Winnipeg Jets Morning Papers

Note: With so much of Friday’s focus on the trade deadline it was hard to remember a hockey game was to be played last night in Seattle and for the first 40 minutes it seemed like others had forgotten that fact as well. That isn’t to take away from a good defensive effort put forth by the Jets and eventually their offence woke up scoring three times in the 3rd on their way to their 40th win of the season as they defeated the Kraken 3-0. No rest for this club however, as they flew to Vancouver where they will take on the Canucks this evening. Since they played last night no morning skate. All the relevant news will be posted in the pre-game report so check back for that. Puck drop is at 9 PM CST.

Note II: This evening, after the final buzzer sounds between Winnipeg and Vancouver, we want you to be part of the conversation on the Illegal Curve Post-Game Show as we discuss and analyze the results of the game.

Note III: The Moose road trip continues this evening in Iowa as they take on the Wild in a critical game between two clubs battling for the final playoff spot in the Central. Puck drop is at 7 PM CST.

Note IV:  Be sure to join us this morning for the Illegal Curve Hockey Show for two hours of Jets talk starting at 9 AM. We will be joined by Murat Ates of The Athletic Winnipeg and former NHLer Jordan Schmaltz.

Note V: As mentioned above and detailed extensively below, it was Trade Deadline day on Friday and Winnipeg GM Kevin Cheveldayoff and his team were making moves. They acquired winger Tyler Toffoli in the morning (he spoke for just over nine minutes in the afternoon) and then they traded for defenceman Colin Miller.

Jets trade deadline news:

The Athletic Winnipeg: How the Winnipeg Jets became Stanley Cup contenders again. (Paywall). Really good read from Murat on the rise of  the Jets back to challenger for the cup status.

Winnipeg Sun: Poker game pays off, as Jets join shootout in the ‘Wild West’. I really do wonder if the team’s plan to not really disclose anything about Gabriel Vilardi’s status between Tuesday and Friday (although they did provide an update on Thursday) was intended to prevent teams from trying to gouge them.

Winnipeg Sun: Jets shove chips all-in with Toffoli, Miller trades. These are moves that send a message to your team, fans and the league as a whole that you are going for it.

Winnipeg Free Press: Deadline drama as several teams load up in quest for Stanley Cup. (Paywall). I truly believe this might be the best 1st round ever.

Winnipeg Free Press: Jets committment to winning awesome to see. I suspect fans will reward the team starting this Monday with better attendance given their play on the ice and committement to winning.

Winnipeg Free Press: Jets land goalscorer Toffoli and veteran blue-liner Miller from New Jersey. (Paywall). Reactions to the big moves made by Winnipeg.

The Athletic: Devils trade Tyler Toffoli to Jets for picks: What trade means for Winnipeg, where he fits in lineup. (Paywall). More reactions to the acquisitions. 

The Athletic: Inside the Western Conference arms race: 6 teams went all in, only one will prevail. (Paywall). It’s a shame that so many good teams will be eliminated in the first round.

Sportsnet: Wild, Wild West: Top teams in deep conference look even better after deadline. Looking at the west as a whole and how teams improved.

Jets trade deadline video:

TSN: Lu details what the Jets can expect from Toffoli following deadline acquisition. TSN Jets reporter John Lu is familiar with Tyler Toffoli from his time with the Canadiens and he joins SportsCentre to explain exactly what Winnipeg can expect from the forward.

TSN: Cheveldayoff wins TradeCentre’s GM of the deadline period award. Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff wins his second GM of the deadline period award after pulling off a number of ‘surgical, targeted’ acquisitions.

TSN: Strength in Numbers: Toffoli, Monahan give Jets enough offence to make deep playoff run. In this edition of Strength in Numbers, Meghan Chayka joins Tekeyah Singh to explain why she thinks Tyler Toffoli and Sean Monahan give the Jets enough offence to make a deep run in the postseason.

Jets game news:

Winnipeg Free Press: Third period’s a charm. (Paywall). Wieber was in Seattle and details what he saw inside Climate Pledge Arena.

Winnipeg Sun: Buoyed by deadline deals, Jets get back to proven defensive formula in win over Kraken. It was a winning formula for so long and last night was a return to form for Winnipeg.