Note: Reminder it is going to be a busy July coming up for Illegal Curve as we conclude the 2021 season. Our regular Illegal Curve Hockey Show will continue on Saturdays in July at 9 AM. In addition to these shows we will have three extra shows including one with a focus on the Seattle Expansion Draft on July 21st, the 1st round of the NHL Draft on July 23rd as well as a Free Agency Round Upshow on July 28th.
Jets news:
Illegal Curve: Jets sign Dominic Toninato to a two-year contract. The local NHL club signed their first player on their summer UFA list. In addition it gives them a third player who qualifies as an exposed forward for the expansion draft (giving Winnipeg three such players).
NHL news:
NHL.com: Predators hope to ‘strike a deal’ with Kraken before NHL Expansion Draft. Given the consternation folks who follow the local NHL club in Winnipeg are enduring at the prospect of not being able to protect a player like Logan Stanley or Mason Appleton I suspect more than a few would hope to read an article like this about the Jets franchise, even if it does cost them a Chris Thorburn type.
Minneapolis Star-Tribune: Wild re-signs Nick Bjugstad to one-year contract. The Jets rival kept another piece from their 2020-21 squad.
The Athletic: Why the Sabres and Coyotes went with unheralded coach hires and what it says about their futures. (Paywall). Given that Buffalo has made the playoffs four times in the last 19 years (including missing them 10 straight seasons) and Arizona also just four times in the last 18 years and that is a headline folks in those markets cannot be excited about.
Illegal Curve Hockey Show Podcast:
Topics: Jets expansion draft discussion (whether to protect DeMelo or Stanley). Andrew Copp contract talk. Potential trade targets for Winnipeg. Stanley Cup Final thoughts.
Guests: Ted Wyman (Winnipeg Sun) at 24:40 and Joe Smith (The Athletic Tampa) at 1:15:50.
To watch/listen click here.
Recap of the game.
Thoughts on the big 5-0 win.
Keeping you up-to-date with all the latest pro hockey news in Manitoba.
The Jets have an extra forward with the Gus Bus out of the shop and…