Mathieu Perreault

What Your Team Is Thankful For: Winnipeg Jets

December 22, 2017 at 9:03 pm CDT | by Gavin Lee Leave a Comment

With the holiday season in full swing, PHR will look at what teams are thankful for so far this year. There also might be a few things your team would like down the road. We take a look at what’s gone well in the first few months and what could improve as the season rolls on. So far we’ve covered the following teams:

Atlantic: BOS, BUF, DET, FLA, TOR, MTL, OTT
Metropolitan: CAR, CBJ, NJD, NYI, NYR, PHI, PIT, WSH
Central: CHI, COL, DAL, MIN, NSH, STL
Pacific: ANA, ARZ, CGY, EDM, LAK, SJS, VAN, VGK

What are the Winnipeg Jets most thankful for?

Forward depth.

After years of struggling, the Winnipeg Jets are one of the most dangerous in the NHL. The Jets have four forwards with ten or more goals this season, and that doesn’t include their leading scorer in Blake Wheeler, who has nine goals and 41 points. There’s also Mathieu Perreault who would have double digits if he hadn’t missed a good chunk of the season (he has nine currently) and Bryan Little who already has 21 points.

The most impressive part of the Jets forward group might be its youth, as regulars Mark Scheifele (24), Joel Armia (24), and Adam Lowry (24), Andrew Copp (23), Nikolaj Ehlers (21), Kyle Connor (21), Patrik Laine (19) are all 24 or younger. That’s a group that could be together for a long time, with other young forwards like Jack Roslovic, Nic Petan, Brendan Lemieux and Marko Dano all potentially making an impact down the line.

Who are the Jets most thankful for?

Connor Hellebuyck.

In the history of the Thrashers/Jets franchise, there is exactly one goaltender* that has recorded better than a .915 save percentage while with the team. That’s Al Montoya, who put up a .916 mark in 35 games between 2013-14. It’s an incredible run of futility by string of so-so goaltenders, and one that needed to change if the Jets were to ever really compete.

Enter 2017-18 Hellebuyck, who is carrying a .920 save percentage so far this season and has let everyone know that Steve Mason wasn’t needed. The 24-year old goaltender is 18-4-5 on the season, and is about as valuable of a piece as there is around the NHL. His play has allowed a team that was considered a playoff dark horse at best to become something of a powerhouse overnight.

What would the Jets be even more thankful for?

Division realignment.

Despite being 20-10-6 on the season, with a +19 goal differential and several All-Star level players, the Winnipeg Jets aren’t in first place in the Central Division. That honor goes to the Nashville Predators, who have the best points percentage out of the three teams (including the Jets and St. Louis Blues) tied with 46 points in the standings.

The Central doesn’t have any teams that are pushovers this season, after the Colorado Avalanche have turned things around from their historically bad 2016-17. It’ll take a continued effort from Winnipeg all season to secure one of the top three spots, and even then they’re more than likely going to lock horns with another excellent team in the first round.

What should be on the Jets’ Holiday Wish List?

Even more depth, preferably some that can kill penalties.

In all honesty, there’s not a lot that the Jets need to go out and acquire. If they can find a defenseman that is under contract or control for a few years it could help, with Toby Enstrom and Tyler Myers creeping towards free agency, but that can be dealt with in the offseason if need be. Adding Dmitri Kulikov last offseason has given them enough depth to survive injuries to Enstrom and Dustin Byfuglien, especially with the emergence of Josh Morrissey as a top option.

With some forwards coming back recently their lineup has been lengthened back out, but the penalty kill remains one of their warts, if fairly innocuous. Matt Hendricks leads all forwards in short handed time, but has been relatively ineffective in that role and barely plays at even strength. While he’s a “character guy” and from all accounts fits in perfectly to the dressing room, every fringe improvement gets the Jets closer to being a real Stanley Cup contender.

*Peter Mannino actually has a 1.000 save percentage for the Jets, but faced just four shots in his one-period relief appearance in 2011.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Suspension Sunday: Gudas Gets 10 Games, Watson Gets Two

November 19, 2017 at 8:25 pm CDT | by natebrown 5 Comments

Following a dangerous slash on the Winnipeg Jets’ Mathieu Perreault, Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Radko Gudas was suspended for ten games per the NHL’s Department of Player Safety. A video of the incident, including an explanation and rationale for the suspension was released as well. TSN’s Frank Seravalli tweets that the suspension will cost Gudas $408,538.60.

This isn’t the first time that Gudas finds himself on the wrong side of the NHL’s law. In 2016, Gudas was suspended for six games following a vicious hit on Boston’s Austin Czarnik. In December of 2015, he was suspended for three games after head hunting Mika Zibanejad.

Ejections and misconducts have been a staple of his play, and the ten game suspension is a loud message from the NHL’s Safety Department. With a game that is under the microscope for head hits in a CTE aware world, Gudas’ two-handed slash to Perreault’s head, who has a history of concussions, was an easy call for a long suspension. While Gudas claimed it was “accidental,” the department of player safety indicated that as repeat offender under the terms of the CBA, he was suspended for ten games.

There are some who feel the suspension wasn’t heavy enough, in light of Gudas’ history targeting the head. If Gudas doesn’t learn from this suspension, next time may be even longer, more costly for the wallet and possibly his employment.

In other suspension news, the Nashville Predators’ Austin Watson received a two-game suspension from the NHL Department of Player Safety for his hit on Colorado’s Dominic Toninato. Video of the hit and explanation can be found here. Watson hit Toninato after the Avs’ forward chipped the puck out of the zone. His back turned and in a defenseless position, Tonianato was boarded by Watson and because of no prior history of suspensions, fines, or unsportsmanlike hits, Watson received a two-game suspension.

Suspension Could Be Coming For Radko Gudas

November 17, 2017 at 10:05 am CDT | by Gavin Lee 9 Comments

Friday: The Department of Player Safety has offered Gudas an in-person hearing, meaning they retain the right to suspend him for more than five games. The hearing does not have a date or time as of yet, but John Shannon of Sportsnet reports that Gudas cannot play for the Flyers until he has the hearing.

Thursday: It might be two days in a row that the NHL’s Department of Player Safety needs to hand out a substantial suspension, as Radko Gudas has been thrown out of the Philadelphia-Winnipeg game tonight. Gudas brought his stick down hard on a grounded Mathieu Perreault, and was given a five minute major for slashing and game misconduct penalty.

Should Gudas receive additional discipline, it wouldn’t be the first time. The Philadelphia Flyers defenseman has received six game misconducts in his career, but had avoided suspension until 2015-16. He’s since been suspended twice, once for an illegal check to the head of Mika Zibanejad and once for interference on Austin Czarnik. The latest suspension was for six games, and since he’s a repeat offender the league could come down hard on him for this incident.

Gudas has seen his minutes reduced this season with the young crop of Flyers defenders taking some more responsibility this season. Should he miss a long period of time, it would be interesting to see who Philadelphia would insert into the lineup. Mark Alt is up with the club as the seventh defender, but Samuel Morin could potentially be recalled from the minor leagues.

Winnipeg Jets Find Themselves In Enviable Position

November 13, 2017 at 1:19 pm CDT | by Gavin Lee Leave a Comment

When the Winnipeg Jets took the ice this morning to practice before their matchup with Arizona tomorrow night, Mathieu Perreault was with them. It wasn’t in the yellow non-contact jersey he’d been donning lately, but a white sweater indicating he was close to a return to game action. Perreault has played in just five games this season while dealing with injury, a trend that has dominated his playing career. The 29-year old forward has never played more than 71 games in a single season.

Perreault’s return and the subsequent assignment of Brendan Lemieux to the AHL had Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic thinking though, as he tweeted out his expectations for the next few months.

Jets lots of depth up front. Other teams looking for help at forward will come calling ahead of Feb. 26 trade deadline.

Indeed, the Jets have one of the more enviable forward groups in the NHL. Even without Perreault—a perennial 40+ point player even despite his injury history—the Jets are 10th in the league in goals per game and boast several budding superstars up front. Patrik Laine has given up his short residence as headline-maker to Mark Scheifele, who has seemingly taken a huge step forward every year of his NHL career. After breaking out last season with 82 points, the 24-year old Scheifele has 21 points in his first 16 games and is showing no signs of slowing down. Team captain Blake Wheeler is riding shotgun with 23 points already, and could challenge his career-high of 78 points set two seasons ago. Wheeler has turned into one of the most consistent offensive players in the league, with at least 26 goals 61 points in each of the last four seasons.

Behind the top group (which also includes Nikolaj Ehlers, a 21-year old speed demon with a 30-goal future) the Jets find themselves flush with talent. Perreault and Bryan Little provide some veteran options, both of whom have plenty of experience at center ice and big scoring upside. But it’s the next wave that will allow them to be dealers at the deadline should they so choose. The team can’t even find room for Lemieux or Jack Roslovic, who has 17 points in 15 games for Manitoba and is patiently waiting for his chance.

An interesting name to watch out for in Winnipeg (and one that was mentioned in the most recent live chat) will be Adam Lowry. The 24-year old center is a big piece (not just figuratively, as he stands 6’5″) for the team down the middle but is a restricted free agent this summer. The Jets aren’t yet a cap team, spending right up to the ceiling every year and have to measure their finances carefully going forward. This summer will bring restricted free agency for Lowry, Jacob Trouba, Josh Morrissey and Connor Hellebuyck among others, while 2019 will have new deals due for Laine and Connor. With the clear need around the league for centers, and Lowry’s size, youth and relative inexpensiveness he would be a huge trade piece if the team ever decided to dangle him near the deadline. With the depth they have at center, it wouldn’t be crushing to them and another team may believe Lowry can better his 29-point career high if thrust into a more prominent role.

Either way, the Jets are one of the most interesting teams to watch as they head into the winter months. Their solid record of 9-4-3 combined with being one of the youngest teams in the league makes them one to not only consider playoff candidates, but up-and-coming Stanley Cup contenders in the years to come. A few well-timed moves could accelerate that contention.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Winnipeg Jets Place Perreault On IR, Recall Connor From AHL

October 16, 2017 at 10:51 am CDT | by Gavin Lee Leave a Comment

The Winnipeg Jets have made a roster move today, moving Mathieu Perreault to the injured reserve list, while recalling promising young forward Kyle Connor from the AHL. Connor was in contention to crack the squad out of camp, and will get his chance to stick in the NHL after putting up five quick points to start his minor league season. Perreault suffered a lower-body injury in the third period against the Hurricanes on Saturday, and did not return to the game. Paul Friesen of the Winnipeg Sun reports that he’ll miss approximately four weeks.

Connor is another in a long list of exciting Jets prospects. Selected 17th-overall in 2015, the 20-year old forward went to the University of Michigan for a single season where he put up an incredible 71 points in just 38 games. After somehow losing the Hobey Baker trophy to Rangers’ forward Jimmy Vesey, Connor turned pro and started showing off in the AHL. Scoring 25 goals and 44 points as a minor league rookie, he did enough to earn 20 games in the NHL last season as well. Though he recorded just five points at the highest level, the skill is very apparent when watching Connor play.

He’ll have big shoes to fill in Perreault, who has been one of the most consistent producers for Winnipeg for several years. During his three-year tenure, Perreault has recorded seasons of 41, 41 and 45 points despite never suiting up for more than 71 games. That injury trend looks like it will continue now with a stint on the IR, even after another solid start to the year. Perreault had three points in the first five games for the Jets. Four weeks would take him out for the next eleven games, though obviously he could return sooner (or later).

Jamie Thomas of JetsTV first reported the move on Twitter.

Salary Cap Deep Dive: Winnipeg Jets

September 9, 2017 at 8:42 pm CDT | by Holger Stolzenberg Leave a Comment

Navigating the Salary Cap is probably one of the more important tasks for any general manager to have. Teams that can avert total cap chaos by walking the tightrope of inking players to deals that match their value (or compensate for future value without breaking the bank) remain successful. Those that don’t see struggles and front office changes.

PHR will look at every NHL team and give a thorough look at their cap situation heading into the 2017-18 season. This will focus more on those players who are integral parts of the roster versus those who may find themselves shuttling between the AHL and NHL. All cap figures are courtesy of CapFriendly.

Winnipeg Jets

Current Cap Hit: $67,661,666 (under the $75MM Upper Limit)

Entry-Level Contracts

F Patrik Laine (Two years remaining, $925K)
F Kyle Connor (Two years remaining, $925K)
F Nikolaj Ehlers (One year remaining, $894K)
D Josh Morrissey (One year remaining, $863K)

Potential Bonuses

Laine: $2.65MM
Ehlers: $850K
Connor: $850K
Morrissey: $500K

Total: $4.85MM

The future looks bright for the Jets, especially with Laine, who is constantly overshadowed by Toronto Maple Leafs Auston Matthews. Laine, who was taken second-overall in last year’s draft, put up phenomenal numbers that make Jets fans believe again in their team. He put up 36 goals in his rookie campaign and added 28 assists for a 64-point season. He should only get better and become the cornerstone of the franchise in the future. He should be joined by Ehlers, who also had a breakout year last year. The 2014 first-round pick had 15 goals in his rookie year, but added to that this past year, putting up 25 goals and 39 assists for 64 points.

The team also has high hopes for Connor to make the team and find himself a full-time role this year. The team’s 2015 first-round pick, put up big numbers a couple years ago at the University of Michigan two years ago, then scored 25 goals with the AHL’s Manitoba Moose and still managed to get 20 games in with the Jets, where he scored two goals and three assists. The team believes he has a good shot to end up on one of the back two lines. Morrissey, the team’s first-round pick back in 2013, found a full-time role with the Jets last year as he put up six goals and 14 assists. He is currently slated to start on the Jets’ third-line defense.

One Year Remaining, Non-Entry-Level

D Toby Enstrom ($5.75MM, UFA)
F Bryan Little ($4.7MM, UFA)
D Jacob Trouba ($2.81MM, RFA)
G Connor Hellebuyck ($2.25MM, RFA)
F Shawn Matthias ($2.13MM, UFA)
G Michael Hutchinson ($1.15MM, UFA)
F Adam Lowry ($1.13MM, RFA)
F Joel Armia ($925K, RFA)
F Marko Dano ($850K, RFA)
F Brandon Tanev ($700K, RFA)
F Matt Hendricks ($700K, UFA)
F Michael Sgarbossa ($650K, RFA)

That’s a long list, but most of the players are restricted free agents and should easily be retained. However, the team will have to make some decisions on some key veterans, including Little, who many feel is an underrated forward. The 29-year-old has been with the franchise from the start of his career when they were the Atlanta Thrashers and has scored 184 goals for the franchise. With the team’s large number of young forwards, might they move on from Little in a year? Injuries have plagued little over the past two years as he’s missed 48 games. His 21 goals last year were solid, but he will need to prove his value this year if he wants another long-term deal. Another potential unrestricted free agent would be Enstrom, who will be 33 next year and the team will have to decide whether to keep the veteran blueliner. His offensive numbers dropped into the teens in the last couple of years. Mattias and Hendricks are expendable fill-ins, but valuable veterans to hold that roster together.

The team will be looking to several of their restricted free agent as key players in the future. The team will be looking at Trouba to have a big season this year. The 23-year-old defenseman had a career-high 33 points a year ago and he did that in only 60 games, so many feel he may take his game up a notch this year if he can avoid injuries. Despite Hellebuyck’s down year as they attempted to hand him the starting goaltender job, the team still looks at him as a potential starter that just wasn’t ready to take their reigns last year. His 2.89 GAA in 56 games didn’t get the job done. With Mason coming in, Hellebuyck will have more time to develop as a backup.

The team will be looking for Lowry to continue to develop as well. Lowry had 15 goals last year and the 24-year-old is expected to center the team’s third line. Armia also has bigger expectations this year after putting up 10 goals a year ago. He could also end up as a wing next to Lowry on that third line. Dano could also pick up a full-time role with the Jets this year. The former 2013 first-rounder played 38 games for Winnipeg last year, putting up four goals and seven assists.

Two Years Remaining

F Blake Wheeler ($5.6MM, UFA)
D Tyler Myers ($5.5MM, UFA)
G Steve Mason ($4.1MM, UFA)
D Ben Chiarot ($1.4MM, UFA)
F Andrew Copp ($1MM, RFA)

The team’s main focus will be determining which of these veteran players will they want to bring back. Wheeler, who is 31 years of age, will be 33 years old, but he’s been amazingly consistent for Winnipeg over the last four years, scoring no less than 26 goals in that span. His success over the next two years will be the determining factor if they keep him. Granted, Mason hasn’t played a game for the Jets yet, but it’s more than likely that the Jets will move on from the veteran goaltender. He was signed to provide a stop-gap for Hellebuyck or other young goaltenders to move up in the system. As for Myers, again, the team will look to see how he plays. Considered to be one of their top defenders, he went down with a lower body injury after playing in just 11 games and now is expected to man the team’s second defensive line. At 27, he still has time to prove his value to the franchise.

Three Years Remaining

D Dmitry Kulikov ($4.33MM, UFA)

One of the most criticized signings was this summer when the Jets went out and inked Kulikov to a three-year, $13MM deal. Once considered to be a top defensive prospect, Kulikov has failed to have a big season and really collapsed a year ago when he only was able to put up five points in 47 games. Yet, the Jets brought him in with the hope he could help fix the team’s defensive woes. He suffered a back injury in the preseason with Buffalo a year ago and could never get it going, missing chunks of games due to that injury all year. Now healthy, the Jets hope this gamble will pay off.

Four Or More Years Remaining

D Dustin Byfuglien ($7.6MM through 2020-21)
F Mark Scheifele ($6.125MM through 2023-24)
F Mathieu Perreault ($4.125MM through 2020-21)

The team has only three large, long-term contracts on the books and the team is thrilled they have Scheifele locked up for another seven years. Signed to an eight-year extension in July of 2016, Scheifele is a centerpiece for the Jets. The 24-year-old had a breakout season that year, scoring 29 goals in the 2015-16 season. He topped that number with 32 goals this past year and is poised for greater things and at his age, they can count on him for a long time.

Byfuglien is locked up for another four years. The bruising 6-foot-5 defender has put up big numbers over his career, including a 13 goal, 39 assists season a year ago. He will be 36 when his contract ends, but with him still performing at his prime, this also looks like it was a good signing. Perreault, on the other hand, has not worked out as well. Signed from Anaheim after an 18-goal season in 2014, he agreed to a three-year deal, putting up another 18 goals, but since then, has combined for 22 goals in the past two seasons. Nevertheless, the team locked him up to a new four-year, $16.5MM deal which starts this year despite his offensive struggles.

Buyouts

D Mark Stuart ($1.46MM in 2017-18; $583K in 2018-19)

Retained Salary Transactions

None

Still To Sign

None

Best Value: Scheifele
Worst Value: Perreault

Looking Ahead

The Jets have done a fantastic job putting together a powerful offense. When you combine players like Scheifele, Laine, Wheeler and Little to go with their young players, offense isn’t the problem. The team finished seventh in the NHL in goals scored, averaging 3.0 goals per game. Yet, despite all that scoring, the team still did not reach the playoffs, placing ninth in the Western Conference, seven points short of that final playoff berth. What kept them from advancing? The team’s lack of defense and their goaltending situation held them back. The team was fourth in the NHL in goals allowed as they allowed 3.11 goals per game. The team hopes with the improvement of their offense, the return of Myers from injury and the additions of Kulikov and Mason, the team should be able to push their way into the playoffs this year.

West Notes: Stars, Perreault, Horvat

September 1, 2017 at 8:49 pm CDT | by Brian La Rose 1 Comment

With the Stars adding Martin Hanzal this summer to a center group that already featured Tyler Seguin and Jason Spezza, it seemed like there was going to be somewhat of a logjam, especially with Hanzal receiving top-six money ($4.75MM). Speaking with Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News, head coach Ken Hitchcock indicated that the team views Hanzal as someone who will strictly play down the middle while it will be Spezza that will shift to the left wing. Hitchcock did add that he envisions Spezza will still see some time at his natural position and that Radek Faksa, a natural center in his own right, is also a candidate to shift to the wing and could potentially line up alongside Hanzal.

Winnipeg’s Forward Depth And Versatility Valuable In Trade Market

August 5, 2017 at 7:12 pm CDT | by Seth Lawrence 1 Comment

The Winnipeg Jets finished just 7 points out of a playoff berth this season. Like the Islanders (41 wins) and Lightning (42 wins), the Jets (40 wins) were on the verge of making it to the show in the final weeks. As such, GM Kevin Cheveldayoff didn’t feel the necessity to spend large this off-season, nor make any substantial trades. Cheveldayoff shored up the goaltending position with Steve Mason on a two-year contract, and hopes that will be enough to push the team over the edge. Still, if management feels that improvements should be made, the team has the assets and the versatility up front to do so. It’s uncertain whether Dmitry Kulikov will be enough to shore up what was a poor-performing defensive group last year. A spare forward could be floated for more help in their own end, even though their 6 slots seem safely filled at the moment.

Particularly at the center position, the Jets have one of the more enviable situations league-wide. By my count, the Jets have 9 roster players who can theoretically slot in for center duties. Mark Scheifele, Bryan Little, Mathieu Perreault, Shawn Matthias, Adam Lowry, Michael Sgarbossa, Marko Dano and Brandon Tanev all can play up the middle. Scheifele is obviously the first line center, and Little is safely pegged at number two. After that, things get a bit interesting. Perreault finished the season while spending some time on the wing, and his goal scoring dried up – he only had 22 in the past two seasons. His point production is still locked in at 40+, but considering his $4.125 MM cap hit for the next four seasons, maybe now is the time to opt out. Matthias is interesting primarily because he only has one season remaining before he hits unrestricted free agency. He can slot on the third or fourth lines and provide mediocre depth production, but his marginal worth wouldn’t be enough to land a difference maker in a trade.

Little also sees his current deal expire at the conclusion off 2017-18, and his new contract could be relatively hefty. With Blake Wheeler due another contract hike after 2018-19, and Jacob Trouba looking for a raise after this year, there is the possibility Little could be moved for the right package. Still, he’s one of the more consistent players on the Jets and has never known another franchise. If he were to be shopped, the return could be quite pricey for many competing teams. He’s perceived as a top-end #2 center and his internal value is quite steep. Following that, Lowry will continue to build on his progression last year, where he tallied 29 points. He’s yet to put it all together, but his size and still tender age of 24 wouldn’t make him the first target for movement. Dano is far more comfortable on the wing, and he’s likely going nowhere. Sgarbossa is essentially a non-factor, as is Tanev, in terms of drawing league interest.

Another thing to keep in mind is that Nicolas Petan should find himself a regular this season, and many expect him to push for that 3rd line center position. As with many of the other names, he can slot on the wing instead, but that might not be the best use of his talents long-term. If he forces Lowry down the depth chart further, does that make a player like Little more expendable for the right move? What would the interest be like for a player of Perreault’s caliber? Unfortunately, it seems unlikely that we’ll know until well into the season. Cheveldayoff has been firm in staying the course with the young and promising Jets, and he’s more likely to wait at least until the conclusion of training camp before making any major transaction.

Offseason Keys: Winnipeg Jets

May 21, 2017 at 8:57 pm CDT | by Brian La Rose Leave a Comment

While the expansion draft is set to headline a busy NHL offseason, there are still several other storylines for each team in the months ahead. Here is a closer look at what lies ahead for the Winnipeg Jets.

Quite a bit went well for the Jets last season. Mark Scheifele finished seventh in league scoring, Jacob Trouba had a career year after a contract squabble, and Patrik Laine had a terrific rookie season. Despite that, the end result was basically the same in Winnipeg with the team being on the outside looking in at the postseason once again. Here is what GM Kevin Cheveldayoff will likely be looking to accomplish this offseason.

Find A Starting Goaltender

Goaltending has been an issue for the Jets for a while now and last season really didn’t change things. They gave Connor Hellebuyck, who is expected to be their goalie of the future, the lion’s share of the workload and while he had some good moments, he also showed that he’s not really to be the number one goalie of the present. Hellebuyck will be a restricted free agent in July and given the current situation, a short-term bridge deal seems likelier than a long-term contract.

Veteran Ondrej Pavelec is slated to become an unrestricted free agent and isn’t likely to return while Michael Hutchinson is best suited for a backup role. He has one year left on his contract with a $1.15MM cap hit and is expected to be left unprotected in the expansion draft.

Fortunately for Winnipeg, the goaltending market will have plenty of options either via trade (in large part buoyed by expansion) or free agency, where players like Ryan Miller and Brian Elliott may garner some consideration as short-term options until Hellebuyck is ready to take over the starting job. Supply should outweigh demand which should bode well for Cheveldayoff as he looks to shore up the play between the pipes.

Decision On Trouba

When he signed his two year deal back in November, the questions surrounding Jacob Trouba’s long-term future with the Jets didn’t exactly go away for long. While he has publicly stated that his trade request has been rescinded, there are many who wonder if that’s only for the short-term. Trouba’s desire to play his natural side long-term is well-known and with Dustin Byfuglien and Tyler Myers both signed for at least the next two years, that’s not likely to happen for a while yet.

Trouba is eligible to sign an extension as of July 1st. Inking a long-term deal with Winnipeg would put any speculation about his future to rest as the questions will inevitably persist until the situation is resolved either by a new contract or a trade. If Winnipeg opts to go the latter route, he will have no shortage of suitors as if he were to be made available, Trouba would become the top defender available on the trade block.

While Trouba could certainly play out the final year of his contract and enter restricted free agency in 2018, the potential distraction could potentially push the timeline up on this decision. That said, Cheveldayoff has shown himself to be extremely patient during his tenure so the public questions about Trouba’s future continuing won’t be a concern to him.

Determine Perreault’s Future

If the Jets are forced to protect four defensemen in expansion (a potential outcome if Toby Enstrom doesn’t waive his no-move clause), Mathieu Perreault’s future with the team comes into question as he would likely be left unprotected. He’s entering the first season of a four year, $16.5MM deal he signed last July which is decent value for someone who has surpassed the 40 point mark for the last four seasons.

However, it’s that value that will make him enticing to the Golden Knights if he’s made available and Perreault is a pretty good player to lose for nothing in return. Accordingly, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Winnipeg test the waters around the league to see what type of interest there is in a possible trade. At least that way, the team would get some value in return for him before the expansion draft while allowing them to potentially protect four blueliners.

The Jets may also want to free up some money in the budget for Bryan Little, who’s slated to become an unrestricted free agent in 2018. One way to do so would be to move Perreault regardless of which route they go in expansion. It’s not often that a player gets moved before his new contract even kicks in but in Perreault’s case, it’s certainly a possibility. Even though the Jets made a decision on Perreault’s future when they gave him that extension last summer, they will likely have to make another call on his status before too long.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Jets Notes: Trouba, Enstrom, Perreault

April 9, 2017 at 5:49 pm CDT | by Brian La Rose Leave a Comment

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.

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