Jets Alumni Do City Proud

What a sweet shot.  Laurie Boschman and Teemu Selanne - Forever a Jet.

Ah.  Sweet revenge.  It matters not that it came 16 years or so later and that most of the rosters on both sides are grandfathers.  The Winnipeg Jets 1.0 boys of my childhood finally took out the 1980's Wayne Gretzky-led Edmonton Oilers in front of all the world to see.

After a three-goal lead collapsed in the second period-just as I thought the Jets were going to get a taste of their own medicine-Teemu Selanne, the hero of he 1.0 90's Jets, was tripped by Craig Simpson (in a Homer-like move) to give the Finnish Flash a penalty shot to win it very late in the third.  Of all people to give a game-winning breakaway opportunity to, you give it to Teemu Selanne (well, either him or Hawerchuck)  O.k.  I'll take that.  Selanne pops one under Curtis Joseph's glove, wins it 5-4 with his second goal and in a game that really means nothing, except it kinda does, Selanne finishes a script (?) that would have been forever lore if this had any modern day significance.


It was just cool to see, even if the clock didn't stop and any penalty was awarded as a penalty shot. 

Dave Ellet (#2) and Teemu Selanne (#13)

It was nice to see my adolescent-age hockey heroes back together for what will surely be the last time these guys play together on a stage such as this ever again.  Laurie Boschman, Dougie Smail, Thomas Steen, Dave Babych, Dave Ellet and Bob Essensa along with Hawerchuck and Selanne, who I finally got to see play on the same line together.  Even my favourite #12, Morris Lukowich looked like he didn't think it was a just a meaningless exhibition game, as he was racing down his old hunting ground on the left wing creating chances often.  Even original Jet, and the man John Ferguson gave up to originally acquire Boschman, Willy Lidstrom, had a funny on-air moment with commentator Scott Oake.  As Oake was asking Lidstrom about being traded to the Oilers and going on to win multiple Stanley Cups, Lidstrom's line was hitting the ice and he simply said, "I gotta go play."

Even the practice jerseys are a beauty.

Overall, I enjoyed it.  It was nice to see Winnipeg on the radar if only for two days by the NHL.  Other than the obvious and inevitable attention going to be paid to Patrik Laine, the Jets (and most western teams to be fair) don't get paid all that much attention by the league, but to the Jets in particular.  This game between the stars of the past and tomorrow afternoon's game between the stars of the present looks good on Winnipeg and True North Sports & Entertainment.  It indeed has a rich hockey heritage and championships to prove it including Stanley Cups, Memorial Cups, Allan Cups, world championships and an Olympic gold medal.

Not bad, eh? 





 

Check out Richard Brignall's Forgotten Heroes:  Winnipeg's Hockey Heritage.  It is the premier history of amateur and professional hockey in Winnipeg.  Then you can see how this celebration weekend in Winnipeg is a modern, living compendium to that history.

Now let's see if our present-day heroes can make it much more sweeter by taking down the still hated Edmonton Oilers tomorrow afternoon.

Go Jets Go.

Selanne: Winnipeg Is A Very Special Place For Me

Teemu Selanne, the 1993 NHL rookie of the year and National Hockey League record-holder of 76 goals for an NHL freshman and forever a Jet, is back in Winnipeg for the Heritage Classic and caught up with TSN's Darren Dreger to give his feelings on the alumni game, Patrik Laine and what the city of Winnipeg still means to him.

The link to the interview can be found here:  http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/video/selanne-on-winnipeg-it-s-a-very-special-place-for-me%7E977760

Laine Wins First Battle

Although both players down-played the importance of their first head-to-head meeting, Austen Matthews and Patrik Laine, the apparent future hall of famers that went one-two in this past July's NHL Entry Draft, put on a show at the MTS Centre last night that went from bad to worse or from rags to riches, depending on which team had you laughing by the end of the second period, or by the end of the third.

Although this was a game that the Jets had absolutely no business winning, they managed to pull together their second come-from-behind overtime win.  They were sloppy for half the game.  They left Hutchinson out to dry twice and for the fourth straight game they gave up four goals.  If it weren't for Laine, the Toronto fan base and media would be securing the parade route. 

As for the "competition" between the boys wonder?  Matthews ended up getting only one point last night  An assist on a nice feed to William Nylander on the power-play for Toronto's third goal.



Laine on the other hand?  Well he kind of got the first of many hat tricks of his career.  The third goal being the overtime winner.  Again, it wasn't four goals, but it has been four goals in four games, including a game-tying goal and a game winner and an assist on a game-tying goal.  So four goals and an assist each for Matthews and Laine thus far.  Five points a piece.  However Laine has a game-winning goal and has been more of a key player in his teams victories.  On that tie-breaker alone, I give the edge to Laine and by his team beating Matthew's, I say Laine wins the first battle.

Laine vs Matthews: The Comparison

It's not as if this hasn't been done before, but for this post, I want to defer to an article on NHL.com comparing Winnipeg's Patrik Laine and Toronto's Austen Matthews after their debuts.  I suppose every hockey reporter will be doing the same around mid-season.  But alas...

My own thing is this:  Different players. Different style of play.  Laine is a pure goal scorer, while Matthews is probably the more all-around player.  Not necessarily the better player, but I think he gets the nod for his back-checking.  Laine, however, is no slouch on the defensive side of the game either.  After only three games, it's impossible and presumptuous to predict who is the "better" player.  Certainly one of these guys-barring injury-will claim the Calder trophy.  I say Laine, my bias notwithstanding.  Both are probably already headed to the Hall of Fame (presuming?) and they will probably always be linked to each other like Gretzky and Lemieux or Crosby and Ovechkin.

Austin has his four-goal debut in a losing cause.  Laine has his first NHL goal plus an assist in a winning cause.  Wednesday, they meet head-to-head for the first time at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg.  Let's see who leads his team to victory more convincingly.

Alumnis Excited To Be Back

Already in and around the city of Winnipeg ahead of the scheduled October 22nd NHL Heritage Classic Alumni Game, members of the Winnipeg Jets "classics," are heavily anticipating the reunion game between themselves and their old nemesis of the 80s (and for some older members of the Jets alumni; even the 70s of the WHA) the Edmonton Oilers.

Doing different appearances around southern Manitoba for some of the many True North-led charities (with Mick E. Moose in tow) such past Winnipeg Jets players such as Morris Lukowich, Laurie Boschman, Jim Kyte and Kris King, as well as team captain Dale Hawerchuck, have been in town for over a week to take in some early festivities, re-acquaint themselves with their old teammates as well as the city.

Some 75 invitations went out to former Jets players, coaches and other dignitaries.  50 were accepted.  So you can be sure the Jets of old are hankering to get at those Oilers one last time.  Some may even forget it's an exhibition.

Lukowich himself says he's thrilled for he opportunity.

I'm really looking forward to both games.  The "real" game on Sunday will be instense and exciting.  But the nostalgic promises of the alumni game on Saturday has some real emotional bearing for a lot of people.  For the Jets 1.0 classics to emerge victorious, Selanne's the key.  You see he's a little younger than most of the Oilers.  Maybe he can use that dominant speed to tap in a couple and be our ace-in-the-hole.

Little Injured, Out Indefinately

Winnipeg Jets forward Brian Little, who missed the last 25 games of last season with a compressed vertebrae on a dirty hit from the Tampa Bay Lightning's  Anton Stralman (a hit that was not called and ultimately resulted in coach Paul Maurice's ejection, by the way) will be out of the Jets lineup indefinitely with a lower-body injury suffered in the first period in the home opener against the Carolina Hurricanes.



Alexander Burmistrov is figured to be slated into the lineup Monday against Boston.

Laine Scores In Debut; Jets Come From Behind, Beat Canes in OT

Well it wasn't four goals on five shots to start a career, but it was a big goal and an assist for Patrik Laine to help the Winnipeg Jets come back from three goals down in the third period to win their NHL season-opener 5-4 in extra time over the Carolina Hurricanes.

It took the young Finn a while to get going, but in the third period, when his team needed him, he unloaded a wicked wrist-shot on the power-play to help the Jets reduce the Hurricanes lead to 4-3 about 30 seconds after captain Blake wheeler scored a short-handed goal to make it 4-2.  A couple of minutes later and Matthew Perrault scored with just over a minute remaining in the third period, with an assist from Laine, to tie the game and allow Blake wheeler to feed Mark Scheifele the cross-crease pass for the win in overtime.

Starting Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck was weak in net.  There was two goals he should have had and even Ondrej Pavelec would have made those saves.  I'm afraid without the comeback by the Jets and timely goals by Laine, Perrault and Wheeler, this would have been an embarrassing loss.

But as it is, Patrik Laine has his first NHL goal out of the way with many more to come, I'm sure.  The more he gets comfortable with his new teammates and his role, the Alexander Ovechkin comparisons may continue.

Pavelec Among Seven Sent Down To The Moose

Pending waivers, long-time starting Winnipeg Jets goaltender Ondrej Pavelec has been sent down to the Manitoba Moose along with seven skaters.  Forwards Nic Petan, Andrew Copp, Anthony Peluso, Chase DeLeo and Marko Dano.  Defencemen Brian Strait and Julian Melchiori have also been cut from the opening-night roster.

This has been something Jets fans have been clamouring for for some time now.  With the youth movement in full swing in Winnipeg, compounded by Pavelec's dwindling save percentage and increase in his goals against average, not to mention his $4 million cap hit; the Jets finally demoted their long-time go-to guy in net.

This will not be a permenent stay for Pavelec.  Although he is being a total professional and is carrying himself as the team player he always has been, Pavelec will be called back when one of the young bucks taking his place falters.  And it will happen.  Micheal Hutchinson may stay in the show with the big club for the long haul, but Connor Hellebyuck will need some seasoning and isn't quite the saviour in goal everyone seems to be making him out to be.  At least not in this early phase of the new season.

The wins should go up for the Manitoba Moose now that Pavelec is there.  He surely is meant to be a mentor to Eric Comrie, the real goalie of the Jets future.  Pavelec is not there to gain experience or to get himself back into game-shape.  He's there because he's just not good enough to help the Winnipeg Jets achieve their goals.  Pavelec may be draft fodder for the new, and as yet unnamed Las Vegas team.  Come next June, don't expect Ondrej Pavelec to be employed in any way, shape or form by the Winnipeg Jets.  His contract is up at the end of this season and with his $4 million and change salary, no other team wanted to claim him off waivers.  If he doesn't go to Las Vegas, the next time you hear the name Ondrej Pavelec (if at all) it may be in the KHL, or the Czech elite league.

Another Nine Re-Assigned From Jets Training Camp Roster

Quinton Howden, Eric Comrie, J.C. Lipon, Jack Roslovic and Logan Stanley highlight the names of nine Jets prospects that have been re-assigned to the Manitoba Moose or sent back to their junior teams.

Value For Trouba

So now that Winnipeg Jets defenceman Jacob Trouba has made a public request for a trade, what would be the value of a 22-year-old right-handed shooter that is projected to be a top-four defender?

Mind you, Trouba can still sign with the Jets and this all goes away.  However since he has made his feelings known to the Jets brass since May, I doubt this will turn out right for Jets fans.  Unless of course Kevin Cheveldayoff can make the right deal that would have a similar player coming back to the Jets.
What would a deal that would benefit the Jets look like?

Lets see...

Teams that come up in the scenario so far (at least theoretically) are:

Edmonton Oilers - Does Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli have an interest in Trouba?  Well, judging by the fact Oilers coach Todd McLellan who was the bench boss for Team North America for the World Cup of Hockey tournament and he didn't insert Trouba into the line-up until Aaron Eckblad went down with a neck injury says a lot about how he feels about Trouba's talents.  if they were to do a deal with the Jets, Darnell Nurse or or Oscar Klefbom would have to be in the discussion.  However, in a few years when the Oilers re-sign Connor McDavid and other up-and-comers such as Leon Draisaitl, Trouba's salary could be the deal breaker here.

Philadelphia Flyers - The Flyers do have a couple of left-handed defencemen in their system.  Russian junior Ivan Provorov and another Manitoba native, Elkhorn-born Travis Sanheim.
Provorov is a Western Hockey League defenceman of the year with the Brandon Wheat Kings, so the Flyers would probably balk at him being part of any trade anyway.  However Flyers GM Ron Hextall must have watched the World Cup of Hockey and had visions of sugar plums in his head at the thought of pairing up Trouba with Calder trophy finalist Shayne Gostisbehere.  The down side to this deal is that the Flyers are already hard up against the cap, so the Jets would have to take a substantial salary in return.

Colorado Avalanche - Back in the summer, there were rumblings of a possible straight-up player-for-player trade of Trouba for Matt Duchene.  That may be still in the works, as long as Cheveldayoff doesn't show all his cards and try to deal Trouba too quickly, as I suspect he won't as time is on the Jets side right now.  Duchene is under contract to the Avs for three more seasons at $6 million annually.  No team really wants to trade within their own division, especially if the player going the other way may come back to bite you in the behind in a tight divisional race.  But if this is the right deal for the Jets, Cheveldayoff won't hesitate in pulling the trigger.

Boston Bruins - The Bruins pretty much started this whole thing when rumors started circulating that the Bruins were considering an offer sheet for Trouba that would have had the Bears give up their next four first-round picks in the Entry Draft until 2021.  That would have been the very best case scenario for the Jets and not much of a decision for Kevin Cheveldayoff.  I mean, who wouldn't take that deal?  Bruins GM Don Sweeney would have to be the first in line, kicking the tires, sort of speak, wouldn't he?  One would think Torey Krug would have to be part of this deal that would have to include a draft pick or prospect.  The Bruins however, would have to consider the salary cap as due to past deals in the last two seasons, they don't have much leeway in that department.

Arizona Coyotes - Mike Stone might be an interesting trade for the Jets as well as the Coyotes.  Stone is a native-Winnipegger which True North always finds appealing, and he is entering his final year in his current contract with Arizona as he will become a unrestricted free agent come July 2017.  The Coyotes also have a number of prospects, but not many left-handed defencemen the Jets would fit into their needs right now. Perhaps a trade package with a pick and a prospect might interest Cheveldayoff, but this seems to be a player-for-player now situation.

Detroit Red Wings - This one makes the most sense geographically speaking for Trouba.  Not that he has much control in where he gets traded, but being from Michigan, this could be the best projected destination for the young blue-liner.  Trouba would certainly be paired with and work well with Mike Green.  How about a package involving Danny DeKeyser?  The Jets have an obvious interest in DeKeyser as they tried to sign him as a free agent out of college.  His cap hit is $5 million per for the next six years.

Toronto Maple Leafs - The Leafs have more than a few prospects in their cupboard, in fact judging from the list of "experts" that rank the NHL's best prospect pools, the Leafs are in the top three most times.  One name that stands out is Jake Gardiner.  Throw him in a package for Trouba and Lou Lamoriello may just bite.

The Rangers and Canucks are also said to be interested in making a deal with Winnipeg for Trouba, but they have issues with cap space as well.

An article by Lyle Richardson over at The Hockey News has more.

Jets Cut 17 From Training Camp Roster

The Winnipeg Jets have cut their roster down from approximately 60 invitees to 43 after re-assigning 17 players to the American Hockey League's Manitoba Moose or back to their respective junior teams.

Trouba Requests Trade

Jacob Trouba has requested a trade out of Winnipeg.  As it stands right now, Trouba is unhappy with his minutes and his position on the right side.  Apparently the Jets 2012 first-round pick wants more of an opportunity to play on the left side.  At least that's what he claims through his agent.

This isn't a complete shocker as Trouba has been without a contract since July and with no real progress in that area, the rumors have been in full swing since then.  Apparently, Trouba and his agent have made their feelings clear about his position on the ice since May.

Trouba's agent, Kurt Overhardt said in a statement:

“Our client, Jacob Trouba, will not be attending the Winnipeg Jets NHL training camp. Since May, we have been working with the Jets management in an effort to facilitate a trade of Jacob’s rights. Both parties continue to work on this matter.

There has been no negotiation regarding the terms of a contract between our client and the Jets over the course of the last several months. The situation is not about money; it is solely about our client having the opportunity to realize his potential as a right shot NHL defenseman.

To the Jets credit, the club has two outstanding right shot veteran defensemen and our client simply wants the opportunity to have a greater role. As a consequence of the Jets depth on the right side, we believe it is in both parties’ best interest to facilitate a mutually advantageous trade.

Our client has nothing but respect for the people and City of Winnipeg, the Winnipeg Jets, its fans, management and ownership – our desire to get him moved has everything to do with opportunity. We will continue to work with the Jets in good faith to achieve this end.”

More to come as the story unfolds...

Training Camp Opens

Well joy of all joys, hockey season is upon us again.  How do we know?  You mean other than the fact that the World Cup of Hockey is almost concluded, it's October, and members of the most awesome hockey team have flooded back into town?  Yep.  Those are sure signs alright.

The Winnipeg Jets have officially opened their training camp for the 2016-2017 NHL season and once again, due to this past summers entry draft and signings of Patrik Laine and Kyle Connor (not to mention the upping of Mark Scheifele's eight-year, $6.125 million contract) expectations are high in River City.

Of course I suppose all fans say that about their team upon the dawning of a new season.  New players, new opportunities, new dreams.  Not that too much stock is put into this, but The Hockey News did in fact name the Winnipeg Jets the 2019 Stanley Cup champions.  Hey, a guy can dream can't he?  So what if that article was meant to salivate Jets fans in two seasons, the dreaming starts now!

But as for the present, will the Jets measure up this season to what expectations were for 2015-2016?  If so, who will lead the way and bring the excitement of the NHL playoffs back to the Manitoba capital?  The core players will obviously carry the mantle as expected.  So for now, we'll ignore players like new captain Blake Wheeler, Dustin Byfuglien, Brian Little and Ondrej Pavelec.

What Jets fans really want to know is how many goals will Patrik Laine score?  Will he challenge the Maple Leafs Austin Matthews for the Calder trophy as the NHL's rookie of the year?  Will he seize the brass ring as another Teemu Selanne or will he *GULP* be a bust?

With all eyes on Laine, will college stand-out Kyle Connor slip in under the radar and turn some heads as I believe he will, or will he be a regular scorer with the Manitoba Moose?  Will Josh Morrisey finally make the big club?  Will he be able to let Jets fans exhale a collective sigh of relief and ask Jacob who?  Who will win the back-up position to Pavelec, who is in the final year of his five-year deal?  Or will it be Pavelec fighting to retain his starter job?  Will Micheal Hutchinson continue his wonderful play from last year or will newcomer Conner Hellebyck outplay them both and start the season between the pipes for the Jets?  Will Nikolai Ehlers continue his break-out that he began last season?

Hull To Pass On Hall Of Fame Ceremony

Bobby Hull, one of the most dominant and respected players ever to don a Winnipeg Jets jersey, who was to be honoured by True North Sports & Entertainment and the Winnipeg Jets along with "Hot Line" line mates Ulf Nilsson and Anders Hedberg; has decided to pass on being present to accept the induction.

Why?  It's simple really.  With all the controversy surrounding his induction, due to many Winnipeggers not at all thrilled about honouring a man who had allegedly beat his wife during their marriage of 20 years; Hull has decided to take himself out of the equation.  He's still going into the Hall, he just won't be there in person to accept.  I'm sure having to field personal questions that I'm sure he has had to answer numerous times before isn't the funnest thing he can think of doing.  But also, taking the rightful spotlight off of his former line mates isn't something he's very much interested in either.  Call it what you will.  Avoiding the elephant in the room or whatever.  He's doing the right thing by by-passing the sure-to-be media circus of matters time past.

Not to minimize domestic violence, and I totally understand why people would not support anyone of that caliber of character, but is this induction about his accomplishment on the ice, or what he did in his private life?  It certainly is about the accomplishments of his teammates, Nilsson and Hedberg.  No one is going to be asking them about their personal life.  Don't think they won't have to attempt to answer questions about Hull either.  That shouldn't be put on them, but it will be.

Kroppy Passes at 98

Len Kropioski, otherwise known to Winnipeg Jets fans as "Kroppy," has died.  He was 98.  Kropioski was a World War II veteran and a life-long Jets fan.  Well as long as the Winnipeg Jets existed, both now and between 1972 and 1996.  He had been a season-ticket holder since the inaugural 1972 World Hockey Association season and again since 2011, when the Atlanta Thrashers were re-located to Winnipeg.  He was also a Manitoba Moose season-ticket holder since 1997.

He was first introduced to the Winnipeg public back in 2011 at the Jets first game back against the Montreal Canadiens on March 9th.  The cameras caught him saluting and singing his heart out to O Canada.  Since then he became a game-day tradition with his image on the scoreboard every night at the conclusion of the national anthem.  He was an advertising gold mine for the Jets as Kroppy showed (and the Jets brass hope he showed) what a die-hard Winnipeg Jets fan was made of.  Kroppy epitomized what it was (and is) to be a Winnipeg Jets fan.  Being there for your team through thick and thin.  Showing up and cheering your heart out when you know that the team may not be very good and may disappoint you every season; only to show up the next year for a guaranteed 42 more games.

With the Jets donning their WHA-style jerseys of the 1970s for the Winter Classic as well as a couple of other regular-season games, plus the White-Out that returned to Winnipeg for the 2014-2015 playoffs, perhaps another long-standing, but slightly different tradition may be introduced.  Why not replace the old portrait of Queen Elizabeth II that hung at the south end of the old Winnipeg Arena with the same such honour for Kroppy?  I don't think one Winnipeg Jets fan would complain.  If they did, simply rescind their season's tickets.

Jets Name Wheeler As Captain

As was expected, the Winnipeg Jets management (along with the players vote in the dressing room) have named Blake Wheeler as the new captain of the Winnipeg Jets.  Dustin Byfuglien and Mark Scheifele have been named as alternates.

New Winnipeg Jets captain Blake Wheeler

This was a no-brainer as far as I'm concerned.  Other had said to put the "C" on Scheifele, but as much as I believe Scheifele to be a future Hall of Famer and a otherwise great pick, I think that may have to wait for the next selection, either when Wheeler retires or has moved on from the Jets for whatever awful reason.

This was not just the right selection for the Jets, but the perfect one.  Along with Andrew Lad, when the Jets were not playing up to par, it was Blake Wheeler that stood up and held others accountable.  It was Wheeler that made himself accountable when the politically-correct thing to do (even in professional sports for some reason) is to throw someone else under the bus and high-lite your own performance.

This will see dividends paid.

Jets/Oilers Reveal Heritage Classic Jerseys

The Winnipeg Jets and Edmonton Oilers have revealed the jerseys both teams will be wearing for both the Heritage Classic game on October 23 and the alumni game the day before.

I've stated before in a previous post about how much I hate the Oilers.  In case I didn't, I hate the Oilers. Again, this rivalry goes back to when I was even too young to appreciate hockey in general, much less the Jets in particular.  My first Stanley Cup Final was between the Vancouver Canucks and New York Islanders in 1982.  From 1972 with the establishment of the World Hockey Association until the WHA-NHL "merger" in 1979, the Jets and Oilers have been at war on ice.  The Winnipeg Jets dominated the Oilers in the WHA era, winning three Avco Cups between 1976 and 1979; including the Wayne Gretzky-led Oilers in the last Avco Cup championship.

             

The Jets made five finals appearances, while the Oilers had that one.  The Oilers had not one championship in the WHA to speak of, the Jets had three in five appearances.  The Jets were the class of the World Hockey Association...until the "merger" (which was just an expansion that let the NHL take back all the players that defected to the WHA.  Not only that, but all the former WHA teams, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Quebec Nordiques and Hartford Whalers, had to pay a $6 million expansion fee and picked last in the NHL's entry draft in 1979)  Because of this, the once mighty Winnipeg Jets' roster was decimated and an embarrassing 20 win season resulted in the 1979-80 season.  By comparison, the Oilers made the NHL playoffs in their first season.  Perhaps an omen of things to come.  The next season was even worse for the Jets as they were only able to protect two goalies and two skaters (the Jets chose to protect Scott Campbell and Morris Lukowich as well as goaltenders Markus Mattsson and later drafting Pierre Hamel) with the result being the Jets winning a paltry nine games all frustrating season long.  This mark still stands as the second-worst outcome in history by an NHL team.  Only the lowly 1975 Washington Capitals were technically worse, winning nine games, but ending up with less points than the 1981 Jets.  So, we're not the worst!!

Maybe wearing the WHA throw-back jerseys will help stir up some historical good luck for the Jets and the hockey gods will come to their senses and realize, "Hey.  Wait a minute.  They're wearing those jerseys again?  Well, the Jets have to win this one.  What a shame to lose in front of 40,000 of your own fans to your most historically-hated opponent.

 I'm fully expecting the Jets alumni game to go no different than other historic run-ins with the Oilers in the NHL.  I mean, have you seen the alumni roster they have available?  What has changed?  Other than the Jets having Teemu Selanne in the line-up, what extra weapons will the old-timers have?  However, as for the Hertige Classic game itself, I think CAptain Wheeler and company will do all right.  I expect Patrik Laine and Kyle Connor to be in the line-up and to do well.  I'm sure Mark Scheifele and Dustin Byfuglien will be firing on all cylinders as well.  As will Brian Little and Nikolai Ehlers.  So I say the Jets win 4-3.  An overtime win would be a nice capper too.

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.

Hot Line First To Be Inducted Into The Winnipeg Jets Hall Of Fame

True North Sports and Entertainment and the Winnipeg Jets have finally started to recognize and honour Winnipeg Jet players of the past in a new Winnipeg Jets Hall Of Fame.  TNSE Chairman and President Mark Chipman had said repeatedly during the last five years that at the right time, the Jets 2.0 would honour key players that wore a Winnipeg Jets jersey between the years 1972, the birth of the original WHA franchise and 1996, the year of the Jets terrible, terrible relocation to Arizona.  It has been announced that Bobby Hull, Anders Hedberg and Ulf Nilsson will be the first inductees into the Hall.

              

This a total no-brainer.  Starting with the 1974-75 World Hockey Association season these three men, known as the Hot Line,  put Winnipeg on the international hockey map.  Period.  The Winnipeg Jets broke the ceiling when they introduced the European style of hockey to North America.  Hull, Hedberg and Nilsson (along with another Swedes, defenceman Lars Eric-Schoberg and later forward Willy Lidstrom) showed the hockey world (and with great ease, I might add) the results of what gritty, tough, in-your-face Canadian style of hockey mixed with quick, concise, disciplined European hockey looks like.  Goals in the back of the net, that's what.

Not long after, even the NHL noticed and followed suit.  Soon came Borge Salming, Inge Hammarstrom, Sergei Priakhin and Veli-Pekka Ketola.  In the 1980s came Jari Kurri, the Stastnys, Esa Tikkanen and Hakan Loob.  In the 1990s there was Teemu Selanne, Saku Koivu, Peter Forsberg, Daniel Alfredsson, Mats Sundin and Nikolas Lidstrom.  The former Czech Republic gave us Jaromir Jagr and Dominic Hasek, plus numerous former Soviet and Russian players over the years.  Of course, the Hot Line wasn't the first European influence in the National Hockey League.  There was Ulf Sterner and Lennart Svedberg.  But it was Hedberg and Nilsson along with Hull that really anchored themselves to the North American style of play and produced...huge.

The Hot Line produced nothing but offence during their time together.  When Hedberg and Nilsson were brought over from Sweden in the fall of 1975, they book-ended Hull for a combined 1287 points until the end of the 1977-78 season.  That's 1287 points between three players.  One line.  One.

Anders Hedberg:  1975   1976  1977  1978
Goals -                     53       50      70      63        
Assists -                   47       55      61      59
Points -                   100     105    131    122

Ulf Nilsson: 
Goals -                    26        38       39     37
Assists -                  94        76       85     89
Points -                  120      114     124    126

Bobby Hull:        
 Goals -                  77         53        21     46
Assists -                 65         70        32      71
Points -                 142       123       53     117

Did I mention these selections for induction were a no-brainer?

As a life-long Jets fan, it's awesome to see my heroes of the past being recognized.  Not just the Hot Line, but Jets of the 80s and 90s as well.  The next class is sure to be Dale Hawerchuck, Teemu Selanne and Thomas Steen.