Free Agency Frenzy

Or not.  This year's National Hockey League free agent signing blitz that began on July 1st wasn't exactly that, a frenzy.  At least not for the Jets, which has been typical of General Manager Kevin Cheveldayoff's draft and develop style since he was hired by Jets owner Mark Chipman.  The Jets didn't sign any big-name, big-contract players due to their prospect cupboard  filling up nicely since the first time Cheveldayoff walked up to the podium in 2011 in St. Paul, Minnesota to select Mark Scheifele.  Not to mention the acquisition of prospects such as Joel Armia and Brendan Lemieux in the Evander Kane/Zach Bogosian trade that saw Tyler Myers and Drew Stafford come to Manitoba's capital.  They also have in their possession goaltenders Eric Comrie and  Connor Hellebyck, defencemen Josh Morrisey and Tucker Poolman as well as forwards Jack Roslovic, Scott Kosmachuck and Michael Spacek.

The Jets signed the players they needed and did not waste a pick.  This year saw Cheveldayoff sign forward Shawn Matthias from the Colorado Avalanche, center Quinton Howden from the Florida Panthers and defenceman Brian Strait from the New York Islanders.  Travis Harmonic, a Manitoba native and someone who up until recently wanted out of New York to be closer to his family in St. Malo would have been a nice fit in the Jets organization, but he rescinded his trade request and has elected to stay with the Isles.

A complete rundown of the Jets signings as of July 30, 2016 are as follows:

• RFA forward Brandon Tanev signed a one-year, two-way contract worth an AAV of $874,125 in the NHL on July 21, 2016.
• 2015 first-round pick Jack Roslovic signed a three-year entry-level contract ($1,137,500 AAV) on July 18, 2016.
• RFA forwards Adam Lowry and Joel Armia signed two-year contracts on July 14, 2016.
• RFA forward Mark Scheifele signed an eight-year contract ($6.125M AAV) on July 8, 2016.
• Defenceman Brenden Kichton signed a one-year, two-way contract ($600,000 AAV in the NHL) on July 8, 2016.
• Forward Mathieu Perreault signed a four-year extension ($4.125M AAV) on July 7, 2016.
• 2016 first-round pick Patrik Laine signed a three-year entry-level contract ($3.575M AAV) on July 3, 2016.
• Goaltending prospect Jamie Phillips signed a two-year entry-level contract ($675,000 AAV) on July 2, 2016.
• RFA defenceman Julian Melchiori signed a two-year contract ($625,000 AAV) on July 2, 2016.
• UFA forward Shawn Matthias signed a two-year contract ($2.125M AAV) on July 1, 2016.
• UFA forward Quinton Howden signed a one-year, two-way contract ($650,000 AAV in the NHL) on July 1, 2016.
• UFA defenceman Brian Strait signed a one-year contract ($600,000 AAV) on July 1, 2016.

The big news of course is Mark Scheifele's signing for eight years at 6.125 million annually.  Scheifele is the future of the franchise and one that has been slowly and methodically groomed by the Jets organization since 2011.  Former Jets great and Hall of Famer Dale Hawerchuck who coached Scheiefele while with the Ontario Hockey League's Barrie Colts has from day one said this kid is going to be something special.  So far, Hawerchuck has been prophetic in his appraisal of the young center.

The other re-signing of note would be that of Matthew Perreault.  The former Anaheim Duck saw his numbers increase over the 2015-2016 season and how can anyone forget his four-goal performance against the Florida Panthers?

The signings of Howden, Strait and Matthias may be just fodder for the NHL's upcoming expansion draft set for next summer to fill the roster of the incoming expansion Las Vegas team.  It remains to be seen how Cheveldayoff will handle the expansion draft.  Who will he protect?  Who will he let go?  Will he make more trades to accommodate the situation?  Time will tell.