Winnipeg Jets Extend Sami Niku
Oct 30: The Jets have officially announced the contract, signing Niku to a two-year deal with, as reported, a $725K cap hit.
Oct 29: The Winnipeg Jets have come to terms on a new contract with restricted free agent Sami Niku. TSN’s Frank Seravalli reports that the young defenseman has signed a two-year, two-way contract extension. The deal carries an AAV of $725K, with the 2020-21 minimum $700K in year one and the 2021-22 minimum $750K in year two.
Niku, 24, is exiting his entry-level contract still unsure of his NHL ability and long-term fit in Winnipeg. The 2015 seventh-round pick was a fast-rising prospect who was a force at the pro level in Finland’s Liiga at a young age and looked like he might be ready to take on the NHL. His AHL numbers, especially on offense, continue to show a player with great skill and mobility. The NHL has been an entirely different case though. Niku has struggled to stick with the Jets, playing in just 48 games over three seasons. In that time, he has put up modest offensive totals, but has struggled in other aspects of the game. He contributes little defensively, is prone to turnovers, and has poor possession numbers. The team does not trust him with significant ice time, shelters him from difficult match-ups, and tries to prevent exposure in the defensive end. Yet, his potential for offense continues to entice and Niku’s 2019-20 numbers offered a slight glimmer of hope that his defense may be improving.
Yet, Niku has also served as a fixture on the rumor mill when it comes to potential Winnipeg trades. Signing an affordable, multi-year deal won’t change that, as potential suitors who believe in his upside will be happy to take a two-year gamble. The Jets appear likely to make a trade before next season too. Niku’s signing puts the team over the salary cap based on a projected 23-man roster, including Niku as the eighth defenseman. Even if the club is able to put Bryan Little and his $5.29MM cap hit on Long-Term Injured Reserve, the team still needs to re-sign RFA forward Jack Roslovic. With little flexibility and a blue line that could still use another bona fide top-four member, the Jets could still be dealing and Niku could still wind up elsewhere.
Winnipeg Jets Sign Jansen Harkins
The Winnipeg Jets have signed Jansen Harkins to a new two-year contract that will carry an average annual value of $725K. The 23-year-old forward was a restricted free agent but did not qualify for salary arbitration.
Harkins, a fan favorite in the Jets organization who earned his first taste of NHL action this season, scored seven points in 29 games. When Harkins was inserted into the lineup and scored in the Jets qualification round against the Calgary Flames this summer, head coach Paul Maurice took time in his press conference to highlight exactly how hard the young forward has worked to get to that point.
I don’t know that I’ve had a player that has been given less opportunity and stayed in the fight, competed as hard as this guy has. He had no chance of making our team, but had a good camp. But he’s not a first overall pick so he doesn’t have ten guys pounding the table for him to give him that chance. He’s been given nothing here. But what he did was he forced an opportunity. With the [Manitoba] Moose, there was no choice but to call him up. And then he gets in the lineup and he gets into practice and he works so hard you just have to play him.
A second-round pick in 2015, Harkins was in the ECHL during the 2017-18 season and his career seemed completely off track. He’s turned things around since then and now could be a full-time option for the Jets in 2020-21.
While he may never be an impact scorer, his work ethic and competitiveness have made him an effective option, at least in Maurice’s eyes. A multi-year deal will now give him some financial security and allow him to really try and prove he belongs at the NHL level.
Sami Niku's Agent Denies That Niku Asked For A Trade
While Sami Niku’s name has come up in recent trade speculation, his agent Mike Curran clarified to Jason Bell of the Winnipeg Free Press that the defenseman has not requested a move. The 24-year-old split the season between Winnipeg and AHL Manitoba and while he was quite productive with the Moose with three goals and 11 assists in 18 games, it didn’t materialize into much NHL production as Niku had just five helpers in 17 games with the Jets. Given his offensive prowess with Manitoba over the past three seasons, he has progressed about as far as he can in the minors but a full-time NHL spot hasn’t been something that he has been able to lock down. Accordingly, the restricted free agent could probably benefit from a change of scenery but he’s not the one that’s looking for it.
Kristian Vesalainen Loaned To HPK
The Winnipeg Jets have sent Kristian Vesalainen to HPK in Finland for the time being, loaning him overseas until the 2020-21 season begins. The young forward still has two years remaining on his entry-level contract.
Vesalainen, 21, has had an interesting development path, to say the least. Selected 24th overall in 2017 he stayed in Finland with HPK for the following season, dominating Liiga to the tune of 39 points in 44 games before a late-season trade to Karpat for the playoffs. He ended up helping that team win the league title and starred at the World Juniors, but his first year in the Winnipeg organization didn’t go quite as well.
The young forward started in the NHL but after being sent down to the minor leagues used his European Assignment Clause to go to the KHL. After playing a few months in the KHL and being eliminated quickly in the playoffs, he returned to the AHL to play for the Manitoba Moose again.
That’s where he spent all of 2019-20, scoring 12 goals and 30 points in 60 games. The big winger still has a good chunk of development left before he becomes a real impact player at the NHL level, but he’ll get an early start on his season in a league he has already dominated. Hopefully that gives him the confidence and preparation needed to battle for a roster spot in Jets camp.
Latest On Patrik Laine Trade Speculation
Jets winger Patrik Laine is no stranger to trade rumors as he has been a part of trade speculation for the last couple of years with his name creeping up in suggestions in recent weeks. In the latest Insider Trading segment (video link), Pierre LeBrun of TSN and The Athletic relayed some comments from his agents Andy Scott and Mike Liut, including that while the 22-year-old isn’t asking for a trade, it may be mutually beneficial at this point for it to happen and have communicated that to Winnipeg GM Kevin Cheveldayoff. They also ruled out any speculation about him not reporting to training camp if he isn’t dealt by then.
The most intriguing comment that LeBrun cited came from Scott who indicated that there is a clear understanding between both sides of where this is probably headed. Reading between the lines, that’s not a typical comment one would here when inaction (a non-trade) is expected.
Laine, the number two pick in 2016, is coming off the best point per game average of his career (0.93) but hasn’t quite been able to sustain top-line production on a frequent basis. There are games where he is extremely difficult to stop but those are offset by some very quiet ones; his inconsistency has been a concern for the team and his ice time has varied as a result. That’s another element that his agents brought up when speaking to LeBrun.
With 138 goals over his first four NHL seasons, Laine has been able to come in and produce at a high level quite quickly; only six players have more over that same span. As a result, there should certainly be plenty of interest in his services, even at a time where there aren’t a lot of teams with enough money to take on his $6.75MM price tag.
That amount is certainly bound to go up next offseason which is likely buoying trade talks. Laine is owed a $7.5MM qualifying offer at that time and unlike his first trip through restricted free agency, he’ll have arbitration rights. Even in a flattened cap environment, he’s going to be well-positioned to get a fair-sized jump in pay. If either side has reservations about doing a long-term deal with Winnipeg that buys out several UFA years, the time to do a deal may very well be now as in-season flexibility to make moves will be even more limited than usual.
For his part, Cheveldayoff has stayed quiet on the speculation other than mentioning that he’s looking at all options when it comes to improving his team. We’ll find out over the coming weeks if that winds up involving one of his top young forwards moving on.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Winnipeg Jets Agree To Terms With Nelson Nogier
The Winnipeg Jets have reached an agreement with restricted free agent Nelson Nogier, signing him to a two-year, two-way contract that will carry an average annual value of $725K at the NHL level.
It’s not the difference-making defender that many in Winnipeg want the Jets to add, but Nogier is still a valuable depth option for the organization that can help stabilize the minor league blue line. The 6’2″ defenseman has played in 205 games for the Manitoba Moose since arriving at the professional level, suiting up just 11 times in the NHL.
Even with the lack of star power on the Winnipeg defense corps, don’t expect Nogier to really push for a spot this season. The team already has seven defensemen on one-way contracts, plus Sami Niku to sign and multiple prospects like Dylan Samberg and Ville Heinola ready to take an NHL role.
Jets Shopping Sami Niku
It appears that Jets forward Jack Roslovic isn’t the only player that Winnipeg has made available in trade talks. Murat Ates of The Athletic reports (subscription link) that that RFA defenseman Sami Niku is also being shopped around the league. The 24-year-old has been dominant offensively in the past in the minors but that hasn’t resulted in much of a consistent NHL opportunity as of yet.
Last season, Niku played in 17 games with Winnipeg, recording five assists while averaging over 16 minutes a night. However, the Jets often made him a healthy scratch as well. He also got into 18 games with AHL Manitoba, picking up three goals and 11 helpers. There is some intriguing upside with Niku but it’s also telling that he didn’t get more of an opportunity despite all of their injuries. There should be some interest but given his limited chances so far, his inclusion in a package with Roslovic may not move the needle much.
Vegas Golden Knights Closing On Deal With Alex Pietrangelo
The Vegas Golden Knights are rumored to be close to signing the top unrestricted free agent on the market in defenseman Alex Pietrangelo, according to The Athletic’s Jeremy Rutherford, who says a deal could be completed as early as tonight. Fox Sports Andy Strickland confirms that the Golden Knights and Pietrangelo are working towards finalizing a contract.
The deal could also coincide with a trade as the Golden Knights, who have already moved out Paul Stastny, are also a likely candidate to move out defenseman Nate Schmidt and his contract, which includes five more years at $5.95MM AAV. It’s likely both moves could be done in tandem with the belief that the Winnipeg Jets might again be part of that package, which would include restricted free agent Jack Roslovic. Even that trade could prove to be complicated as the Jets might be forced to move out a contract in order to take on Schmidt’s contract.
For the Golden Knights, bringing in Pietrangelo would finally give the franchise its first clear cut No. 1 defenseman. The team had tried to pry away Erik Karlsson several years ago at the trade deadline, but failed to pull that trade off. This time, the team is trying to juggle its finances to fit Pietrangelo into their salary cap, which is quite a daunting task.
Pietrangelo has been a stabilizing force the last 11 seasons with the Blues and is coming off an impressive season last year. The 30-year-old had 16 goals and 52 assists in 70 games and another six points in nine playoff games for the Blues, but is probably best known for his defensive abilities, something that could only help Vegas in their quest to win a Stanley Cup in the next couple of years. Vegas also has a major need for a right-handed blueliner as the only right-hander on the team is Zach Whitecloud.
The Golden Knights still have to move out goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury and his $7MM AAV contract for the next two years, but with little movement on that front over the last week, the team might be more likely forced to move out one of their pricier defensemen with Schmidt’s salary being the largest at the moment.
Winnipeg Jets Looking To Trade Jack Roslovic
The Winnipeg Jets have been shopping restricted free agent forward Jack Roslovic with more intensity today with the hope of moving him for a top-four defender, according to the Winnipeg News’ Mike McIntyre. Several teams have expressed interest in the young center with the Vegas Golden Knights being at the top of that list, although the Columbus Blue Jackets are also interested in the Columbus native.
The scribe writes that there has been talk of dealing Roslovic, who has expressed an interest in a change of scenery. The 23-year-old Roslovic has steadily improved in his three years in the league with the Jets. He posted career highs in goals (12) and assists (17) and has been starting to show the potential to be a No. 2 center on the team, a role he has not been able to seize up until now. However, after making $1.1MM last season, Roslovic could get a considerable raise, something that other teams will have to take into account.
While the Golden Knights are just one candidate to acquire the young center, several names have already been mentioned by McIntyre, including Nate Schmidt and Alec Martinez. Winnipeg, who is looking for a left-handed defenseman, has already completed one trade with the Golden Knights recently when it acquired Paul Stastny just before free agency opened on Friday.
The Golden Knights are rumored to be close to signing No. 1 free agent, Alex Pietrangelo to a long-term deal, but still would need to move out some salary to make the deal work. With little known progress on moving goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, it would make sense to move on from one of their top-four defenders, likely Schmidt or Martinez. Both offer different advantages to Winnipeg if they choose to take one. Schmidt is locked up for another five years at $5.95MM with a 10-team no-trade list, which would give the Jets some security at that position. Martinez, on the other hand, will be an unrestricted free agent after the 2020-21 season, but comes in a little cheaper at just $4MM.
Winnipeg Jets Sign Derek Forbort
Defense was the area of need this off-season for the Winnipeg Jets, but the team had only succeeded in re-signing their own free agent blue liners. That has now changed, as a new face is heading to Winnipeg. The Jets have signed Derek Forbort, reports TSN’s Darren Dreger. It is a one-year, $1MM for Forbort, who will look to prove that he is still an everyday defenseman.
It was a strange season for Forbort, marred by injury. After three solid seasons with the Los Angeles Kings, in which he played 78+ games and averaged more than 20 minutes, Forbort missed 43 games with a back injury and then played a limited role and struggled to produce offensively when he returned. The Kings dealt Forbort to the Calgary Flames at the trade deadline, by which time Forbort was looking like his old self. However, he only got into seven regular season games before the league’s pause and ten playoff games before the Flames were eliminated. Clearly, that small sample size made it difficult for Forbort to argue that he had fully recovered from his injury issue and had returned to form.
However, the Jets need defense and Forbort could end up winning a top-four role and cashing in next summer. A big, physical defenseman who dominates on the penalty kill, Forbort is an old-fashioned stay-at-home defenseman. Winnipeg will appreciate his propensity for shot-blocking and ability to win puck battles. While Forbort will face competition for starts and ice time with Nathan Beaulieu and Luca Sbisa on the left side, it’s a battle he should win. This could prove to be a shrewd signing for the Jets.
One other note on this deal: because it is the Jets and not the Flames signing Forbort, the Flames will send a 2021 fourth-round pick to the Flames to complete their deadline deal. Had Forbort returned to Calgary, it would have been a 2022 third-round selection going to L.A. in the trade.