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: I’ve been hearing about this mythical season called “The Summer of Chevy” for a few years now and I think it has finally arrived. Winnipeg Jets GM, Keven Cheveldayoff had a very productive few days last week.
- Monday: Paul Stastny has agreed to a one-year deal worth $3,750,000.
- Monday: The Winnipeg Jets trade 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.
- Tuesday: Jets Acquire defenceman Nate Schmidt from the Vancouver Canucks for a third-round pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.
- Saturday: Jets sign serviceable bottom-six C/RW Riley Nash to a 1-year, $750,000 deal.
Kevin Cheveldayoff really changed the look of the Jets blueline with the additions of Brenden Dillon and Nate Schmidt and the best thing is it didn’t cost him anything off the NHL roster and bringing back Paul Stastny on a one-year deal was a no-brainer.
After seeing what other GMs were paying for UFA defencemen Chevy definitely went in the right direction.
2. NHL: Enjoy that six year $5,500,000 per season Philip Danault contract LA Kings. Free Agent Frenzy, where NHL GMs lose touch with reality.
3. Jets: Does anyody actually think that Eric Comrie will last the season as Connor Hellebuyck’s back-up in goal?
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4. NHL: It is officially RFA offer sheet season. 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: Based on Chevy’s signings last week I’m sure even PoMo can’t screw this up, so the microscope is definitely on Mr. Maurice. Paul, you are on the clock.
6. NHL: I have a feeling there may be hockey without fans again in some NHL cities. I don’t like what’s going on down south with covid 19 and also here in Canada (Alberta). I sure hope I’m wrong.
7. Jets: In my very humble opinion I believe in time David Gustafsson can match and exceed what Andrew Copp brings to the table for the Winnipeg Jets. He just needs a couple seasons under his belt. If Kurt Overhardt wants to be unreasonable and play hardball then trade Copp’s ass. If he is willing to do something in the range of Adam Lowry’s contract then welcome back. If not, take Copp’s money and invest it elsewhere.
8. Jets: So long and farewell to Mathieu Perreault. MP is heading to La belle province to play for the Habs. I would have liked him re-signing in Winnipeg but who can blame a French-Canadian kid for wanting to play in his home province. Good luck MP, you were a beauty.
9. NHL: Based on some of the trades made last week it is quite apparent that cap space is a bigger commodity than actual players right now.
Shayne Gostisbehere to Arizona for nothing.
Marc-Andre Fluery to Chicago for nothing.
Tyler Johnson to Chicago for nothing.
Nate Schmidt to Winnipeg for a 3rd rounder.
and on and on.
10. Jets: This 👇
Morrissey/Schmidt
Dillon/Pionk
Stanley/DeMelo
sure looks better than this 👇
Morrissey/DeMelo
Forbort/Pionk
Stanley/Poolman
11. Jets: The Winnipeg Jets have signed Riley Nash to a one-year deal and I beleive he should add a solid defensive presence to the Jets bottom six. His numbers were brutal in Columbus last season but then who’s weren’t. Nash is just 3 years removed from a 15 goal, 41 point season with Boston in 76 games. If Nash can replicate half of that he will be a huge upgrade over Trevor Lewis or Nate Thompson.
12. IIHF: I bet everybody probably forgot but the Women’s World Hockey Championships start in Calgary in 3 weeks. I’m totally down for some August hockey.
13. Jets: THE POLL RESULTS ARE IN
Are Paul Maurice’s or Kevin Cheveldayoff’s jobs in jeopardy?
Yes … Paul Maurice should be let go. (49%, 159 Votes)
Yes … Paul Maurice and Kevin Cheveldayoff should be let go. (20%, 63Votes)
No … I’m happy with the team’s leadership and direction. (17%, 56 Votes)
No … Sweeping the Oilers bought everybody some time. (14%, 45 Votes)
14. NHL: Evander … what are you doing? Evander Kane was one of my favourite Winnipeg Jets, I loved everything about his game although his alledged off-ice antics were getting tiresome. Now he is being investigated for betting on NHL games and games he was playing in. Now, these are accusations from his soon-to-be ex-wife so take this with a grain of salt but with Evander it always seems where there’s smoke there’s fire. These are serious accusations and I sure hope they are false.
15. Jets: Before all of GM, Kevin Cheveldayoff’s trades and UFA signings this past week the Winnipeg Jets odds to win the Stanley Cup were +4000 according to https://www.sportsbettingdime.com/nhl/stanley-cup-odds/ but I wonder what they are now? Stay tuned.
16. NHL: Even with a flat cap it looks like the top players are still getting paid while the bottom of the roster players are forced to settle for the scraps if you can call $750,000 scraps.
17. Jets: My preference would be to use Mark Scheifele, Pierre-Luc Dubois, Paul Stastny, and Adam Lowry as our four centers and work from there. I’m sure Paul Maurice could move Stastny into the top six when he needs to shorten the bench.
18. NHL: I mentioned last week that I find outsiders that don’t watch your team on a nightly basis really overrate or underrate certain players. The lastest is Oliver-Ekman Larsson. Vancouver thinks they are getting OEL from 3-4 years ago but he hasn’t been right for quite some time and the Canucks moved out Nate Schmidt to make room for him. I’m glad they did because I’d rather have Schmidt.
19: Jets: Andrew Copp and Neal Pionk have both elected to file for salary arbitration but both players can continue to negotiate with the team until their arbitration date. The arbitration hearings will take place between August 11-26.
20: Jets: Kevin Cheveldayoffs fan approval rating has never been as high as it is right now. (see #1 and #13)
In memory of my friend Darryl Manchulenko.
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Thanks, Mitch
Hey Mitch can you give me your thoughts on Chevy concerning his cap space issues? According to cap friendly he has 6 million 65 thousand in available cap space after signing Stanley. If Copp and Pionk get decent contracts which puts him over the cap limit he is in a dilemma.
Is Bryan Little’s contract on LTIR? On cap friendly I don’t see it being listed. If Gustafsson, Vesalainen, and Toninato all make the roster this season their contracts would count against the cap wouldn’t they? The way I look it Chevy has to do some creative cap space moves to make this work without making a trade or trades. Any explanation would help 😆.
Hey George … cap space isn’t an issue, during the off-season you can exceed the cap by 10% but have to be compliant by the regular season. Bryan Little’s LTIR will be used then, it’s about the timing to get maximum cap relief in using that LTIR money. They’ll be fine.
Hey thanks Mitch I wasn’t sure about Little’s contract and if LTIR would come into play. I feel more hopeful with our defense than before.
We definitely have better defencemen but my concern is will it matter if Paul Maurice has them playing that ridiculous system where they chase their man all over the defensive zone?