Note: The Jets are in offseason mode but is there really ever an offseason? If there is any news we will have it for you here. Yesterday it was announced that Blake Wheeler was the Winnipeg nominee for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy. And of course the Illegal Curve Hockey Show runs until the end of July so be sure you’re a subscriber and join us every Saturday morning at 9 AM.
Note II: The Moose are also now in offseason mode. We did almost 20 interviews on Monday to conclude the Moose season. Lots of good stuff from Jets prospects (Heinola, Torgersson, Nikkanen, Lundmark). The team will release the content over the next week or so. To date they’ve released Jimmy Oligny (watch here), head coach Mark Morrison (watch here) and Evan Polei/Cole Maier (watch here). And we will wrap up the season next week with an end of season Moose recap show.
Note III: The Ice announced that they will be playing the WHL Championship series out of Canada Life Centre starting with game 1 on Friday against the Thunderbirds. Tickets went on sale yesterday. They are scheduled to practice today.
Note IV: Jets prospect Brad Lambert (2022 1st rounder) and his Seattle Thunderbirds will be in Winnipeg to compete with the Ice for the WHL Championship.
Update: Jets draft pick/Moose Dman Leon Gawanke signs four-year deal to play in Germany.
Jets news:
The Athletic Winnipeg: Jets mailbag: Pierre-Luc Dubois urgency? Rick Bowness’ hidden message? (Paywall). You had questions and here are Murat’s answers.
Montreal Gazette: Should the Canadiens trade 5th pick for Pierre-Luc Dubois? With uncertainty surrounding the long-term status of Pierre-Luc Dubois and heading into the final year as an RFA the summer of speculation will be significant.
Photo Credit: Alexander James (Illegal Curve)
Sportsnet: For Jets to avoid rebuild, effective off-season with several big moves is a must. Ken outlines some changes that can be done so Winnipeg will not have to “rebuild”.
The Hockey News: Would Connor Hellebuyck be a good fit with the Pittsburgh Penguins? Hey he was drafted by Winnipeg at the 2012 NHL Draft in Pittsburgh so it does seem to fit (that’s an attempt at humour). Given the Jets would be signaling they are in rebuild mode without their top netminder, it seems unrealistic they’d want a player for player trade and when you factor in the Pens do not have a deep prospect pool (although hello Owen Pickering from St. Adolphe, Manitoba) it seems unrealistic they’d make good trade partners.
Ice news:
Winnipeg Free Press: Battle for WHL supremacy, spot in Memorial Cup begins Friday in Winnipeg. (Paywall). Josh has been covering the Ice this season so he’s got some insight ahead of the Championship series getting underway.
Winnipeg Sun: Netminder Daniel Hauser shook off second-round adversity to help Ice to WHL Final. He has had an impressive junior career as he tries to keep it going into the Championship round.
