A look at the Winnipeg Jets with the NHL/NHLPA setting the 2018-19 salary cap

Today the NHL and NHLPA announced “that the Team Payroll Range established for the 2018-19 League Year, pursuant to the Collective Bargaining Agreement, provides for a Lower Limit of $58.8 million, an Adjusted Midpoint of $69.15 million and an Upper Limit of $79.5 million.”  Winnipeg Jets brass along with the fan base will be madly checking CapFriendly for the next little while as they watch to see how GM Kevin Cheveldayoff manages the cap here in Winnipeg.

According to CapFriendly the Jets currently have a projected cap hit of $54,402,498 for the 2018-19 season.  Of course that is with just 14 players under contract and the remaining money owed on Mark Stuart’s buyout.  There is also some bonus money to factor in as well as a long list of RFAs and UFAs that will need new contracts for the upcoming season including:

RFAs: Tanev, Armia, Dano, Lowry, Trouba, Poolman, Morrow, Morrissey & Hellebuyck.
UFAs: Matthias, Hendricks, Stastny, Enstrom & Hutchinson.

Of course with Patrik Laine able to sign an extension on July 1st there will be plenty of work for Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff and the rest of his brain trust to get it all done. While Laine’s new number wouldn’t impact the Jets this season it will still be something that requires careful consideration as they carefully try to ensure the team’s long term cap health.

In addition to the above players there are also a number of prospects/players with the Manitoba Moose who will be looking for new deals:

RFAs: De Leo, Phillips, Kostalek, Lodge, Comrie, Petan & Lipon.
UFAs: Robinson, Sgarbossa, Schilling & Melchiori.

Should be quite a time in the next little while for the Jets and their fans.  But before we look to new contracts the focus will be on the NHL Entry Draft taking place in Dallas on Friday and Saturday.  This is your reminder that you can get a full four hours of Winnipeg Jets draft coverage via The Illegal Curve Hockey Show (as well as this website) on Saturday starting at 10 am CT on TSN 1290 Winnipeg. We will provide you with complete coverage of Rounds 2 to 7 and will have the first interviews with the newest draft picks of the Winnipeg Jets. Be sure to tune in.

As always stay tuned for the latest Winnipeg Jets news by keeping it locked to our web site  illegalcurve.com and on social media including Twitter | Facebook | Instagram.  You can also follow me on twitter as well (@icdave).