Winnipeg Jets Select Nikita Chibrikov In The 2nd Round

July 31, 2021 by

Jets nab crafty winger in round 2

The Winnipeg Jets dipped into relatively untested waters with their second round pick, visiting Russia and grabbing winger Nikita Chibrikov 50th overall.  The Jets have drafted just two Russians since the team’s move to Winnipeg in 2011, spending a pair of sixth round picks in the process.  Pavel Kraskovsky, whom the Jets still own the rights to, went 164th overall in 2014, and current Manitoba Moose netminder, Mikhail Berdin, went 157th overall two years later in 2016.  Chibrikov becomes the team’s highest drafted Russian, and with good reason. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Featured, Roster Tagged With: , , , ,

Winnipeg Jets Select Forward Chaz Lucius In The First Round

July 29, 2021 by

Jets bolster prospect pool by drafting Chaz Lucius 18th overall

After trading draft picks the past couple of seasons for rentals and other “win-now” pieces, the Winnipeg Jets had just four selections at the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.  Despite the quantity of picks, the Jets added some quality at the draft, and Chaz Lucius is exhibit A. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Featured, Roster, Top Prospects Tagged With: , ,

Random Thoughts On The Winnipeg Jets: July 26

July 26, 2021 by
Mitch Kasprick is the “Motown Curmudgeon” aka “Motown Mitch”

Odds and Ends, Thoughts and Questions, from this past week in hockey –

Just so there’s no confusion when I’m spewing my bias, I am a fan of the Winnipeg Jets, Arizona Coyotes, Manitoba Moose, Winnipeg Ice, and all Team Canada Hockey teams.

I am NOT a fan of Gary Bettman or as I call him, Count Chocula.  I am a big believer in the 7Ps. You’ve been warned. 

UPDATE:

Jets have tendered qualifying offers to the following pending RFAs:

F – Andrew Copp
D – Johnathan Kovacevic
D – Neal Pionk
D – Logan Stanley

1. Jets:  So the Seattle Kraken expansion draft has come and gone and after all the pissing and moaning we lost Mason Appleton just like everybody hoped and wanted AND Chevy didn’t have to waste any assets cutting a side deal.  

POLL RESULTS:

Will Chevy or should Chevy cut a deal with Seattle GM Ron Francis so the Jets don’t lose a player in the expansion draft?

(53%, 117 Votes)

No. The Jets have plenty of depth and can afford to lose one player.

(24%, 53 Votes)
No. Use that asset in the off-season in a trade to upgrade the team.

(9%, 20 Votes)
Yes. Because the Jets are loyal to a fault.

(7%, 16 Votes)
No. The idea of an expansion draft is to stock the new team, not circumvent the process.

(6%, 14 Votes)
Yes. I don’t want to lose anyone of this team.

2. NHL:  It looks like NHL GMs did actually learn from their Vegas expansion mistakes this time around.  Vegas would have had a decent team but it was their “side deals” that really set them up for future success. 

3. Jets:  I wonder if Chevy will offer Andrew Copp to Seattle for Vince Dunn?     

4. NHL:  It’s that time of the year where you could possibly see an NHL team look at sending an offer sheet to a pending RFA.  I won’t hold my breath because there are actually more Loch Ness Monster sightings than there are NHL offer sheets but if there is the compensation is listed below.

FYI – Offer Sheet (AAV) Compensation:

  • $1,395,053 or below: None
  • Over $1,395,053 to $2,113,716: 3rd round pick
  • Over $2,113,716 to $4,227,437: 2nd round pick
  • Over $4,227,437 to $6,341,152: 1st, 3rd round picks
  • Over $6,341,152 to $8,454,871: 1st, 2nd, 3rd round picks
  • Over $8,454,871 to $10,568,589: (2) 1st, 2nd, 3rd round picks
  • Over $10,568,589: (4) 1st round picks

5. Jets:  Did Kevin Cheveldayoff actually get lucky not losing Dylan DeMelo or did he know which way Ron Francis was leaning based on their conversations?  Guess what, we’ll never know but it worked.       

6. NHL:  Huge news that affects Cole Perfetti and the Winnipeg Jets/Manitoba Moose.   

7. Jets:  Would the Jets be smart to move on from Paul Stastny and gamble on Cole Perfetti in their top six?  


8. Jets:  The Winnipeg Jets most pressing off-season need is to ugrade their blueline and with the free agency silly season starting this Wednesday I always hold on to the hope that Chevy will make a bit of a splash and sign a couple signifigant UFAs and not the usual 4th line forwards and the less than bottom pairing defencemen.  I’m not expecting a Dougie Hamilton but it would be nice to add someone like Nikita Zadorov (LD) who is an RFA that only made $3,200,000 last season.  I wonder if he is on Chevy’s radar?  Other UFAs that interest me are Brandon Montour (RD), David Savard (RD), Jake McCabe (LD), or even local boy Travis Hamonic (RD).

UPDATE:

The Winnipeg Jets have traded a second-round pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft and a second-round pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft for defenceman Brenden Dillon from the Washington Capitals. 

UFA season starts on Wednesday. Will Chevy ...

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

UPDATE:

Jets Acquire defenceman Nate Schmidt from the Vancouver Canucks for a third-round pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. 

9. NHL:  The Montreal Canadiens were the toast of the town after a terrific playoff run and they pissed away all that good will in one fell swoop with their brain dead selection of Logan Mailloux on Friday night.  What the hell was Marc Bergevin thinking?   

10. Jets:  2021-22 Schedule

 

11. Jets:  Ex-Jet Shane Doan had a proud moment on Saturday when his son Josh was drafted by the Arizona Coyotes in the second round, 37th overall.  As a Yotes fan I really love this pick.     

12. NHL:  Key dates.  Times a MB time.

  • July 27:  Qualifying offers due to restricted free agents.
  • July 28:  Free agency opens at 11 am.

13. Jets:  Are Paul Maurice’s or Kevin Cheveldayoff’s jobs in jeopardy?

After the first round sweep of Edmonton it looked like Pomo and Chevy were safe.

After being swept in the second by Montreal, Pomo and Chevy are back under the microscope. 

Now Chevy and Pomo are both under scrutiny for the Seattle expansion protection list. 

After being swept in the second round by Montreal should heads roll?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

14. NHL:  Anti-vaxer injury report.  UBI (upper body injury) Brain   

15. Jets:  I’m okay with Chevy bringing back Mathieu Perreault for another season but that is it and that includes Paul Stastny unless he takes a major pay cut.  For what it’s worth there are rumours that Paul Stastny and the Winnipeg Jets are talking about a contract extension.   

UPDATE:

The Winnipeg Jets and Paul Stastny have agreed to a one-year deal worth $3.750,000

I can’t say I hate this deal because I actually love it.  Stastny adds a lot to this team on the ice and just as much off the ice.  A very solid signing with perfect term.  

16. NHL:  I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, the teams that play in states without state taxes have an unfair advantage over the other US based teams and all the Canadian based teams.  With free agency opening on Wednesday myself and fans of other Canadian teams get frustrated by Canadian players not wanting to play in their home country.  The NHL and the NHLPA need to come up with some sort of formula to level the playing field.  While I’m at it lets do away with no movement clauses.  

17. Jets:  The Jets made some interesting selections from Russia and it is quite obvious they weren’t really comfortable drafting players that didn’t play last season, hence the three picks out of the Russian leagues.        

18. NHL:  I love Seattle fans already, in their first introduction to Gary “Count Chocula” Bettman they booed him like a seasoned fan base.  Well done Kraken fans, well done.  

19: Jets:  Fingers crossed for tomorrow everyone.  C’mon Chevy.

20: Jets:  This is something that I never thought would come out of my mouth but going in Wednesday’s “Free Agent Frenzy” the “Summer of Chevy” is off to a pretty good start.  (see #8 and #15)

 

In memory of my friend Darryl Manchulenko.

If you have any questions, please give me a shout. You can use the comment section or use the #ASKWHTPOD hashtag on Twitter.

If you like our new format, let us know in the comment section or hit me on Twitter at WpgSportsTalk or WpgHockTalk

If you are interested in writing for Winnipeg Sports Talk or if you know somebody interested, please contact us at:

[email protected]

We are looking for writers to cover the Winnipeg Jets, Manitoba Moose, The Winnipeg ICE, Manitoba Bisons, Winnipeg AAA, MJHL, MMJHL, KIJHL, and Winnipeg High School or any sports team in town.

If you have any thoughts on any of these comments or questions, please let me know. We would love to hear your opinions.

Thanks, Mitch

*

Filed Under: Featured, Random Thoughts Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Winnipeg Hockey Talk’s Favourite Tweets Of The Week #1

July 25, 2021 by

WHT’s faves of the week-

These Tweets caught my eye.  Some were funny and some were informative and some weren’t even about hockey.  Please don’t be upset if I include the odd Tweet of my own. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Featured

Random Thoughts On The Winnipeg Jets: July 19

July 19, 2021 by
Mitch Kasprick is the “Motown Curmudgeon” aka “Motown Mitch”

Odds and Ends, Thoughts and Questions, from this past week in hockey –

Just so there’s no confusion when I’m spewing my bias, I am a fan of the Winnipeg Jets, Arizona Coyotes, Manitoba Moose, Winnipeg Ice, and all Team Canada Hockey teams.

I am NOT a fan of Gary Bettman or as I call him, Count Chocula.  I am a big believer in the 7Ps. You’ve been warned. 

1. Jets:  The Winnipeg Jets have released their protected list for the Seattle Kraken expansion draft on Wednesday night.  Discuss amongst yourselves. 

Forwards:

  • Blake Wheeler
  • Mark Scheifele
  • Kyle Connor
  • Nikolaj Ehlers
  • Pierre-Luc Dubois
  • Andrew Copp
  • Adam Lowry

Defencemen:

  • Josh Morrissey
  • Neal Pionk
  • Logan Stanley

Goalie:

  • Connor Hellebuyck

POLL QUESTION:

WHO WILL THE SEATTLE KRAKEN SELECT FROM THE WINNIPEG JETS?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

2. Jets:  Until Seattle actually drafts on Wednesday we will not know who we will lose and what type of side deal (if any) was in place, so why are people freaking out?    

Poll Question:  Should or did Kevin Cheveldayoff cut a deal with Seattle GM Ron Francis so the Jets don’t lose a player off their roster in the expansion draft? 

In the 2017 Vegas expansion draft the Jets and Vegas cut a deal where the Golden Knights would select Chris Thorburn’s expiring contract.  In the deal they flip-flopped 1st rounders with Winnipeg acquiring the 24th pick (from Vegas, from Columbus) in the 2017 NHL Draft in exchange for the 13th pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, and the Jets third-round selection in 2019. 

FYI:  If the Jets don’t cut this deal with Vegas they might have taken Nick Suzuki instead of trading down and getting Kristian Vesalainen.  It’s too early to call this deal but the early returns certainly favour Suzuki. 

Will Chevy or should Chevy cut a deal with Seattle GM Ron Francis so the Jets don't lose a player in the expansion draft?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

3. Jets:  After looking at the other protection lists I’m betting that Seattle selects Mason Appleton from the Jets.     

4. NHL:  FYI – Offer Sheet (AAV) Compensation:

  • $1,395,053 or below: None
  • Over $1,395,053 to $2,113,716: 3rd round pick
  • Over $2,113,716 to $4,227,437: 2nd round pick
  • Over $4,227,437 to $6,341,152: 1st, 3rd round picks
  • Over $6,341,152 to $8,454,871: 1st, 2nd, 3rd round picks
  • Over $8,454,871 to $10,568,589: (2) 1st, 2nd, 3rd round picks
  • Over $10,568,589: (4) 1st round picks

5. Jets:  Gary Suter was bought out by the Minnesota Wild and if I’m Chevy I’m all over him.  At 36-years-old he still has lots of hockey left in him.  He is a much better option than Derek Forbort or Tucker Poolman in my opinion.  It has been reported that he doesn’t want to play in Canada but maybe the Minnesota Mafia on the Jets roster can convince him.     

6. NHL:  Reports are that pending UFA Phillip Danault is looking for north of 5 mil a year for six years.  Any GM that gives Phillip Danault $5,000,000 for six years should be INSTANTLY fired.  Now in saying that most GMs would have to run a deal like that somewhere up the food chain and the person approving that deal should be fired too and if that somebody is the owner he shouldn’t be involved in hockey decisions. 

7. Jets:  Jets fans obsessing about losing a player in the expansion draft is like watching a bad reality show.  We’re not losing KC or Scheif or Nik or PLD or Helle so relax for crying out loud.  Take a deep breath.

8. Jets:  I was wondering about this at the time.  

9. NHL:  In case you were wondering.  This is what the Seattle Kraken’s minimum requirements are for Wednesday night’s expansion draft.

  • The Kraken must select at least 20 players under contract for next season.
  • The contracts for these 20 players must be at least $48,900,000.

10. Jets:  Although I like Dylan DeMelo, Mason Appleton, and Logan Stanley I lived through losing Anders Hedberg, and Ulf Nilsson, then Rich Preston, Terry Ruskowsi, Paul MacKinnon, Kent Nilsson etc, and then a whole NHL team moving to Phoenix  so I’m not going to lose ONE MOMENT of sleep losing one of these guys to Seattle

Embed from Getty Images

11. Jets:  I hope the Winnipeg Jets don’t turn good prospects like Ville Heinola, Dylan Samberg, or David Gustafsson into diminishing assets like they did with Sami Niku and Jack Roslovic.  Prospect currency is valuable so you need to make decisions on them while they still have value.  Chevy has waited to long with Sami Niku and he sold low with Jack Roslovic.  Based on Paul Maurice’s season ending presser it looks like there is no way Ville Heinola, Logan Stanley, or Dylan Samberg will all be in the NHL together any time soon.  I hope we don’t end up giving one or two of them away for squat. 

12. NHL:  Key dates.  Times a MB time.

  • July 17:  NHL teams must submit expansion lists to NHL by 4 pm. 
  • July 17:  Trade freeze begins at 2 PM.
  • July 18:  NHL will deliver expansion lists by 9 am, likely made public around that time.
  • July 18:  Seattle can begin “interviewing” impending UFA/RFA’s from teams at this time.
  • July 21:  Seattle must submit it draft selections to the NHL by 9 am.
  • July 21:  2021 NHL Expansion Draft at 7 pm. 
  • July 22:  Trade freeze is lifted at noon.
  • July 23:  Round 1 of the 2021 NHL Draft at 7 pm. 
  • July 24:  Rounds 2-7 of the 2021 NHL Draft at 10 pm.
  • July 27:  Qualifying offers due to restricted free agents.
  • July 28:  Free agency opens at 11 am.

13. Jets:  Are Paul Maurice’s or Kevin Cheveldayoff’s jobs in jeopardy?

After the first round sweep of Edmonton it looked like Pomo and Chevy were safe.

After being swept in the second by Montreal, Pomo and Chevy are back under the microscope. 

Now Chevy and Pomo are both under scrutiny for the Seattle expansion protection list. 

After being swept in the second round by Montreal should heads roll?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

14. NHL:  Ex Winnipeg Jets star, Patrik Laine was at it again in a Finnish newspaper last week >>> HERE.

I love Patrik but it looks like he has failed to grasp the concept that when he blabs to the Finnish media it actually finds it way back here in North America.  He was blaming Torts for his poor season but maybe he should look in the mirror and stop blaming everybody else for his play.  He had a run-in with one of his junior coaches, he complained about his usage in Winnipeg and kind of threw a fine hockey player like Bryan Little under the bus, he had an incident with assistant coach Brad Larsen (now the head coach) on the bench last season, and finally had his say about John Tortorella in a Finnish newspaper last week.  I’m still a huge fan of Patrik Laine but I think it is time for him to SHUT HIS MOUTH and GROW UP.  

15. Jets:  Listening to outsiders that talk about the Winnipeg Jets just shows me how little they watch us play.  The takes on our roster are hilarious.  They overrate some of our players while underrating others even more than we do.  One fairly well know outsider that I would consider an “A list” mainstream media member actually said Kyle Conner was a defensively responsible winger.  I’ll just leave it at that.

In memory of my friend Darryl Manchulenko.

If you have any questions, please give me a shout. You can use the comment section or use the #ASKWHTPOD hashtag on Twitter.

If you like our new format, let us know in the comment section or hit me on Twitter at WpgSportsTalk or WpgHockTalk

If you are interested in writing for Winnipeg Sports Talk or if you know somebody interested, please contact us at:

[email protected]

We are looking for writers to cover the Winnipeg Jets, Manitoba Moose, The Winnipeg ICE, Manitoba Bisons, Winnipeg AAA, MJHL, MMJHL, KIJHL, and Winnipeg High School or any sports team in town.

If you have any thoughts on any of these comments or questions, please let me know. We would love to hear your opinions.

Thanks, Mitch

*

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Blog Stats

  • 183,350 hits