Anthony Peluso signs a two-year deal with the Winnipeg Jets –
Kevin Cheveldayoff and the Winnipeg Jets have been busy the last couple of days re-signing two of their pending RFAs. Today, we will talk about Wednesday’s signing of RFA forward Anthony Peluso to a two-year contract worth $675,000 with an average annual value (AAV or cap hit) of $675,000.
About Anthony Peluso:
Junior: OHL Teams: Erie, Sault Ste. Marie, Brampton
Position: RW Shoots: Right
DOB: Apr. 18, 1989 Birthplace: North York, ON
Height: 6’3 Weight: 235
AnthonyPeluso, 26, was originally drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the sixth round, 160th overall, in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. He just completed his third season with the Jets after being claimed from the waiver wire by the Jets on January 6, 2012. Last season, Peluso played in 49 games and scored 1 goal, 1 assist for 2 points while accumulating 86 penalty minutes. He has played in 107 NHL games (all with Winnipeg) scoring 3 goals, 6 assists for 9 points and 165 penalty minutes.
Winnipeg Jets Anthony Peluso is a top heavyweight!
WHT analysis
I understand this signing from Head Coach Paul Maurice’s point of view. He likes his teams big, mean and tough. Anthony Peluso can offer that in spades. My concern is that the way the NHL is evolving the true heavyweight has very little impact unless he can play meaningful minutes and especially later in the season and playoffs. Down the stretch last season, Peluso didn’t dress for many games and when he did his minutes were minimal. Do the Jets and Paul Maurice believe that Anthony Peluso has more to offer and he is still a work in progress? Must be. Can the Jets afford to have two similar players like Chris Thorburn and Anthony Peluso on their roster? I don’t think so. Peluso is younger and he is definitely the better scrapper of the two.
Are the Jets concerned that smaller players like Nik Ehlers, Nic Petan and Josh Morrissey will be knocking on the door for roster spots and that they will need a couple of veterans riding shotgun? I don’t know. What I do know is that Peluso’s AAV isn’t a factor but it is one less roster spot available for Winnipeg Jets prospects. Here’s a scary thought. Does this mean that GM Kevin Cheveldayoff isn’t having any luck re-signing some of his key UFAs?
Lots of questions will be answered come the draft and the start of free agency. I’m not against this signing but I do find it a little curious. Part of me still thinks Anthony Peluso might have more to offer and the Jets are giving him two more years to prove it.
I am “old school” and I still like my teams tough and mean as well. I just loved it when Peluso “tuned” up Bryan Bickell last season in a game in Chicago. If you remember Bickell was running around like a chicken without a head hitting everything in sight (not that there’s anything wrong with that) and Anthony Peluso took care of that and the Jets went on to win a big road game. Was it a factor? I don’t know but I bet some Jets players probably grew a couple of inches after that scrap. Is that a good enough reason to justify this signing? NO. Maybe there are other moves that this signing ties into like a trade this off-season involving Chris Thorburn. I guess we will just have to sit back, relax and we’ll see soon enough.
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Yep, here’s to ‘old school’ – me, too.
Any links to his old scouting report/s, anyone? I don’t know enough about him hockey-wise to have an opinion on his general hockey ability; and, he only gets about 5 minutes a game ATOI (and in the penalty box), so it’s hard to get a read on him (other than fighting ability).
His foot speed seemed pretty good to me (i.e. not too slow).
Jets need a good start to the season. Other than for obvious reasons, it should be remembered that much of the current core isn’t that young and they are already out of their primes (26), or at the tail-end. Hence, with the Jets style, balance in the line-up (ATOI) should be important to season long success and playoffs.
If they signed him, he should be getting 8 – 10 minutes a game for the reason above, and, as mentioned in the article, he’s taking up a roster spot.
IMO.
when a teams 4th line line can play 7-10 minutes a night, that’s when you know you actually have a 4th line …. 4 minutes a night isn’t helping anyone.