With just six Jets games remaining on the schedule there was some thought (hope) that the team may recall some of the young guns currently playing with the Manitoba Moose in the AHL.
First year pros Kyle Connor and Jack Roslovic and second year man Chase De Leo are the forwards who may have earned themselves a few games or two with the big club. As I reported last week both Brenden Lemieux and Quinton Howden are officially done for the season.
Currently numbers for these three are:
Roslovic – 58 games (12 goals and 30 assists for 42 points)
Connor – 46 games (22 goals and 18 assists for 40 points)
De Leo – 60 games (13 goals and 17 assists for 30 points).
My personal opinion having watched every Moose home game (but one) this season has been that the best place for these young guns is with Manitoba playing big minutes in all situations, instead of a more limited role with the parent organization. What these guys need cannot be learned. They, especially Roslovic and Connor, need time (i.e. the summer) to continue to physically develop.
Today following skate in New Jersey when asked about potential call ups Jets bench boss Paul Maurice indicated that “We’ve got lots of young players in our lineup right now fighting for jobs. We’ll see. That will be a decision that (Jets GM) Kevin (Cheveldayoff) will be looking to make.”.
Of course with potential for an injury you can never say never but with just 12 days left in the season for Winnipeg (five games after tonight in New Jersey) we will have to wait and see if the organization will decide to give any of these guys an NHL look before the end of the 2016-17 season.
