Winnipeg Jets Acquire Jiri Tlusty

Winnipeg Jets swing another deal with the Carolina Hurricanes –

The Winnipeg Jets have swung another deal with the Carolina Hurricanes acquiring forward Jiri Tlusty. The Jets will be sending back a third round draft choice in the 2016 NHL Draft and a conditional sixth round draft choice in the 2015 NHL Draft.

About Jiri Tlusty

Position: LW Shot: Left

DOB: Mar. 16, 1988 Born: Slany, Czech Republic

Ht: 6′ Wt: 209

Drafted by: Toronto Round: 1 Overall: 13 Year: 2006 NHL Entry Draft

2014-15 Stats:

Games: 52 G: 13 A: 10 Pts: 23 Pim: 16 Plus/Minus: -17

Contract Status:

Jiri Tlusty signed a one year contract with Carolina in July, 2014 worth $2,950,000 and is set to become a UFA on July 1, 2015.

Jiri Tlusty is now a Winnipeg Jet

The 26-year-old Tlusty was originally drafted 13^th overall in the 2006 NHL Draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs. He has played in 396 career games with Carolina and Toronto scoring 86 goals and 79 assists for 165 points along with 116 penalty minutes over eight NHL seasons. This season Tlusty is third on the Carolina Hurricanes with 13 goals and 10 assists in 52 games.

Jiri Tlusty’s best season was in 2012-13 lockout shortened season where he had 38 points in 48 games that included 23 goals ranking him 5th in the entire league

Instant analysis:

Jiri Tlusty is a solid pickup that should help the Jets “Top 9” in scoring. He has a sneaky good shot, skates well, has a decent skill-set and will be comfortable sliding up and down the lineup as needed.

This is a smart move acquiring Tlusty before the March 2 NHL trade deadline and especially with two rumored players off the board with Minnesota trading for Sean Bergenheim on Tuesday and the Pittsburgh Penguins acquiring Daniel Winnick today. If you snooze you lose, so well done by Winnipeg Jets G.M. Kevin Cheveldayoff.

The upside of a deal like this is that Jiri Tlusty is only 26 years old and could fit into the Jets plans moving forward if he plays well.

Head Coach Paul Maurice and Jiri Tlusty aren’t strangers as they were together with the Maple Leafs in 2007-08 and the Hurricanes from 2009-12. It will be interesting to see how he adapts to life in the Western Conference.