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:

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.   

CHL sources say final details are being worked out with the NHL that will allow junior eligible players who played 20 or more AHL games last season to return to the AHL next season, rather than back to their major junior club. Bit more complicated, but thats the gist of it.

— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) July 22, 2021

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

My greatest fear:

Jets move on from Paul Stastny making room for Cole Perfetti in their top 6 but instead they overpay Andrew Copp and put him in there.

OH THE HORROR

— MoTown Curmudgeon (@WpgSportsTalk) July 22, 2021

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. 

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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?

• Yes, Paul Maurice should be let go.
• Yes, Paul Maurice and Kevin Cheveldayoff should be let go.
• No, I'm happy with the team's leadership and direction.
• No, sweeping the Oilers bought everybody some time.

View Results

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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.

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Thanks, Mitch