Offseason Review: Winnipeg Jets

Now that the dust has settled on a wild NHL offseason, let's take a look at how each team did in regards to drafting and free-agent signings. Today, we'll conclude this series with a look at the Winnipeg Jets.

The Jets have been spinning their tires for a couple seasons. They are undoubtedly a good team, always making an argument for being one of, if not the best in Canada. Yet they never seem to get over the hump. Since their loss in the Conference Finals to Vegas four years ago, they have lost in the first round to St. Louis, the Play-In round to Calgary, and the Conference Semi-Finals to Montreal. Last season, star forward Patrik Laine was moved to Columbus for Pierre-Luc Dubois, a fellow top-3 draft pick in 2016, to try and improve the Jets' centre depth, but the results were mixed for both teams to say the least. GM Kevin Cheveldayoff should be looking to build on this team's momentum following their playoff exit, let's see how he went about it.

Free Agency:

A few new faces in Winnipeg this season, the biggest being Nate Schmidt, who was acquired from Vancouver in exchange for a 2022 3rd-round pick. Another new arrival is Brendan Dillion, who Washington traded to the Jets for a 2022 2nd and a 2023 3rd. Eric Comrie was re-signed, ostensibly to actually play this season and back up Connor Hellebuyck, and Riley Nash signed a one-year deal to further solidify the Jets' depth at centre.

Following that, most of the Jets work this offseason involved re-signing players. Paul Stastny, for example, signed for one more year in Winnipeg. Also sticking with the Jets are Neal Pionk, signed for four years, Logan Stanley, signed to a two-year bridge deal, and Andrew Copp, who signed a one-year deal. The Jets also re-signed Dominic Toninato to a two-year two-way contract, and Jonathan Kovacevic, who re-signed on a one-year two-way deal. Winnipeg also added Austin Poganski, Mikey Eyssimont, and Luke Johnson out of free agency. Poganski and Johnson signed one-year deals, Eyssimont signed for two years, all of them two-way deals.

Grade: B-; The biggest concern in Winnipeg for years has been centre depth, and that issue seems to have been solved with the addition of Riley Nash and the re-signing of Paul Stastny, who can finally play the bottom 6 role he's been more suited to for years. However, while Hellebyuck should be able to get this team to the post-season on his own, Eric Comrie is not exactly a seasoned backup, having just 9 NHL games under his belt. There's also Mikhail Berdin, who hasn't played any games at the NHL level, but those are the Jets' only options to support their starter. To top it off, while the Jets' defence was good enough to get them to the playoffs last season, it's tough to look at that sweep by the Habs and think it's a good enough to win them a Cup.

Draft:

The Jets' first pick this year came at 18th overall, and with it, they selected forward Chaz Lucius. A 6'0" centre from Lawrence, Kansas, Lucius is a goal-scoring forward who thrives in the offensive zone. His crafty skating and deceptive shot make him a threat from just about any angle, and he has exceptional vision and hockey IQ that has him spotting teammates who are open and making sure they get the puck on their stick. Lucius is one of those multi-faceted centremen who will always draw in a defenceman due to his scoring ability, but who is equally dangerous as a playmaker. He scored 13 goals and 20 points in 13 games with the U.S. U18 National Team last winter, and will play for the University of Minnesota next season.

The Jets' next selection, at 50th overall, was Nikita Chibrikov, a 5'10" winger from Moscow. Chibrikov is a fast and shifty forward who spots attacking lanes and uses them to full effect. His hallmark comes from his playmaking abilities, he possesses a wide array of different skills the allow him to set up teammates through sticks, around defenders, or in front of the net. Never fully out of any play, Chibrikov uses his speed and creativity to make smart passing plays, facilitate zone entries, and create rebounds in the crease. He's already played 3 games for SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL this season and is still looking for his first point.

Moving to the third round, the Jets selected defenceman Dmitri Kuzmin at 82nd overall. A 5'10" native of Belarus, Kuzmin is one of the "new breed" of small offensive Dmen. Fast on his feet, he plays the point in the offensive zone with ferocity, setting up teammates for give-and-gos and filling up space to extend his team's offensive pressure. He doesn't stay locked to the blueline either, Kuzmin is happy to jump into the middle of the ice or carry the puck down low and look for a setup out front. He scored 1 goal and 5 points in 5 games with Belarus at the U18 World Juniors last winter. He'll likely return to Dinamo-Molodechno of the Belarus league next season.

Grade: B+; The Jets drafted a bit too late to select anyone who's ready to jump into the lineup from day 1. That said, their crop this year is a solid one, with a group of youngsters who've shown high-end skill in various leagues around the world. The forward prospects, in particular, are intriguing, and they'll join an already promising pipeline with the Jets' development group.

Overall grade: B; Free agency hasn't necessarily hoisted the Jets into contender status, but they remain candidates for a dark horse win and solidifying their depth at centre only helps their cause. The backup position is a bit of a concern, but time will tell how that plays out. Meanwhile, Ceveldayoff did some fine work at the draft this summer, further ensuring a bright future for his team in Winnipeg.

What do you think of the Jets' offseason work?

Photo credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports