Note: The day you’ve all been waiting for is finally here. Free Agency kicks off today and the question most folks have is will it be a frenzy? With John Tavares not signing with the Islanders before midnight last night the hockey world is focussed on what is gonna happen with the most coveted free agent of the 2018 class. Here in Winnipeg the focus will be on Paul Stastny, a backup goalie and a few other potential pieces. Keep it locked to illegalcurve.com and on social media including Twitter | Facebook | Instagram for all Jets related news.
Note II: While we may not have been expecting a busy Saturday aside from the Illegal Curve Hockey Show a big Jets trade between Winnipeg and Montreal happened which saw the team free up a lot of cap space just moments before we got on air (great timing btw) and then they made a trade sending 2014 4th rounder Chase De Leo to Anaheim.
Jets news:
Winnipeg Sun: Door still open for Stastny to return. Ken goes deep ahead of free agency on Stastny and the Jets situation in general.
Winnipeg Sun: Who’s the Jets backup? Goalie becomes a priority as free agency opens. With Mason being traded this became one of the big questions of Saturday. Ken’s got some candidates.
Winnipeg Sun: Jets clear cap space in deal with Habs. Ken offers his thoughts on the big Saturday morning trade.
Photo Credit: Colby Spence
Winnipeg Free Press: Jets clear cap space by trading Mason, Armia. (Paywall). Mike reacts to the news of the Jets move on Saturday morning.
The Athletic Winnipeg: Has the creative Steve Mason/Joel Armia trade cleared enough space for Winnipeg to re-sign Paul Stastny? (Paywall). Once the move was made this became the question on the minds of Jets fans across the globe. Murat delves deeper into this topic.
Illegal Curve Hockey Show Replay:
Topics: Analysis of the Jets trade of Steve Mason, Joel Armia and two draft picks to Montreal for Simon Bourque and what it means for Winnipeg from a cap perspective. Retaining Paul Stastny and the Jets potential depth with Scheifele/Stastny/Little and Lowry up the middle. Who might the Jets look at as a backup in goal next season? A look at Free Agency for the Central Division. A look at Free Agency for the Pacific Division.
Guests: Paul Edmonds (Jets play by play voice on TSN 1290 Winnipeg). John Matisz (National hockey writer for theScore).
To listen to part 1 click here.
Topics: John Tavares talk. A look at Free Agency for the Atlantic Division. Hockey Hall of Fame Inductees. Under the radar players that can be added via Free Agency.
Guests: Arthur Staple (Islanders writer for The Athletic New York). Kristen Anderson (Flames writer for the Calgary Herald). Chris Dingman (Former NHLer).
To listen to part 2 click here.
