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Jacob Trouba

Jets Notes: Trouba, Enstrom, Perreault

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At the time he signed his two year bridge deal back in November, the expectation remained that Jets defenseman Jacob Trouba would eventually be traded even though he had rescinded his trade request.  Speaking with reporters today, including Ted Wyman of the Winnipeg Sun, the blueliner stated that he’s happy in Winnipeg and is open to discussing an extension this summer:

“I’ve got no problem with Winnipeg and I think I’ve made that pretty clear. The contract is a two-way street and both sides have to come to together and agree on something. It’s not completely me, it’s not completely them. It’s a mutual thing.  It’s not a super pressing issue, I don’t think. I’ve just got to play out next year and see where it goes.”

Trouba had his best season in 2016-17, collecting a career high 33 points despite playing in only 60 games while averaging just shy of 25 minutes per night, also a career mark.  He’s eligible to sign a long-term extension as of July 1st; if he doesn’t sign one, he’ll be due a qualifying offer of $3.5MM following the 2017-18 campaign.

Other notes out of Winnipeg:

  • Blueliner Toby Enstrom declined to comment as to whether or not he has been asked by management to waive his no-move clause or even if he’d consider doing so, notes Mike Sawatsky of the Winnipeg Free Press. With the team wanting to protect Trouba, Dustin Byfuglien (who also has a NMC), and Tyler Myers in expansion, Enstrom’s clause would force the Jets to protect eight skaters instead of the standard 7/3/1 that most teams will use.  The veteran reiterated that he’s happy in Winnipeg and wants to stay for next season.  He has one year left on his contract with a $5.75MM cap charge which may be too rich for Vegas to take but Enstrom may not want to take the chance.
  • Also in Sawatsky’s column, left winger Mathieu Perreault revealed that he had spoken with management regarding the expansion draft and indicated that he was told that the team will try to do everything they can to protect him. Perreault, whose four year, $16MM extension kicks in next season, has been a popular pick as a player that the Golden Knights could potentially select and slot into their top six.   He posted a career high in points this season with 45 despite missing 17 games due to injury.

Toby Enstrom And The Expansion Draft

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After the Winnipeg Jets announced yesterday that Toby Enstrom underwent knee surgery and would be out for the rest of the year, it ended what has been a very disappointing season. The former 50-point defenseman had just 14 this year, easily the lowest number of his career. Broken up by a concussion and personal issues, 2016-17 has been one to forget for the 32-year old.

Next season, he’ll head into the last year of his current five-year contract likely passed by Josh Morrissey among Jets’ defenders and perhaps even the newly signed Tucker Poolman as well. His $5.75MM cap hit is hard for the Jets to swallow if he can’t get back to his previous performance, but it’s something else that may cost Winnipeg even more.

Enstrom’s contract includes a no-movement clause, meaning he’ll require automatic protection in the upcoming expansion draft should he not agree to waive it. Dustin Byfuglien also has an NMC, and Jacob Trouba and Tyler Myers clearly need protection. That would force the Jets into the eight skater option, leaving several good players available for Vegas to choose.

Even if they decided to leave the rest of the defenders—losing one of Ben Chiarot, Julian Melchiori or Brenden Kichton wouldn’t cripple the team—that means they only have four slots for forwards. When you check off Mark Scheifele, Blake Wheeler and Bryan Little as obvious choices, you then are left with the group of Mathieu Perreault, Adam Lowry, Marko Dano, Joel Armia and Andrew Copp available with the power to protect just one. Losing any of them without a fight would be painful, given the potential or performance they’ve shown so far.

Getting Enstrom to waive that NMC is crucial, as it would give three more spots to the Jets to keep their young forward group in tact. If he isn’t willing, it won’t be just his declining play that will leave a bad taste in the mouths of the Winnipeg faithful. For a player who has spent his whole career with a single franchise after they took a chance on him in the eighth round, he needs to do just one more thing for them—even if it does put him at risk of having to play in Vegas for a year.

Nelson Nogier Recalled By Winnipeg Jets On Emergency Basis

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The Winnipeg Jets have brought up Nelson Nogier on emergency recall, giving the 20-year old a chance at his NHL debut. The team will host Philadelphia tomorrow night, and are likely still without both Paul Postma and Jacob Trouba. As Ken Wiebe of the Winnipeg Sun reports, Ben Chiarot didn’t play for the last 10:57 of the third period, meaning he’s likely the one who has suffered an injury of some sort.

Nogier was drafted in the fourth round of the 2014 draft and proceeded to post two solid seasons of junior hockey before making his professional debut this season with the AHL’s Manitoba Moose. The Saskatoon native has 13 points in 53 games in the minors this season, playing as the youngest defender on the team.

Drafted as a defensive specialist, his offensive game has grown in the past few years to the point where he could make an impact at the NHL one day. A big-bodied, right-handed shot defender who can move the puck and contribute on both special teams is exactly what every team is looking for—every team except the Jets perhaps, when they’re at full strength. Though even the front office would likely agree he’s not quite ready for the NHL just yet, a little taste of what it’s like is often good for the development of prospects.

West Notes: Jets, Shore, Gibson

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The Jets are likely to be without defenseman Jacob Trouba on Thursday night despite the fact he was able to practice with the team today, suggests Ken Wiebe of the Winnipeg Sun.  Trouba missed Monday’s game with an upper body injury (and would have sat out Tuesday had that game not been postponed due to weather); it’s believed the injury was sustained during a fight over the weekend against Calgary in which five stitches were required just above his eye.

Winnipeg may also be without left winger Shawn Matthias who missed practice with an undisclosed injury and is listed as questionable for Thursday.  Left winger Nic Petan would likely take his place although he may be in the lineup regardless of whether or not Matthias is available.  Leading scorer Mark Scheifele (illness) didn’t practice but is expected to suit up against the Islanders.

Elsewhere in the West:

  • Winger Drew Shore had offers from other NHL teams before deciding to join Vancouver for the rest of the season, reports Iain MacIntyre of the Vancouver Province. GM Jim Benning admitted that with the team as far as they are out of the playoff race, they’re likely to start giving their younger players more playing time which should bode well for Shore among others.  Benning also noted that part of the rationale for signing Shore was that he’d like to avoid calling anyone else up from their minor league affiliate in Utica, who are in a tight race for the final playoff spot in the AHL’s North Division.
  • The Ducks are monitoring goalie John Gibson daily after some of the lingering soreness from his lower body injury resurfaced on Friday, notes Eric Stephens of the Orange County Register. There’s no timetable for when he’ll make his next start but head coach Randy Carlyle doesn’t think he’ll need that much time to be ready as soon as he’s cleared to return to practice.  In the meantime, Jonathan Bernier will remain as the starter, a role he has handled fairly well as of late, going 5-2 with a 2.17 GAA and a .933 SV% in his last seven outings.

Snapshots: Canadiens, Trouba, Andersen

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The Canadiens received some good news and some bad news on the injury front today.  Right winger Alexander Radulov skated on the second line in practice today and could be ready to return to the lineup tomorrow against the Oilers, notes Marc-Antoine Godin of La Presse.  Radulov is Montreal’s second leading point getter this season with 46 points in 63 games and would be a welcome addition to a team that has struggled to score with consistency over the past few weeks.

Carey Price (flu) also returned to practice but the team announced via Twitter that left winger Paul Byron is now under the weather.  Byron is in the midst of a career season and sits second on the team in goals with 16.  The team also revealed (Twitter link) that center Tomas Plekanec skated with a non-contact jersey which would put his status for tomorrow in question.  Plekanec has missed the last two games due to an upper body injury.

Other notes from around the league:

  • Although it wasn’t all that long ago that he was involved in a contract dispute, talk has already shifted to the possible contract extension that Winnipeg’s Jacob Trouba could be eligible to sign as of July. The blueliner mentioned to Mike Sawatzky of the Winnipeg Free Press that he hasn’t given much thought to a new contract as of yet.  Trouba had been hoping to be dealt earlier this season but wound up settling for a two year bridge deal and said at that time that he had rescinded his trade request.  The injury to Tyler Myers allowed the 23 year old to play on his natural side as desired and he has responded with what is shaping up to be a career season.
  • Toronto goaltender Frederik Andersen will set a career high in games played tonight against the Hurricanes with 55. He’s likely to see the bulk of the workload the rest of the season as well which should have him up near the 70 game mark when all is said and done.  While the potential for fatigue is certainly a valid concern, Andersen told Mark Zwolinski of the Toronto Star that he isn’t tired nor is he dealing with a lingering injury.  The 27 year old is in his first season with the Maple Leafs after being acquired in the offseason from Anaheim and aside from the beginning of the year, has given the team high quality goaltending and is a big reason why they remain in the thick of the playoff race.

Will The 2017 Draft Class Be Better Than People Think?

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FanRag Sports’ Hannah Stuart pens an article wondering if the 2017 NHL Draft class is actually not as bad as many think it will be. Coming off two drafts with all-world talents–Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel in 2015 and Auston Matthews and Patrik Laine in 2016–anything less of that type of talent would be considered “worse” by definition. Clouding judgement has been the lack of what many analysts believe to be at least one generational player, and a muddled class after the first seven-eight players in most mock drafts. But is it a fair assessment?

Stuart cites ESPN’s Corey Pronman, who put together his ranking of the prospects and even wrote in his opening paragraph that its one of the weakest drafts in the cap era. He goes as far as to say it’s in the same category of the 2011 and 2012 drafts, which in his opinion, didn’t yield much in the way of top tier talent. Pronman lists Halifax’s Nico Hischier as his top prospect, with Brandon Wheat Kings center Nolan Patrick second and Mississauga’s Owen Tippett third. Pronman does write that it’s essentially a toss-up as to who can be the #1 overall pick in the draft–Hischier or Patrick, and that whoever is taken first will be a benefit to his new team.

Looking at the two drafts that Pronman mentioned, the 2011 did feature a slew of players chosen in the top 10 who have been productive in the NHL. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins went first overall, and while he hasn’t produced in the way that Matthews or McDavid have, many analysts (and fans) blame his development by the Oilers as a culprit for his stunted growth. Other notables in the 2011 draft–by draft order–are Gabriel Landeskog (#2), Jonathan Huberdeau (#3), Adam Larsson (#4), Ryan Strome (#5), Mika Zibanejad (#6), Mark Scheifele (#7) Sean Couturier (#8), Dougie Hamilton (#9), and Jonas Brodin (#10). There are a number of strong players in the ten, and while viewed as a “weaker” draft, it at least paid dividends for those teams that drafted them–or acquired them later via trade.

It thins out from there, but there were certainly notables later in the first round or later in the draft. Brandon Saad was taken in the second round by the Blackhawks and he was clutch for Chicago until they were forced to deal him away due to cap issues.

Mar 10, 2016; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Edmonton Oilers forward <a rel=2012’s draft was somewhat weaker one-through-ten, but saw some return in the middle of the first round, namely with Filip Forsberg being taken 11th by the Capitals. Nail Yakupov was taken first by the Oilers, and he certainly hasn’t been the players the Oilers envisioned–but again, that may go back to development questions. Hampus Lindholm (#6) and Jacob Trouba (#9) are the headliners of a defensive heavy top ten. But a look through the rounds and it’s pretty telling that the 2012 edition was not only weaker than 2011, but possibly one of the weakest in the salary cap era.

Stuart makes an extremely important point about drafting: it’s a crapshoot.

A player can make a bad first impression or be a weak skater and be completely written off by certain scouts. However, maybe that player has an excellent hockey IQ, and a team recognizes that and drafts them in a later round. If the team works with them to fix the deficiencies in their skating, there’s every chance they could develop into an effective NHLer. On the other hand, let’s take what we’ll call the Oilers model. A team might consistently draft high, taking players who show elite skill and throwing those players into the NHL before they’re ready rather than taking time to develop weaknesses in their game.

Stuart continues to argue that since the drumbeat has been steady in saying this draft class will be weak, it’s been all but believed by those on the internet. But as she points out, it isn’t so much the drafting as much as it is the development and scouting staff that every team employs.

Senators Injury Notes: Ryan, Stone, Hoffman

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After recently losing four forwards in a couple of days, the Ottawa Senators took the ice this morning ahead of their game against the New Jersey Devils and gave some clarification on the group. Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun reports on the injuries, including an unexpected absence from the skate.

  • Bobby Ryan has a broken finger and will be out at least a month. The original timeline was somewhere between three to six weeks when it was believed to be a broken hand. In something that has become a trend for Ryan, he’ll sit out with a broken digit instead; the winger has broken a finger four times in the past three and a half years, and twice already this season. The struggling winger hasn’t been able to repeat even his 22 goal season from a year ago (which in itself was a down season) and has forced the Senators to look for an upgrade up front as the deadline approaches.
  • Mark Stone, the victim of Jacob Trouba’s suspension-causing illegal check the other night is out with a neck injury and has no timeline for his return. Head coach Guy Boucher made it very clear that it isn’t a head injury as it first appeared. Remember that Stone suffered a concussion in training camp this season. As their best offensive forward, Stone’s absence will leave another big hole on the wing if he’s out for any length of time.
  • Mike Hoffman, who exited the same game in the second period is out with a groin injury and will not play tonight. It doesn’t seem as serious as the other two, but groin injuries do tend to linger and get re-aggravated if pushed too hard too soon. Another winger, the Sens will have some interesting line combinations tonight as they start a four-game road trip.
  • Dion Phaneuf was also missing from practice, but apparently just took the morning off for maintenance. Senators fans can breathe deeply knowing that he and Tommy Wingels will both suit up tonight for the game.

If the Senators want to capture the Atlantic Division crown, they may have to go out and add a player (or two) up front to fill in for these injuries. With Stone, Hoffman and Ryan out, they’ve lost three of their top five goal scoring threats and a ton of depth on the wing. Even a rental at this point may be worth it if the injuries linger, as they still have plenty of teams nipping at their heels for those last few playoff spots.

Jacob Trouba Suspended Two Games For Illegal Check

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The Department of Player Safety has come down on Jacob Trouba today, suspending him two games for his illegal check to the head of Mark Stone last night.

Trouba hit Stone in the head at the end of the game against the Ottawa Senators, and was given just a two-minute minor for the check. Immediately, those watching the game knew that it would get a look from the DPS and possibly a suspension. Winnipeg fans will be upset with the decision as just a few days earlier Evgeni Malkin was not given any supplementary discipline for his high check on Blake Wheeler that had him clearly leaving his feet. Bob McKenzie of TSN wrote about the difference between the two hits today, mostly stating that because Malkin delivered a full-body check, instead of just catching the head, he wasn’t given a suspension.

In the middle of a playoff race, losing Trouba—who is arguably their second most important defenseman—is a tough blow to the Winnipeg hopes. He’ll miss games against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday night, and Minnesota Wild a week later after their mandated bye-week. Just one point behind the Calgary Flames for the final playoff spot, every game counts as the Jets try to overcome their sluggish start.

Trouba is the 12th player suspended since the start of the regular season, and the third in the recent days following Gustav Nyquist and Antoine Vermette. Trouba’s two-game ban is the first of his career, but he will be under increased scrutiny going forward.

Jacob Trouba To Have Disciplinary Hearing

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After a hit last night that knocked Ottawa Senators Mark Stone out of the game last night, Winnipeg’s Jacob Trouba will have a hearing this afternoon with the NHL Department of Player Safety to determine if there will be any further disciplinary action.

Trouba hit Stone’s head on the check, which happened midway through the third period. Stone suffered a concussion at the beginning of the season, making this at least the second just this season should he fail the protocol today. Trouba does seem to extend his arm to hit the head.

The Jets can’t afford to lose Trouba for the next several games at least, as they have pulled themselves into the playoff race once again. Since Trouba’s lockout following a long contract negotiation this summer, he’s become perhaps the second most important defenseman on the Jets. Logging close to 25 minutes a night, Tyler Myers injury opened the door for Trouba to step into the starring role he had looked for.

Bob McKenzie on TSN1260 said that it would be “games for sure” for Trouba today. He doesn’t think Trouba picked out Stone’s head on purpose, but since there was almost no body-on-body contact, the book will be thrown at the Jets defenseman.

Tyler Myers Undergoes Surgery; Out At Least 6-8 Weeks

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Tyler Myers, who has already missed the last 39 games, will be out at least another 6 – 8 weeks after undergoing surgery yesterday, Winnipeg head coach Paul Maurice revealed. The news was announced via the team’s official Twitter account.

At best, Myers will be back around the third week of March, giving him approximately 11 games to shake off the rust. At worst, there may only be a couple of games remaining on the schedule and if the Jets are out of postseason contention at that point, they may decide to pull the plug on a return altogether.

It’s been a disappointing campaign for the 6-foot-8 rearguard, who has appeared in just 11 games on the season for the Jets with two goals and five points. Myers was originally acquired by Winnipeg as part of a February 2015 trade with Buffalo that saw winger Evander Kane head to the Sabres. He registered nine goals and 27 points in 2015-16, his first full campaign as a member of the Jets. He won the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie in 2009-10 after a 48-point campaign as a 20-year-old with Buffalo.

The Jets still have talent on the blue line, with Dustin Byfuglien, Tobias Enstrom and Jacob Trouba all capable, top-four defenseman. However, Myers’ absence has obviously impacted the team’s depth and the Jets could use some help on the third pair, which has struggled at times this season. The situation could prompt the Jets to look to the rental trade market to add a depth defender in the event the worst case scenario plays out and Myers misses the rest of the regular season.

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