Note: Training camp is around the corner and the Jets still have Cole Perfetti left to sign. Although given the report last week that seems like a formality at this point. The 2020 first rounder will be heading to Vegas to represent Winnipeg at the NHL Media Tour.
Note II: The Young Stars tournament in BC gets underway for the Jets on Friday. Check out the full roster here.
Note III: We are very happy to welcome sportswriter Connor Hrabchak to the Illegal Curve team this season. I got to know Connor when he got his start covering the Moose a few seasons back and I was impressed by his hard-work. He’s a contributor to our friends at Winnipeg Sports Talk and he will be focusing on creating content for illegalcurve.com. Welcome aboard Connor.
Note IV: Be sure to check back here and on our YouTube page as we resume interviews with Jets players this week. We will chat with NHL guys today and Thursday and the prospects on Wednesday before they head to BC for the tournament.
Jets news:
The Athletic Winnipeg: Winnipeg Jets state of the franchise: Are they poised for a drastic step back? (Paywall). Murat looks at this subject from all angles starting with flexibility/opportunity cost of the salary cap, depth chart analysis, biggest on-ice question (Will team defence be good enough?), biggest off-ice question (Could Ehlers stay in Winnipeg after all?), a look at the pipeline and his final assessment.
Photo Credit: Colby Spence (Illegal Curve)
The Athletic: Why these 8 NHL teams are in danger of being stuck in the mushy middle. (Paywall). He’s got Winnipeg in his group of eight teams? Is this team really “much worse” than last year? Remember that without Gabriel Vilardi and Kyle Connor for big stretches and before this team acquired Sean Monahan they were sitting at 30-12-5. Do you agree or disagree?
Manitoba hockey news:
Winnipeg Free Press: Journeyman puckster Josh Gratton brings enthusiasm and experience to Winnipeg Blues bench. Mike caught up with the former pro as he looks to help turn things around for the MJHL club.
