Curve Hockey Presents: Free Agency Round-Up:
We took a look at the moves made by the Winnipeg Jets over the last few days, where that leaves the current crop of prospects (especially those on defence), what further moves the local NHL could make, the backup situation and more.
Guests included Murat Ates of The Athletic Winnipeg as well as Jets netminder Eric Comrie.
You can watch/listen here.
