Winnipeg Jets Afternoon Links

Note:  Be sure you’re following IC on twitter @illegalcurve for all the latest Winnipeg Jets news.

Yahoo Sports:  Ranking the NHL’s Top 25 defencemen.  Despite the fact that we’ve assessed this team’s strength as its defence, we only had 1 d-man crack the top 20 and got 1 honourable mention.

NBC Sports:  Why this screen shot isn’t the the new Winnipeg Jets jersey.  As James reported EA Sports has confirmed (thx to Joe for noting my mistake) the jersey screen shot as a fake.  According to EA Sports:

We’re excited to welcome the Winnipeg Jets to the NHL for the 2011-12 season. We are in the process of taking the necessary steps to incorporate them into NHL 12 – but at this point have no announcements on how that will happen and what it will look like. We will have more details in the near future on how it will appear in game.

So fear not, this screen shot is just a fake.  The new jersey for the game should be revealed soon.

The Telegram:  St. John’s IceCaps will become official on Friday.  Both the name and logo to be revealed at the Mile One Centre at 11 am on Friday.

Around the NHL:

Newark Star-Ledger:  The New Jersey Devils trade Brian Rolston to the New York Islanders for Trent Hunter and a conditional draft pick.   As Lou Lamoriello said this is a business trade.  Rolston’s 4 year/$20 million+ deal was one of the worst contracts post-lockout, almost as bad as the Malakhov/Mogilny contracts.  Tune in to The Illegal Curve Hockey Show tonight from 7-9 p.m. CT on Sports Radio 1290 as we’ll have more to say about this one.

More from ‘Around the NHL’ including Botterill and Zajac chatting in Manitoba, MLSE might sue, Mac T gets an AHL job and the Rangers sign 1st round pick after the jump.

Canadian Press:  Jennifer Botterill and Travis Zajac to speak at Hockey Manitoba Hot Stove.  Always nice to see players who were developed in this province, giving back.

The Globe and Mail: MLSE and Ryerson University butt heads over proposed development at Maple Leaf Gardens.  That’s not going to be good for business.

Edmonton Journal:  MacTavish to be named coach of AHL team in Chicago.  He’s a pretty good coach who should be back in the NHL pretty soon.

Ranger Rants: NYR sign 1st round draft pick T.J. Miller.  Hat Tip to Friend of Illegal Curve Andrew Gross of The Bergen Record for this article.