Note: The Jets and Moose are all in offseason mode but is there really ever an offseason? If there is any news we will have it for you here.
Note II: The next big event on the NHL calendar will be the Entry Draft in Nashville which gets underway on June 28th (1st round) and June 29th (rounds 2-7). Remember to join us for live IC coverage on our YouTube channel of the first round of the Draft.
Jets news:
Sportsnet: Parting ways with Wheeler likely costly but necessary move for Jets. It would have been interesting to see what might have happened had they moved him to a third line role last season to really give themselves a line that could potentially score more frequently. But Ken outlines the way things are likely to proceed with this situation.
Winnipeg Sun: Buying out Blake Wheeler isn’t a cut-and-dried decision. The human side of hockey and the business side sometimes don’t mesh well and this is one of those instances.
TSN Insider Trading: LeBrun speaks about the Winnipeg Jets and Blake Wheeler. This is a transcription of the chat from last night’s Insider Trading segment in which the insider chats about the Jets winger.
Daily Faceoff: What is the trade market like for Mark Scheifele? I would think a motivated Mark Scheifele at six million coming off a 42 goal campaign would be tops on the list of players to acquire from Winnipeg. Even if it’s a team like Carolina who may only want him for a playoff run next season. Then again of the four players most often mentioned as trade targets I think 55 is the only one who isn’t moved.
Photo Credit: Colby Spence (Illegal Curve)
The Athletic Winnipeg: Can we build the Winnipeg Jets a playoff team from Dubois, Hellebuyck and Scheifele trades? (Paywall). Murat gives himself a tall task when removing that much talent from a roster. Personally I think if you remove 37 then the playoffs are going to be a tall order and you are better off sacrificing 2023-24 in order to really have a team that is ready to spring forward in 2024-25.
Winnipeg Free Press: Wheeler’s long, productive stint in Winnipeg nearing end? (Paywall). Close to 900 games in a Jets uniform and just five points shy of 800 while wearing Winnipeg colours for the Minnesotan. However despite the many accomplishments including playing his 1000th game here, it appears the end of an era is close for him in the Manitoba capital.
Jets video:
Winnipeg Sports Talk: Jets rumor roundup 2 – Blake Wheeler buyout candidate, Connor Hellebuyck & Pierre-Luc Dubois. Andrew “Hustler” Paterson and Michael Remis discussed the latest Winnipeg Jets news and rumors about Blake Wheeler, Connor Hellebuyck and Pierre-Luc Dubois coming from hockey insiders Pierre LeBrun, Darren Dreger, Elliotte Friedman and Steve Dangle.
NHL Network: Is Connor Hellebuyck a fit for the Devils? Former NHLers Kevin Weeks & Tony Granato chime in on whether the Jets netminder would be a fit in NJ.
TSN: LeBrun on Dubois: ‘The Habs aren’t overplaying this’. Bryan Hayes, Jeff O’Neill and Jamie McLennan are joined by TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun to discuss the future of Pierre-Luc Dubois and which teams could be interested in the Jets forward.
TSN: Should the Jets buy out Wheeler if they can’t find a trade partner? The Devils have reportedly kicked tires on Connor Hellebuyck, but might be concerned about the ask in a contract extension. After seeing Adin Hill win a Stanley Cup with Vegas, is it wise for a team to trade assets and give a big contract to a goalie? Should the Jets buy out Blake Wheeler if they can’t find a trade partner? Former NHLer Martin Biron shares his thoughts.
Jets audio:
CJOB 680: Jets @ Noon. Radio voice of the Winnipeg Jets Paul Edmonds as he joined Cam Poitras and Jim Toth on Jets @ Noon to chat about the NHL, the Draft and the Jets. The conversation starts at the 1:22 mark and begins with a question about all the names out there ahead of the Draft. The NHL being a copycat league. He’s asked how many of the four (Dubois, Scheifele, Wheeler and Hellebuyck) how many does he expect back with Winnipeg next season? And ends with the opportunity to change the direction of the organization.
NHL Draft news:
TSN: Intrigue and excitement in the Year of Connor Bedard. If you don’t watch the video below you can read McKenzie’s insight here.
The Athletic: Who are Corey Pronman’s favorite prospects? (Paywall). Always good to get some insight on players who might be flying under the radar a bit.
NHL Draft video:
TSN: Bob McKenzie’s Final NHL Draft Rankings Show. The eyes of the hockey world are firmly locked on the NHL Draft set to take place next week in Nashville. Bob McKenzie went through his final draft rankings. From one to 32.
