Quoting: Windjammer
Rittich would be a maybe for me. I think he'll probably want more than the Jets should pay. I'd just wait and see how things shake out after the XD and free agency starts.
I agree with your frustration on playing the kids. I don't think will change much though, unless Chipman and Chevy decide to put a unified foot down and push for youth.
As far as who I would trade Copp for, I don't know. First off it will depend on whether or not and for how much Copp will or won't sign for. If he is willing to sign for a reasonable dollar and term, I'd like the Jets to keep him.
If the Jets were to trade Copp though, I wouldn't personally target Jones as I don't think he'll re-sign in Winnipeg. I'd rather the Jets wait and see where Jones wants to go and then see who becomes available from that team clearing out the cap space to fit an extended Jones in. Between that and the XD, I think some unexpected players may become available and that is who I would want the Jets to target.
Yeah I think some crazy team is going to give him around the same he is making right now. Probably a little less but the guy is still only 28 and some team will sign him for more than the Jets can afford. Yeah being patient would be a good thing because Berdin seems to be ready to take the next step and play some NHL games. He looked really good in the AHL. So give the guy a chance. You have one of the top 5 goalies in the league so having this kid as your backup would be safe.
I don't think Chipman or Chevy have the balls to make a tough decision like that and put their foot down. It seems a little too friendly in that front office for anything big to happen. It blows me away that year after year the team has had the talent but settle for mediocrity. The Jets are going to waste their prime years with Ehlers, Schief, Helleuyck, Connor, Lowry and now PLD as a core when it could have been almost dynasty worthy. In all the years the Jets have been back in Winnipeg they haven't made a tough decision that would better the team and bring them to the next level. Firing Noel needed to happen. That team was real bad.
I would really love to keep Copp. But I think he is going to be asking for $4M+. I don't see him as a top 6 forward. He is perfect on the wing with Lowry on the 3rd line. I really hope he sees himself in that role and how good he is in that role. But unfortunately with most players it takes them till they are older than Copp to figure out they are nothing more than a role player and not a top 6 forward who is a highly skilled player who can put up big points. The one example I can think of is Eric Fehr. I know him personally so I know that he struggled big time coming out of junior into the AHL/ NHL level and he wasn't producing like he was in junior. But when he fought through injury in Winnipeg and went to Finland to play he realized that he wasn't that goal scorer/ point producer that he was in junior so he worked hella hard at his defensive game and he became a great role player and won a Stanley Cup.
If the Jets were to trade Copp I would be really happy the Jets traded for Jones. If Jones accepted the trade to Winnipeg I would sign him to a max deal right away. BUT if the Jets make that happen then I would hope they dont make a big push for Hamilton. My plan would be make a big push for Hamilton and swing big. Like the deal I proposed in this situation. If the Jets miss on that then I would circle back to Jones and see what could happen there. If Pionk wasn't an RFA would you rather have Pionk or Jones? I'm just guessing that if a deal were to happen for Jones Pionk might have to be part of the pieces.