Post by Winnipeg GM on Feb 15, 2024 9:40:25 GMT -5
WINNIPEG, MANITOBA
After five years, the Robin Lehner era has closed in Winnipeg. The Jets dealt their 1A goalie and beloved fan favourite to the Boston Bruins in exchange for Freddie Anderson, a 2nd Round pick (NJ) in 2024, and prospect Jake Furlong. The Winnipeg Jets have been setting off on a well documented rebuilding process, and amazingly have remained in the playoff picture this year after making the playoffs last season as well.
"Its a credit to the guys in the locker room and their mental fortitude," says head coach Gerard Gallant. "Rebuild is word associated with losing more times than not, our guys have decided to be the not."
The Jets have the youngest average roster in the league currently and are looking to get younger. With the emergence of rookie goalie Joel Hofer as a borderline 1A goaltender this year at age 23, the Jets took the opportunity to strike and add to their impressive draft stock heading into this summer's draft.
"We currently have 3 first rounder (one will convey by the end of the season), 4 seconds, 3 thirds. This is the position we wanted to be in at this point in the year and frankly we are hoping to add to that draft capital," says General Manager Sean Croft.
As it stands now, the Jets are likely to be losing 3 forwards after the season. Kerby Rychel has express an interest to return overseas while veteran Josh Bailey is almost certain to hang them up after this season. It is also assumed that the team would let veteran winger Anders Lee walk in free agency in exchange for compensation and a roster spot for a younger winger. To their credit the team has stayed consistent on their message that they will not force trades for the sake of forcing trades given where they are in the standings.
"We won't compromise the chance to make a playoff run simply because we don't want to lose a player for nothing," says Croft. "That seems like an awfully silly thing to do to our organization and to our fans who pay an awful lot to try and watch us win meaningful games in the spring and early summer. If deals make sense in the short and long term, we will make them. If not, we are just as happy keeping the squad together and seeing how far we can go."
We have been told that several teams have reached out to the Jets regarding forward Sam Reinhart. Sources tell us that Croft recently told another GM that the return would have to be so massive that he would almost feel bad asking for it. Another source told us the Jets had previously told another GM that it would take at least 5 first round picks to even get a conversation started. Suffice to say, the Jets have no intention or desire to move the franchise center who is finally developing into the player they took as the first over pick in Croft's first year.
Jay Trotter
Jet Fuel