If Pionk is going to be playing top line defensive minutes you guys are going to get lit up bad. He's atrocious in his own end. You guys need to figure out a better option for a top RD. He's a top 6 RD at very best and possibly nothing more then an AHL top line dman.

2 things.

#1 I think Pionk surprises this season. Do I necessarily think he is a top paring dman? No. But I think he is going to do a hell of a lot better than people are anticipating especially playing along side Morrissey.

#2 I was going to try and sign UFA Travis Hamonic (Manitoba boy) and put him with Morrissey instead. I think there is a very good chance he signs with us as he has already expressed his desire to play close to home. We might even be able to get him at a slight discount but we will see.

Well he can't be much worse then he was last season. When your everyday pairing is Marc Staal and he's better in his own zone there should be a red flag going off.

I think Morrissey boosts everyone around him’s play, so I agree Pionk should fair okay.
But I ABSOLUTEY agree Hamonic should be a top target for the Jets. Especially with Buff’s contract coming up, they will need a top 4 rhd, I’m not sure they will be able to resign Buff

That is exactly what I was thinking! When Buff's contract is done, I think he is done in Winnipeg as well. That will leave a gap and having Hamonic there already would be perfect. I do think Winnipeg would be his preferred destination too...wow that was weird to say lol.

Pretty sure Hamonic has a place on Lake of the Woods so Winnipeg is about as close to there as you can get.

He'd be a good addition but hopefully at a reasonable price as he'll be what 29 when he's a free agent?

I am interested to see how it goes down near the end of his contract. Do we potentially look at trading him to get something in return? Do we sign him to a team friendly deal here if he wants to finish his career with us? Or does he maybe go back to Chicago to close things out.

I really cannot tell at this point.

That he does! I can confirm that because it is about 5 minutes from my friends cabin haha. And yes he will be, I think he'd be great but price would have to be right as you said. With his history and publicly saying he wants to play close to home, I am hoping that he can be had for a reasonable price.

I honestly couldn't even take a guess haha. I am definitely interested to see as well. I feel like a short team friendly deal might actually be a good option OR I could see him playing a year or two in Minnesota as he is from there and it's close to Winnipeg anyways.

Yeah I agree, I mean I love Buff he is the spirit of the Jets and would love to see him stick around but I also like to think rationally and take a guess at what we could potentially get in return for him.

I think we will be doing just fine in regards with the development of our younger D over the next few years so I also wouldn't rule out us moving him, getting some pieces and having him come back as a UFA to finish as well, but time will tell.

Yeah I’ve been pegging Minnesota as the spot I likely see Buff going but that’s purely my own speculation. I’m a Buff fan but it’s also tough having him playing only limited amounts of games in a season and I guess as he gets older the injuries probably won’t lessen