Winnipeg Jets: Return of the Jets

[TMLGilmour93]

The Atlanta Thrashers were sold to True North Sports Entertainment during the summer and moved to . A new GM in Kevin Cheveldayoff and a promoted head coach from the Manitoba Moose’s Claude Noel. The first rookie drafted in Mark Scheifele. The naming of the Jets’ first captain in Andrew Ladd and the unveiling of the Jets new Logo and jerseys had the team in a complete uproar.

Finally the season got underway with a home game against the Montreal Canadiens. The Jets came out flying and scraped a nail biting 6-5 shootout win. The beginning of the first season of the new Jets in Winnipeg has begun and to see this team turn around and bring a cup back to Canada could be long, but the town seems to be happy with a rebuilding franchise with 13,000 season tickets sold.


I have simmed up to today’s date, February 2, 2012. The Winnipeg Jets have a record of 21-27-3 and sit in 28^th place in the NHL sitting tied with the Toronto Maple Leafs, 2 points ahead of the last placed St. Louis Blues, and only a point behind the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Jets are 10 points out of the playoffs with less than a month and 14 games left until the trade deadline. Within the next 2 weeks it should be clearer as to whether or not the Winnipeg Jets will become sellers come their first deadline day back in Canada.

The Manitoba Moose were moved to St. John’s Newfoundland to accommodate the Jets and have been settling into the AHL as expected. They have a record of 17-24-3 and also sit in 28^th place in the league. They are 1 and 7 points up on Oklahoma City and Connecticut respectively. They are 2 points behind Worcester, Rockford, and Milwaukee who are all sitting on 39 points. The IceCaps are sitting 13 points out of a playoff spot and are looking to improve in the second half of the season.


I will be playing this out as GM Kevin Cheveldayoff and hope to get the Jets to the playoffs within the first couple seasons after hopefully turning this team and some of its contract woes (Nik Antropov, Ron Hainsey) into promising players and prospects. There are going to be a lot of UFA’s coming up this off-season so I am going to see what they can bring me over the stretch towards the deadline.


Hope to have a bunch of you guys follow.


Cheers

[TMLGilmour93]

Re: Winnipeg Jets: Return of the Jets

Welcome back to everyone. A news update for the month of February is here. In a month where the Jets did more than climb the standings, they made a trade, and invigorated the city with a glimpse of hope at making the playoffs this year. First off, the trade that Kevin Cheveldayoff made on the 19^th of February was for what he called an excellent back-up goaltender for the future. The Winnipeg Jets have traded this year’s 3^rd round draft pick to St. Louis in exchange for AHL goaltender Ben Bishop and their 4^th round draft pick in the upcoming draft.

Trade: February 19, 2012
Winnipeg trades their 2012 3^rd Round Pick to St. Louis in exchange for AHL goaltender Ben Bishop (77) and their 2012 4^th Round Pick


The Jets also improved on the ice, but at a cost. The Winnipeg Jets went 8-4-1 during February with one more game to play before the trade deadline. However they lost the services of Evander Kane for 4-5 weeks due to an MCL sprain. They now sit 24^th in the league but are still 7 points out of the playoffs. They have hope but the feel around the MTS Center is that GM Kevin Cheveldayoff will be selling come the deadline. Some names being shopped are:


Centers Jim Slater, Tim Stapleton, and Kyle Wellwood.
Left Wings Tanner Glass and Jason Jaffray along with Right Wing Eric Fehr.
Defenseman Johny Oduya and Randy Jones have also been involved in talks.


The main team the Winnipeg Jets are currently in talks with is the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Blue Jackets are in last place in the NHL and just about everyone on the roster is up for grabs.


It will be interesting seeing which way GM Kevin Cheveldayoff will take with the Winnipeg Jets and how they will look following the NHL trade deadline.


In news around the locker room, Nikolai Antropov seems to be playing his way into untradeable status as he leads the team in points with 48 points through 64 games. Although GM Cheveldayoff says he is always listening to what other teams propose, he will neither confirm nor deny whether or not the team has any interest in keeping the centerman.

[shotz]

Re: Winnipeg Jets: Return of the Jets

Mint updates, I'll be followinng

[Dynasty]

Re: Winnipeg Jets: Return of the Jets

Nice work so far man, will be following.

[bthomp05]

Re: Winnipeg Jets: Return of the Jets

Nice work, will follow

[TMLGilmour93]

Re: Winnipeg Jets: Return of the Jets

Mint updates, I'll be followinng

Thanks man, I hope you enjoy!

Nice work so far man, will be following.

Nice work, will follow

Keep up the good work yourselves gents. It is much appreciated to have a few guys follow.

[SENS_AK27]

Re: Winnipeg Jets: Return of the Jets

TML I'd enjoy your posts more if they didn't have smilies...I think it has to do with copy/pasting write-ups from Word.

[TMLGilmour93]

Re: Winnipeg Jets: Return of the Jets

TML I'd enjoy your posts more if they didn't have smilies...I think it has to do with copy/pasting write-ups from Word.

Got a better way of fixing it rather than editing every post? I am on an old computer.

[TMLGilmour93]

Re: Winnipeg Jets: Return of the Jets

BREAKING NEWS:

The Winnipeg Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff has called a press conference this afternoon regarding a trade that the team has made. “The Winnipeg Jets would like to thank Jim Slater for being with the organization since he was drafted back in 2002 by the Thrashers. We wish him all the best in Washington. In exchange for Jim the Winnipeg Jets have received rookie center Cody Eakin along with Washington’s 4th round pick in this years NHL Entry Draft.

Trade: February 26, 2012
Winnipeg trades Center Jim Slater (79) to Washington for Center Cody Eakin (75) and their 2012 4th Round Pick

[TMLGilmour93]

Re: Winnipeg Jets: Return of the Jets

Welcome to the 2012 NHL Trade Deadline:

With 4 hours to the NHL Trade Deadline, the first trade of the day comes out of Columbus. Columbus GM Scott Howson announced that the Blue Jackets were sending goaltender Steve Mason (85) and Ceneter Derrick Brassard (83) to the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for goaltender Ondrej Pavalec (84) and right winger Eric Fehr (81).

The trade was announced in Winnipeg minutes later along with the news of a second trade with the Minnesota Wild. The Jets have parted ways with defenseman Johny Oduya (82) being sent to the Wild in exchange for defensemen Marco Scandella (78) and Greg Zanon (81) along with their 3rd round pick in this years NHL Entry Draft.

Trade: February 28, 2012
G Ondrej Pavelec (84) + RW Eric Fehr to Columbus for G Steve Mason (85) + C Derrick Brassard (83)

Trade: February 28, 2012
D Johny Oduya (82) to Minnesota for D Marco Scandella (78) + D Greg Zanon (81) + 2012 3rd Round Pick (MIN)

With 3 hours to the deadline there was more noise coming out of Winnipeg as GM Kevin Cheveldayoff is extremely busy and says he is far from being done. “The first trade I have to announce is with the Pittsburgh Penguins. We sent center Kyle Wellwood (81) and got left wing Eric Tangradi (77) and defenseman Simon Despres (74). The second trade is with the Florida Panthers. We sent defensemen Derek Meech (74) and Mark Flood (74) to get left winger Quinton Howden (69) and center John McFarland (67). We felt that with these 2 trades we stock our thin prospects pool and prepare for our future here in Winnipeg as a winning franchise.”
In news around the league, there are lots of trade talks but nothing has come yet.

Trade: February 28, 2012
C Kyle Wellwood to Pittsburgh for LW Eric Tangradi (77) + D Simon Despres (74)

Trade: February 28, 2012
D Derek Meech (74) + Mark Flood (74) to Florida in exchange for LW Quinton Howden (69) + C John McFarland (67)

Only 2 hours left until the deadline and the Winnipeg Jets are getting rid of a lot of dead weight so it seems. They have made another 2 trades this past hour and it is certain that the rest of this season could be an interesting one. They really could go either way after acquiring a top 6 forward in Derrick Brassard and top goaltender Steve Mason. As for their 2 trades this hour, here is what they did.

Trade: February 28, 2012
D Randy Jones (78) + C Tim Stapleton (77) to Philadelphia for D Matt Walker (75) + D Marc-Andre Bourdon (72)

Trade: February 28, 2012
LW Jason Jaffray (75) to the New York Rangers in return for Dustin McIlrath + 2012 5th Round Pick (NYR)

The first trade to not involve the Winnipeg Jets today finally occurred with the Washington Capitals sending C Marcus Johansson and C Jay Bengle to Anaheim in return for a 2012 2nd Round Pick (ANA).

Just over an hour left until the deadline and Winnipeg is still firing trades out their door on all cylinders. One more trade for a prospect gives the Winnipeg Jets another prospect that will hopefully bring the Jets back to the top of league in the future.

Trade: February 28, 2012
LW Tanner Glass (79) to Tampa Bay and get RW Carter Ashton (75)

There are also 2 trades to announce from around the NHL. The Columbus Blue Jackets acquire C Jay McClement from the Colorado Avalanche and give up the services of RW Darren Haydar and C Martin St. Pierre. Nashville receives D Yannick Weber from Montreal but loses RW Matt Halischuk and a 2013 7th Round pick (NSH).

The NHL trade deadline is nearly come and passed. There are just a few more trades trickling in and Winnipeg is no exception. They made another 2 trades and have clearly gone for selling a ton of veterans that will be Unrestricted Free Agents come this offseason and gotten as much as possible for them.

Trade: February 28, 2012
D Arturs Kulda (74) is sent to Toronto in exchange for D Simon Gysbers (74)

Trade: February 28, 2012
G Chris Mason has gone to Buffalo and Winnipeg receives a 2012 5th Round Pick

Around the league there was one final trade that we think will get Calgary GM fired as he traded his 2012 1st Round pick and forward Rastislav Ivanans to the New York Rangers in exhange for D Anton Stralman.

GM Kevin Cheveldayoff, “I want to thank all the players we let go of today for all their hard work and determination they put forth for our organization. We have decided as an organization that we want to rebuild and remold the Winnipeg Jets and let go of the direction the past has held for this franchise back in Atlanta. We feel that we really owe Eric Fehr and Ondrej Pavelec a lot for what they did back in Atlanta and felt that they needed a change in scenery as they were both having off seasons for themselves. Pavy is still young and will be a phenominal goaltender someday. But we felt moving forward that this trade benifited us in getting what we believe can be a legitimate first line center in Derrick Brassard.”

[TMLGilmour93]

Re: Winnipeg Jets: Return of the Jets

TML I'd enjoy your posts more if they didn't have smilies...I think it has to do with copy/pasting write-ups from Word.

Were the last few better for not having smilies?

[SENS_AK27]

Re: Winnipeg Jets: Return of the Jets

Yea, a lot better and easier to read. A good recap but if feel you may have taken advantage of the AI a little by trading for prospects. I don't see Howden, Ashton, or Depres being traded for so very little but to each their own.

[TMLGilmour93]

Re: Winnipeg Jets: Return of the Jets

Yea, a lot better and easier to read. A good recap but if feel you may have taken advantage of the AI a little by trading for prospects. I don't see Howden, Ashton, or Depres being traded for so very little but to each their own.

I understand where you are coming from, but the only one of those 3 that looks to become better than 3rd line or 3rd pairing is Despres. Ashton is a 75 with B- and I don't see him being better than 82 at best, and Howden, well, he is a long shot in my books, 69 and B-, I don't know if he will even hit 80. But thats me. I traded to teams that were looking for depth to make a big push deep into the playoffs, so I thought they were good. Much better than the Montreal and Rangers trade. Calgary got burned.

Going back, I am pretty sure Pittsburgh might have even offered that, and I countered putting in Tangradi instead of a veteran and didn't expect it to work.

[SENS_AK27]

Re: Winnipeg Jets: Return of the Jets

Yea, I can see your point I guess I'm thinking in terms of real trade value and potential rather then NHL 12 Logic. I hate how EA ranks prospects so low so their value is crap. I used the Ultimate Roster and actually am excited to see guys like Murray, Yakupov, Grigs, Maata, and Forsberg all in the top 10 for the draft.

[TMLGilmour93]

Re: Winnipeg Jets: Return of the Jets

The End of the 2011-12 season:

The Winnipeg Jets finished off their first season back in the NHL since moving to Denver back in 1996. All in all, the Jets made a push to climb up the standings but even with some late season wins, could not pull off an above .500 season. The Jets finished with a .500 record of 39-39-4. The one positive out of that record is that they came 2nd in the league for least amount of overtime or shootout losses. Only the Devils had fewer with 3 losses after regulation time. Another positive is that although they were last in the Eastern Conference, they were only 6 points behind the Boston Bruins who squeaked into the last playoff spot in their final game of the season.

The playoffs showed the Jets they could be in real tough next year as 3 division rivals made the 2nd Round of the playoffs (Washington, Tampa Bay, and Florida). Tampa Bay defeated Washington in the 2nd Round but lost to eventual Cup Champs Buffalo in the Conference Final as Florida did the round before. The Detroit Red Wings claimed the Western Conference Title again this year before losing key players Bertuzzi and Holmstrom. Martin Brodeur also decided to hang up his skates this summer as he finished his illustrious career in New Jersey.

Now onto the player aspect of the Jets, team captain Andrew Ladd posted career highs in goals and assists along with his point total. He was the only Jet to notch 30 goals and had 35 assists to total 65 points. Line mate Nik Antropov tallied 26 goals and 39 assists to also notch 65 points this season.

The biggest disappointment this year was defenseman Zach Bogosian. And it wasn’t in his point totals. His 7 G and 34 points were not bad. In fact that’s a career high in assists and points with 27. But his plus minus was horrendous. He was a team worst -15. He needs to improve on this if the Jets have any hope of making the post season next spring.

On the goaltending side of things, Steve Mason and Ben Bishop were both acquired at the deadline. Steve Mason played 13 games and posted a 6-7 record as Jet. His season totals were 52 games played with 22 wins and 21 losses. His GAA was 2.94 and save % was .902%. With some hard work in the offseason, Mason is hoping to come back next year and push the Jets into the post season. Ben Bishop played all 5 of his NHL games with the Jets and went 4-1. His GAA was 2.00 and his save % was .924%. Lets hope he keeps up his work ethic over the summer and he shows Jets fans they can trust in him when Mason needs his rest. Mason and Bishop posted 2 and 1 shutouts this season respectively.

Looking forward to the draft, the Jets will be looking at goaltending prospects and the right wing and maybe a couple centerman. Everywhere else is currently looking solid for depth. When it comes to picks, here is what the Jets hold.

1st Round – (WNP)
2nd Round – (WNP)
3rd Round – (MIN)
4th Round – (WNP) (STL) (WAS)
5th Round – (WNP) (BUF) (NYR)
6th Round – (WNP)
7th Round – (WNP)

The 2012-13 season will see the salary cap be from the bottom of 49.800M to the ceiling of 65.800M. The Jets currently have 47.785M spent but with some signings over the summer should easily fall within the cap without having to alter too much of their line-up.