With the Jets inking restricted free agent (RFA) centre Mark Scheifele we take a look at the remaining players that Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff needs to get to sign on the dotted line.
The ink hadn’t even dried on the Scheifele contract before fans were already wondering when Cheveldayoff would turn his attention to the other big RFA that is on the squad in Jacob Trouba. Actually it wasn’t just fans as he was asked about Trouba’s status in the Scheifele conference call to which the GM declined comment indicating “when we have something to announce we will announce it”. Rumours had been rampant from out east that the Jets 2012 1st round pick (9th overall) would be receiving an offer sheet of immense proportions from the Bruins. With that fizzling he seems like the next likely candidate to get a contract from Winnipeg. Will it be a two year bridge deal or a long term one like Scheifele’s? That remains to be seen. Some have pointed to the deal that Trouba’s fellow 1st rounder from 2012 Olli Maatta got from Pittsburgh (six-year contract extension worth $24,500,000, AAV of $4,083,333) as a realistic comparable for Trouba. We will have more in-depth analysis on Trouba’s potential contract this week.
The Jets also have four forwards who are RFAs including Adam Lowry, Joel Armia, J.C. Lipon and Brandon Tanev.
Adam Lowry is a favourite of coach Paul Maurice and while the Jets 2011 3rd round pick (67th overall) spent some time in the minors with the Moose this past year he is still viewed favourably by the organization. In 74 games with the Jets he scored seven goals and added 10 assists. In 154 NHL games Lowry has 40 points (18 goals and 22 assists). Quick Comparable: Dmitrij Jaskin was drafted in 2011 by the Blues (one round ahead of Lowry) and has similar points output. In 139 NHL games he has 18 goals and 15 assists for 33 points. The Blues gave him a two year deal for one million per season.
Joel Armia is a 2011 1st rounder (16th overall) who was part of the Kane/Bogosian/Kasdorf trade with the Buffalo Sabres back in 2015. He began this season with the Moose before getting the call up to the Jets mid December. In 43 games with Winnipeg he scored four goals and added six assists. Quick Comparable: Shane Prince was drafted in the 2nd round in 2011 by the Senators (one round behind Armia) but has better points productions with 20 more NHL games. The Islanders gave prince a two year deal for 1.7 million total ($850,000.00 per season).
J.C. Lipon was drafted by Winnipeg in 2013 in the 3rd round (91st overall) and has spent the majority of the past three seasons playing with the Jets minor league affiliates in St. John’s and now Manitoba. The hard nosed Lipon got his first taste of NHL action this season getting into nine games (no goals and one assist) before he was injured mid March and was forced to miss the remainder of the season.
Lastly, we have Brandon Tanev who the Jets signed when his college season ended at Providence College. He played in just three games to close out the 2015-16 season in Winnipeg and was held pointless.
