As usual, the Winnipeg Jets had a quiet first day of free agency, but the team still signed a few goaltenders and defensemen.
Participating players…G – Kaapo Kahkonen ($1 million per year), RD – Colin Miller ($1.5 million per year for two years), G – Eric Comrie ($825,000 over two years)
No other National Hockey League GM followed suit, and the team signed 170 players on opening day alone, raising the salary cap by more than $345 million. Some of those players have previously worn a Jets uniform, and here is the list of players looking for a new team:
Players leaving…..C – Sean Monahan (CLM), W – Tyler Toffoli (SJ), LD – Brenden Dillon (NJ), G – Laurent Brossoit (CHI), LD – Kyle Capobianco (DAL), LW – Jeff Marotte (LA), LW – Jeffrey Veal (BOS), G – Collin D’Elia (EDM)
After Kevin Cheveldayoff's limited moves, he still has $10,261,309 to spend to fill out his roster. Winnipeg's current roster looks like this:
First, focusing on the Winnipeg Jets' potential lineup, here's a rough estimate of how much the RFAs will end up being paid:$2.75 million to $3 million), David Gustafson/Logan Stanley/Ville Heinola ($2.85 million to $3 million), that would leave about $4,661,309 – $4,261,309 to acquire a center who could potentially replace Brad Lambert.
or
Give young Lambert and his cheap $887K contract a chance in the NHL and use the remaining $3,774,309-$3,374,309 for another position upgrade. Let's say you don't need Mason Appleton anymore. Add $2,166,667 to that amount and you could easily get a top-six talent for $5.5-6M. Or, if you want even more wiggle room, find a player you can afford Alex Iafallo's $4M contract and have $7.5M+ to spend. You could even aim even higher and find a way to move Neal Pionk's $58.75M contract and find a better second-pair running back with the remaining money (About $9.5 million in space if they don't have to cover part of Pionk's contract.).
He currently has limited UFA options and remains unsigned (Henrique (C), Brody (RD/LD), Tarasenko (RW), Sprong (W), Addison (RD), Yanmark (W)Such), I really think the main path for the Winnipeg Jets to improve the above lineup is through the trade route. Moving one or some of the following could fill potential weaknesses such as a 1st or 2nd pairing running back or top 6 scoring/talent (Pick prospect Rutger McGroarty, UFA candidate Nikolaj Ehlers or another player.).
In terms of what the Manitoba Moose will be like next season, there are undoubtedly holes at forward level and the left side of the defence needs some serious reinforcement, but the goaltender position for the Moose and Jets appears to be pretty much set in stone.
Things will probably slow down a little bit, but maybe that will make the trade market a little hotter. We'll just have to wait and see how things play out. Either way, Chevy must be happy that the first day of free agency is over… he said:no“,”no“,”Am not interested“,”If my client doesn't receive any other offers” I hear this so many times that I’m sure I’m having flashbacks to my high school prom.
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