Jets news:
Edmonton Journal: Is Tobias Enstrom the piece that gets a trade done between the Jets and Oilers? Is a trade with a former Smythe division rival, once removed, even allowed? The Oilers would benefit by adding the smooth skating defenceman but would they be willing to part with the pieces the Jets need to help with the long term build. Remains speculative at best as none of the Jets front office have said anything about moving Enstrom.
Winnipeg Free Press (Via Canadian Press): Looking for a little size as they prepare for draft. The problem is the Jets drafting in the 9th spot are not expected to have available exactly what they need. Perhaps they will go off the board. Best part and most unnerving part of draft day is the fact that you won’t know who is available until just before it is your turn to draft.
Winnipeg Free Press: Exhibition schedule sees big improvement. Lots of opportunities for fans as they can drive down to Minneapolis or Saskatoon to see their Jets play an away game.
Winnipeg Free Press: Helping local charities fly. Pretty crazy to see that disparity between what they raised in one year with an NHL team (1 million +) versus in fifteen years as an AHL city (2.3 million).
Hockey’s Future: Jets 2012 draft preview. Are the Jets about to take another Finn with ties to Jokerit? Well it worked when the Jets 1.o took Selanne and if the mock draft is accurate perhaps the Jets 2.0 will strike similar gold with Teuvo Teravainen.
TSN: Pre-draft talk. Dreger takes a look at all the Canadian teams prior to the draft. Touches on both of the Jets key restricted free agents in Ondrej Pavelec and Evander Kane. Suggests that unless Pavelec sees 4 million per season in a multi-year deal, he could bolt for the KHL. Earlier this year, Richard (@icrichyp) took a look at what types of market value both Pavelec and Kane could generate.
CBC: Elliote Friedman’s 30 Thoughts. Lots of interesting news in Friedman’s column and point 9 has to do with the Evander Kane rumours after a tweet from an RDS reporter last Friday. As reported on our twitter feed (@illegalcurve) yesterday, @icdrew spoke with Evander Kane’s agent Craig Oster to inquire about the above speculation regarding the status of his client’s contract negotiations with the Jets. Oster had this to say;
NHL Draft news:
Globe and Mail: Draft deal for Rick Nash depends on stars lining up. Is it going to be Broadway or bust? Lots of pieces that a rebuilding team like Columbus could use perhaps. Should be an interesting lead up to draft day.
TSN: Yakupov sits atop McKenzie’s final TSN draft ranking. Despite the injuries that saw the gap close on him, Yakupov remains the consensus first overall pick.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: NHL draft has been transformed. Long gone are the days when the draft was held behind closed doors. Now the 1st round is televised and shot in front of big crowds. Probably won’t have as many Jets fans in Pittsburgh as went down to St. Paul last year including a couple of familiar faces in this shot from the Xcel Energy Center on Day 2 of the 2011 Draft in Return of the Jets founder Darren Ford and my good friend, Richard Tapper.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: ‘Can’t miss’ players sometimes fizzle. There really is no such thing as ‘can’t miss’. There is ‘most likely will not miss’. Even if a player has the best talent available, there are so many intangibles (i.e. future injuries, ability to play with team mates, proper development, etc) that nothing is ever guaranteed.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Quality NHL stars went unnoticed. Many players slip down the rankings or were never ranked in any significant fashion in the first place. It is why a Zetterberg (210th in 1999) or Datsyuk (171st in 1998) could fall so far down the lists. Of course with the way players are scouted these days, a diamond in the rough isn’t as likely as it was in the 80’s and 90’s.
Buffalo News: Regier working the phone for deals. Looks like the Sabres are wanting to be the talk of the NHL for the second year in a row. Last year it was for their free agent frenzy. Perhaps this season it will be for their trading prowess.
Illegal Curve Hockey Show: Part 2. The guys had an excellent program last weekend on the Illegal Curve Hockey Show, with two hours spent discussing the upcoming draft. Ranged from: Interview with Craig Button of TSN. NHL Draft discussion, what should the Jets do with their first round pick? Interview with Grant Sonier of ESPN. Evander Kane rumors discussion. Joined by IC Scouting Correspondent Kyle Kosior. More NHL Draft discussion with Kyle Kosior. Interview with Corey Pronman of Hockey Prospectus. Rapid Fire, Cheers & Jeers.
General NHL news:
Toronto Sun: Top five NHL players who could be moved. Some big names on that list. Who is most likely not to be wearing their current jersey when next season rolls around?
The Detroit News: Wings line up for free-agent jewel in Justin Schultz. If you have any Wisconsin Badgers on your team, you have a chance to secure Schultz’s services.
Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Flyers changing captains? Nothing set until Pronger’s situation is better known.
