Long term deals for Kyle Connor and Patrik Laine are priorities for the team's future. Jacob Trouba needs to fulfill 1 more season before he's eligible for Unrestricted Free Agency (UFA) in the summer of 2020, so he'll either sign through Arbitration (again) or the Jets give him a 1 year raise from his restricted free agency rights. Alternatively, Jacob Trouba could have his player rights traded to another team, and the Jets could receive some valuable picks and prospects in return. If this happens, its quite likely that the same (or similar) salary value could be offered to Tyler Myers.
It's highly likely that Kevin Hayes, Tyler Myers, and Matt Hendricks find new teams with potential raises in salary. They will be missed, but to help fit the Jet's cap requirements, some unrestricted free agents in 2019 will get better offers and opportunities else where.
I projected the 2019 2nd and 3rd round picks to be in the ballpark of Henri Nikkanen and Judd Caulfield respectively. Seems fitting for the team to add another Finn and American to the roster as rookies, with similar countrymen already on the team to welcome them and help them adjust to their new life ahead. They'll most likely help fill the AHL (Moose) roster or play in their respective junior leagues (pending player development).
The big "if" in this projection is Kulikov waiving his NTC to go to FLA, and since FLA originally drafted him, there is a connection there that may work for all parties involved. This gives Kulikov a chance to regain more consistent ice time, instead of being that 7th D as a healthy scratch for most of the season with the Jets. Kulikov can also find chemistry with new D pairings, and this also free's up the needed cap space to help provide a contract offer for Andrew Copp in the process.
Some good news comes to Kristian Vesalainen, Mason Appleton, and Tucker Poolman as full time newly added NHL roster players. These rookies will get an opportunity to provide depth in the Jets roster, and can contribute on special teams (Power Play and Penalty Kill respectively). Its quite likely that Sami Niku and Joe Morrow will split some time as 6th and 7th D on the bottom pairing. If Poolman struggles to make positive contributions overall, he may go through waivers and Nelson Nogier could get called up as his replacement during the regular season as well.
If you like this projection and description of how the future of the Winnipeg Jets could look like moving forward in the 2019/20 season, let me know in the replies below and rate this post please. If there's enough interest from people I'd consider doing a similar in depth projection in the 2019/20 season for other teams upon request, thanks.
If you want Laine to sign for that, you'll have to bring the years down to about 4 or 5. Otherwise on a 8 year deal he's probably over $10M. As inconsistent as he is, he's still one of the top 5 goal scorers in the league and he'll only get better. No chance he settles for $8.125M for 8 years
If you want Laine to sign for that, you'll have to bring the years down to about 4 or 5. Otherwise on a 8 year deal he's probably over $10M. As inconsistent as he is, he's still one of the top 5 goal scorers in the league and he'll only get better. No chance he settles for $8.125M for 8 years
Thanks for your feedback, I've adjusted the Laine length in term to suit the AAV.
If you want Laine to sign for that, you'll have to bring the years down to about 4 or 5. Otherwise on a 8 year deal he's probably over $10M. As inconsistent as he is, he's still one of the top 5 goal scorers in the league and he'll only get better. No chance he settles for $8.125M for 8 years
A top 5 goal scorer that currently sits outside the top 20? Yeah sure he’ll get better, but this is one player where there is no way you can blame the situation he is in for not producing as much as he would.
He SHOULD be a top 5 goal scorer but there’s a lot of questions, therefore, both sides should realistically be looking at a bridge contract barring anything surprising in the playoffs
A top 5 goal scorer that currently sits outside the top 20? Yeah sure he’ll get better, but this is one player where there is no way you can blame the situation he is in for not producing as much as he would.
He SHOULD be a top 5 goal scorer but there’s a lot of questions, therefore, both sides should realistically be looking at a bridge contract barring anything surprising in the playoffs
He's having 1 down season.. his first 2 were spectacular. I'm talking in terms of pure shooters in the league, he's easily top 5. & I agree that a long term deal probably isn't what's going to happen or should, but a 5 year deal is very likely given the market value. Laine has always said he's better than Matthews from before they were even drafted and Matthews got 5 years, Nylander got 6 years.. Guys in that draft class range are getting more term rather than bridge deals. Laine won't accept a bridge deal and he'll just sign an offer sheet with more years and more money if Winnipeg doesn't offer it