Winnipeg Jets

Many young players and prospects are getting set to represent their countries in the upcoming Under 20 World Junior Championships which will begin on December 26th. With the NHL on the verge of cancellation, this tournament will be the most prominent two weeks of hockey the entire year.

There's no better time for a young emerging star to showcase his talents.

Two emerging stars out of the same organization have an opportunity to do so. Offensive phenom, Mark Scheifele, will represent team Canada. The stout defensive-defenseman, Jacob Trouba, will represent team USA.

Though they may be rivals during the next couple of weeks, both of them represent their future hockey club, the Winnipeg Jets.

The tournament will be huge for both players as they’ll look to take their game to a whole new level. Having an impactful tournament in the World Junior Championships can bode well for a player's confidence. We've seen new stars born each and every year and this year will be no different.

Obviously, it's important that both of these young, up-and-coming stars compete to the maximum and gain all the more experience. But having a standout tournament might just be more important for one of them than the other.

It's more important that Scheifele stands out. Not as one of the better players in the tournament when it's said and done, but the very best player of the tournament.

With stars emerging from every country, it's a tough task. No one in the Winnipeg organization doubts Scheifele's skills, but now is the perfect time for him to let the entire world know he's arrived.

This is Scheifele's second appearance in the Under 20 World Junior Championships. After a disappointing outing in last year’s tournament, Scheifele will have a chip on his shoulder and Canada will look to bounce back with gold medal aspirations. More importantly, this will be the last time Scheifele will ever be eligible to compete in the World Junior Championships.

He'll look to go out with a bang.

Scheifele is beginning to reach the next level. He's one of the offensive leaders in every statistical category in the OHL. He'll look to take that production over to the WJC tournament as one of the leaders and focal points of team Canada.

As for Trouba, this will be his first second appearance in the Under 20 World Junior Championships. He has a lot to prove, but he'll have a lot more opportunities to do so. This will be a great experience for his development. However, if you know Trouba, then you know he's not just looking for experience. He's in it to win it and he's there to compete and play hard, physical hockey.

It will be an exciting tournament as always and Jets fans will be proud to see a glimpse of the future when two of their young stars put everything on the line. They may be rivals when their countries face off, but they'll be lifelong teammates in no time.

Mark Scheifele, all but universally accepted as the best prospect in the Winnipeg Jets’ system, has formed a volcanic one-two punch on the Barrie Colts with Anthony Camara. The chemistry of the Colts’ two 20-goal scorers most likely played a role in Camara making the final cut on Canada’s World Junior Championship team, which will have Scheifele on board for the second year in a row.

For now, it appears Scheifele will be linked up on a line with Jonathan Huberdeau and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. However, with the first game in the 11-day tournament still a week away, there is abundant opportunity for Scheifele and Camara to flaunt their formula on a bigger stage against tougher competition.

In case that happens, the Jets’ front office should keep a watchful eye on their first-round draftee, as well as Camara, whose rights presently belong to the Boston Bruins. The more the two prospects perform together on a variety of platforms, the more Winnipeg should consider a move to make Camara a potential professional colleague of Scheifele’s.

To date, through 33 OHL games, Camara and Scheifele have shared the ice for 58 of Barrie’s 127 goals, and they have also shared a hand in 22 scoring plays. In their most recent game before the WJC training camp, a 6-2 thrashing of the Kingston Frontenacs, Scheifele assisted on Camara’s power-play strike and the two were both in action for four Colts goals.

As an unofficial prelude to their World Junior tryout, the two Barrie forwards joined Seth Griffith, a London Knight and Camara’s fellow Bruins draftee, on the starting line for Team OHL in a Nov. 12 bout with Russia.

Earlier this month, a feature story in the Barrie Examiner detailed the rise in Camara’s game since he joined Scheifele’s Colts late last season. The same story by Gene Pereira reiterated Scheifele’s status as a purely skilled prospect while noting that Camara has blossomed into a fruitfully gritty winger to complement Scheifele’s skill set.

Since that story was published, both of the Colts have secured a coveted roster spot. If they are given a chance to collaborate again and make waves as Team Canada linemates, then a Camara-Scheifele combination will be worth pursuing on Winnipeg’s part.

For whenever the time is right, general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff should start preparing to find out what Boston GM Peter Chiarelli would want as compensation for Camara.

As the salary charts stand right now, the Bruins likely could not afford to ask for much more than an amateur, a minor league prospect or a future draft pick. However, depending on what changes occur in the wake of the lockout and the new CBA that will eventually end it, a bigger swap is certainly within the realm of possibility.

In that event, for such purposes as cap space or replacing pieces that are sacrificed due to a potentially tighter cap, established NHL players from both parties could be involved along with the rights to Camara.

Granted, there is hardly any guarantee that Camara and Scheifele will simultaneously step right into The Show, although Camara has time and a radiant opportunity ahead to amplify his stock.

But depending on how many established Jets forwards are still under contract by 2013-14, it would not be unreasonable to have Camara and Scheifele each working on a bottom-six pair for at least portions of their first professional season.

There is also the chance that they will each find themselves in the AHL with the St. John’s IceCaps. In which case, an arrangement more comparable to what they have in Barrie would work without delay.

Regardless, Cheveldayoff and company should leave no pucks unturned, especially not this one. They should continue to eye the chemistry between Camara and Scheifele as long as it is on display at the WJC and for the subsequent remainder of the OHL season.

The Winnipeg Jets are a prospect-heavy team and many of them are playing in St. Johns with the IceCaps. Some of the IceCaps players could have been playing with the big club this season. With the NHL on the verge of cancellation, now may be a good time to follow the IceCaps.

Here are three players that you need to know...

 

Ivan Telegin 

One of the Jets' top prospects is an under-the-radar player.

Ivan Telegin is making his AHL debut this year after finishing his career in the OHL. Other than the fact that Telegin played on the same team as another fellow Jets prospect in Barrie (Mark Scheifele), people don't know much about him.

One thing that you should know about Telegin is that he's a pure goal scorer. He's scored goals in the past and will so again in the future. However, his current struggles prove that it will take some time for him to adapt.

The young and flashy Russian isn't doing so well in his first year with the IceCaps. In 21 games, Telegin has just two goals and four assists. Performance and statistics aside, Telegin is someone every Jets fan should know about.

His under-performing in St. John's is probably a result of him trying to become familiar with a more professional hockey environment. Also, every IceCaps fan will tell you that Telegin has to shoot the puck more because as of today, he only has 29 shots in those 21 games. A gifted goal scorer has to shoot the puck much more than that.

Aside from that, Telegin is still just a kid playing hockey. At the age of 20, Telegin is already listed at 6'3" and 198 pounds. If he continues to put on weight, he may just develop a frame that resembles that of Ilya Kovalchuk.

Paul Postma

A lot of Jets fans should already be familiar with Paul Postma. If not, then now is the time.

Postma is one of the more gifted offensive-defenseman in the Jets' entire organization. He has unquestionably superb offensive skills. He's been a goal-scoring machine from the blue line in every league he's played in. He's all about the offense.

So why hasn't he had a shot in the NHL yet? Well, he sort of has and hasn't. Postma was outstanding in the preseason of last year with the Jets. However, he didn't make the team at the start of the season. A short three-game stint was all he saw towards the end of the season. Three games isn't nearly enough to make an impression.

There's room for improvement on the defensive side of things, but that's not what's keeping him out of the NHL. There are a number of defensemen who can't play a lick of defense, yet manage to find their way into the NHL. Postma would have probably seen extended playing time this year if it weren't for the lockout.

Postma has played in 13 games with the IceCaps this season and is picking up where he left off. He has three goals and five assists and looks as lethal as ever. It's only a matter of time before he gets a real stint with Winnipeg.

Spencer Machacek

Spencer Machacek got his big break with Winnipeg towards the end of last season. He took every advantage of his opportunity and certainly made the most of it. Now Jets fans are wondering if Machacek can become a stable in Winnipeg as a third liner.

What to watch for in St. Johns is how Machacek progresses and develops his game even more. He'll certainly get another opportunity in Winnipeg again, but how he performs with the IceCaps this season will be crucial. He's one of the main leaders in the IceCaps locker room.

Machacek isn't all about offense. In fact, his outburst last season could be looked at as overachieved play. What he is all about though is hard work, energy and defensive talent. If he provides even the slightest of offense it would be a bonus.

In 22 games with the IceCaps, Machacek is second in points with four goals and eight assists. What statistics don't show is how good he's been in other categories.

If you're missing the Winnipeg Jets as much as me, there's another way to get your fix. The NHL might not come back at all this season, but that doesn't mean you can't cheer for your Jets.

Two prospects that should be followed on a nightly basis currently reside in the OHL. One is Mark Scheifele of the Barrie Colts; the other, Scott Kosmachuk of the Guelph Storm. Both of these young kids have very bright futures with the Jets. Now might be a good time to become familiar with the future.

Scheifele is already well-documented, but it's one thing to know how good he is on paper and another to know how good he is from watching him tear up the OHL. And Scheifele has done nothing but tear up the OHL every time he's taken the ice.

The Colts are one of the OHL's best teams mostly because Scheifele has taken the next step as both a leader and a playmaker, Schefiele's game has developed tremendously since the time he was taken by the Jets in 2011. He's dominating the OHL and making his presence known on the scoreboard each game.

As of today, Scheifele is fourth in points with 39 and fourth in goals with 17. His production has never been better. The OHL is filled with some of the best young players in the world, and Scheifele sits amongst them all. Before the year ends, Scheifele could be the very best player in the OHL.

It'll be interesting to see if Scheifele can keep pace and possibly overtake Ryan Strome for the OHL's point leader as the season progresses. However, that's probably not nearly as important as the upcoming IIHF World Junior Championship in December.

The World Juniors is one of the most prestigious tournaments in all of hockey, especially to Canadians. Last year, Scheifele had a disappointing tournament, as he and his country underperformed. However, Scheifele's progression has him poised to become Canada's leader and top center. The tournament is a month away, but it will be an opportunity for Scheifele to make a name for himself.

As opposed to Scheifele, you probably haven't heard much about Scott Kosmachuk. Now is also a good time to become familiar with his name, because if Kosmachuk continues to impress as he is now, he'll be a top-six forward for the Jets in no time.

I don't want to sound like I'm jumping the gun, but Kosmachuk deserves some attention. He's a goal scorer and a very gifted one. Through 26 games, he has 15 goals and 28 points, which ranks him sixth amongst goal scorers.

The Storm are relying upon him to become a leader and a player who can take over a game. It's a good thing because Kosmachuk has the Storm off to a solid start. He doesn't do it all by himself, but it's becoming more and more clear that he's becoming the focus point of the entire team.

Building from within is a theme for the Winnipeg Jets organization.

The Jets are not an organization that will go out and sign the best free agents available. They're not a team that will trade their entire core away for a soon-to-be unrestricted free agent during the deadline. They're a team that builds through the draft and every round of it.

While teams are looking to fill out their prospect pool in the latter rounds, the Jets are looking for the next best NHLer. The Jets don't have many household prospects in their system, and outside of two or three, you probably haven't heard of some of them.

You can bet that the Jets' scouts and draft team know what they're doing, however. And soon enough, the Jets will get recognition for the talent they find.

My latest edition of the Jets' top 10 prospects saw a few players skyrocket towards the top, while others have started to fall. First up, number 10.

Zachary Yuen

Number 10 is always a tough choice. There are a few prospects I could have slotted here, but I’m going with Jets prospect and Tri-City Americans defenseman, Zachary Yuen.

Yuen was a fourth-round draft pick in 2011. He's spent five years in the WHL with the Americans and has really been an impressive piece to their organization.

Yuen isn’t known for his offensive capabilities, but he’s a mainstay on defense. He’s a solid defenseman, he's never out of position and he always has his head in the game. Sometime down the line an opportunity will arise.

Patrice Cormier

Patrice Cormier is still on my list, even though I could have kept him on the outside looking in. He’s gotten a few opportunities in the NHL, but hasn’t done anything to be mainstay, even on the third line.

Granted, Cormier is still young and still developing, but sooner or later that time runs out. It would still be too premature to state that his time has run out. However, I don’t know how many more chances he’ll have before the Jets give up on him.

I’m a big fan of Cormier and will root for him to find his game. Can he still become an impact player at the NHL level? Certainly. But at where he stands now, I don’t know if he can make the Jets roster.

Lukas Sutter

Lukas Sutter was a second-round draft pick, 39th overall in the most recent NHL entry draft. The name sounds familiar, right? That’s because there’s another (and probably many more to come) Sutter that will be playing in the NHL some day.

Much like many of the other Sutters, Lukas isn't known for his offensive production. He was drafted to be a defensive center, one that you play against other team’s top lines.

Sutter would have been a little bit higher on my list, but he’s underperforming in the WHL this season. He has a hard task trying to live up to the other members of his family, but he’s poised to do it.

Carl Klingberg

Carl Klingberg has fallen down my list. He was once ranked around three, and many lists have him in their top five. Not on mine.

Klingberg has gotten a chance to play in the NHL on two different occasions; both times he didn’t do anything notable. Klingberg’s a tall forward who can use his size to his advantage. He’s skilled enough to play in all three zones and play a shutdown style.

He's young and still needs some time to develop his game. I question if the offensive upside will ever be there for him to become a second line winger in the NHL. At worst, he’ll be a third line defensive guy.

Spencer Machacek

Spencer Machacek has been waiting a very long time to get a chance to play in the NHL. After two failed opportunities in Atlanta, Machacek took advantage of his 13-game stint last season.

Machacek scored twice, assisted on seven others, and finished his call up as a plus-eight player. He surprised many with the offensive production, but the back checking and defensive abilities are something he was born with.

Machacek isn’t going to be a regular NHLer for his offensive skills; he’ll be a regular for his tremendous two-way skills. Last year’s call up gave a lot of fans hope that he can become a steady third-line wing in the NHL.

Paul Postma

The Jets are gifted with offensive defensemen, and Paul Postma is another that can be added to the list.

Scoring goals was never an issue for Postma. He’s done it at every level including the WHL and AHL—two leagues where he’s put up monstrous numbers from the blue line. Now, the time is ticking for him to get extended playing time in the NHL.

This year would have been a perfect opportunity for him to step up, but with the NHL potentially locking out, Postma is going to have to wait it out. He certainly has the skill to put up goals in the NHL, but only time and opportunity will tell.

Scott Kosmachuk

 Surprise?

You probably don’t know much about him, or may not have even heard of him until now. Scott Kosmachuk was drafted by the Jets in the most recent draft, going 70th overall. Kosmachuk skyrocketed up my rankings and now sits fourth on my list.

Kosmachuk is an extremely gifted goal scorer, and is someone I’d keep a close eye on. The Jets need a player like him, and you bet they’re hoping he turns into one of the biggest steals of all time.

Kosmachuk is currently playing in the OHL with the Guelph Storm. He was a 30-goal scorer in 2011-12, and he’s on pace to score around 35 this season. Kosmachuk is only 18 years old. He won’t make the Jets' roster for some time, as it will take a few years for him to grow and fully mature as a hockey player.

He’s a goal scorer. He’s fun to watch. He’s extremely gifted and has a ton of hockey sense. Keep a very close eye on this young kid as he continues to grow. Can he score 50 in the OHL some day?

Ivan Telegin

His name alone makes you think he has a career in the NHL some day. Ivan Telegin sits at number three on my top 10 list. This may be a surprise to many, but the young Russian forward has some hidden skill that could one day become unleashed in the NHL.

The Atlanta Thrashers drafted Telegin in the fourth round in 2010, a selection that could prove to be a huge steal. Telegin spent time in the OHL in Barrie with another Jets prospect, Mark Scheifele, before making the St. John’s IceCaps roster this season.

Telegin scored 35 goals in his last season with Barrie. He's simply a sniper and has a knack for scoring goals. He’s adapting to a more professional level in the AHL, but when he hits his stride, I’m sure more people will start to know his name.

Jacob Trouba

He currently sits at number two, but he’ll be the Jets top prospect before you know it. Jacob Trouba is a highly-touted defensive-defenseman who has potential to become a franchise defenseman.

Trouba is a hitting machine and has outstanding defensive skills. He's known for his aggressiveness and physical play in the defensive zone. All signs point towards Trouba becoming the Jets' franchise defenseman for years to come.  

He’s currently playing in the NCAA with the University of Michigan, where the maturation and growing process is crucial. The Jets will have to be patient and wait out the time it will take for Trouba to become NHL-ready, but the wait will be well worth it.

 

Mark Scheifele

Without any doubt, Mark Scheifele ranks atop the Jets’ prospects on every list out there.

The former eighth-overall pick has potential to become the center that the Jets never had. He's a complete center with skills in all areas. Offensive, defense, special teams, Scheifele has ability to do everything and more. 

The anticipation and excitement for Scheifele's arrival is high. It’s been a year since he was taken in the 2011 draft, but his road to the NHL will come sooner rather than later.

Scheifele is developing into a true leader. In the OHL, Scheifele currently ranks amongst the top five in points and is leading the Colts to an unforgettable season as they sit in first place in their conference. To say he's tearing up the OHL would be an understatement.  

The Winnipeg Jets are an organization that builds their team from within. They rely on young players and prospects to one day emerge into superstars.

One prospect that the Jets have very high hopes for is Mark Scheifele—one of the more highly touted prospects in the league and a key piece to the Jets' future.

Scheifele was the first ever draft pick in "new" Winnipeg Jets history after being selected eighth overall in 2011. The selection was considered a reach, as many draft boards had Scheifele pegged to go well into the first round. However, the selection wasn't a complete shock, as the Jets and Scheifele's junior club, the Barrie Colts, have some history together.

Scheifele played in seven games at the NHL level before being sent back to his OHL club in Barrie. Prior to moving to Winnipeg, the Jets were known to throw their first-round picks right into NHL action and play them the entire season.

It wasn't the same case for Scheifele, however. Though he showed some glimpses of what he could one day become, the lone highlight of his call-up was his first and only career goal.

In his short stint, Scheifele didn't have much of an impact and wasn't ready to make the Jets roster as a full-time center. He wasn't NHL-ready. The Jets allowed him to go back to Barrie to continue to grow as a player and as a leader. Now the Jets are wondering when Scheifele will get that opportunity to become the team's top-line center.

Scheifele could have easily stayed in the NHL during his stint with the Jets, and could just as easily make the NHL if there happens to be a season this year. The difference of making the NHL and having an impact is so far and between.

The Jets aren't looking for Scheifele to just log minutes and grind his way through seasons until he feels comfortable—they want him to be as ready as possible when the time comes.

In order to achieve that, Scheifele has to continue playing in Barrie, and possibly even go through a short stint with the Jets' AHL affiliate club in St. John's.

The Jets aren't stockpiled at center and have never really had a franchise center down the middle. The hopes of Bryan Little becoming a consistent top-six center are fading and there seems to be some confusion on whether or not Alex Burmistrov is truly a center. Nik Antropov and Olli Jokinen are veterans who will be gone in two years or sooner.

The time isn't here quite yet, but Scheifele's inching closer and closer to getting another opportunity in the Peg.

With the center depth still thin, the Jets' need for a center is amongst the top of their list. When the times comes for Scheifele to take the stage, the Jets have to hope he makes the most of it so the decision to take him as high as they did looks like a smart move.

The timetable for Scheifele became more predictable after the Jets signed center Olli Jokinen to a two-year contract in July. The Jokinen signing gives Scheifele that much time to continue his development in Barrie, and possibly even in St. John's with the IceCaps.

Scheifele is projected to be, at worst, a second-line center. He has abilities in all three zones and plays the center position like a true center. Most importantly, the Jets are looking for an offensively gifted center and Scheifele has proven in junior levels that he can provide them with offense.

Scheifele is currently in season with the Colts. He's been able to produce at a rapid pace with a poor Colts team in the past, and finally has them on the verge to becoming the best team in the OHL this season. At 13-4, the Colts are tied for the best record in the OHL. Scheifele leads the Colts in points and is fourth in the entire league with two fewer games than the three players ahead of him.

Scheifele may not make the greatest of impacts when he immediately arrives in Winnipeg. But with all the extra development time that he's acquiring now, he'll be that much closer to potentially becoming what the Jets are wishing for.

The Winnipeg Jets aren’t a team that’s going to go out and make a big splash via trade. They’re a team that’s content with what they have, and are patient enough to wait for their core to grow. But like every team, they won’t pass up on an opportunity to get even better.

The Jets are Top Five in the NHL when it comes to available cap space. And with a few expiring contracts, they’ll have even more room and money to spend in 2013.

Expect the Jets to at least try and move some expiring UFA contracts this coming season. There are a few candidates that are likely to be moved.

Ron Hainsey

Ron Hainsey has been with this organization for four years and is going into the final year of his five-year contract. The Atlanta Thrashers signed him back in 2008, and Hainsey has been making $4.5 million per year ever since. The problem is he was never and will never be a $4.5 million per year player.

Hainsey is a bottom-pairing defenseman at best. He's done some good things for this franchise, but some forgettable things as well. Not to knock Hainsey, but there are times when he looks absolutely lost on the ice.

At times, he can be a very capable defenseman. But when he's trying to play in over his head with any extra minutes, he's not very good. At best, Hainsey's defensive skills are average, and his offensive production comes in spurts.

For $2.5 million a year and a spot on the third pair, he's probably worth putting on your team. Anything else and he's overpaid. If the Jets were able to move Johnny Oduya during last year's trade deadline for two draft picks, then moving Hainsey shouldn't be a problem.

Nik Antropov

Nik Antropov's time with this franchise may just be coming to an end, and maybe even his days as a solid NHLer as well. Antropov's on the final year of a four-year contract that he signed back in 2009. The veteran is getting up there in years and his best days could be behind him.

The Thrashers brought in Antropov during free agency in an attempt to make former Thrashers' superstar, Ilya Kovalchuk, pleased with the way the organization was building. Though Antropov had a very respectable season in his first year on the new contract tallying 67 points, he hasn't been able to consistently produce for a full season ever since.

Even if Antropov has a solid season in the final year of his contract, I'm still not convinced it will be enough to keep him around. Antropov is a natural center and the Jets already have natural centers in Bryan Little, Olli Jokinen, Alex Burmistrov and up-and-comer Mark Scheifele.

Antropov can still produce and would surely be sought after by other teams once the trade deadline rolls around, regardless if he's available. One thing that's certain, Antropov will forever be remembered by Winnipeg Jets' fans as the guy who scored the first goal in "new" Winnipeg Jets history.

Alex Ponikarovsky

Alex Ponikarovsky was signed to a one-year contract this past offseason. One-year contracts usually indicate the possibility of a trade. If the Jets aren't contending by the time the deadline hits, Poni could be on the hot seat.

It will be nice to see the Jets re-unite Ponikarovsky with his former Toronto Maple Leafs teammate, Nik Antropov. Ponikarovsky doesn't have much left in the tank after a Stanley Cup run with New Jersey in 2012, but he's hoping for at least one more opportunity before things go south.

The reunion might not last too long however, as both players could be moving once again.

Canada collectively celebrated after the NHL came back to Winnipeg in 2011. It was a moment when every Canadian hockey fan could band together and rejoice that we got one back.

However, it is only one season later and we have no teams on the ice at all. A second lockout in less than a decade has jaded even the most dedicated of hockey fans. However, even though it seems that another season will be completely lost, Canadian fans should be excited for the future of hockey in their country.

After the infamous Wayne Gretzky trade from Edmonton to Los Angeles and a plummeting Canadian dollar, both the Winnipeg Jets and the Quebec Nordiques relocated to America in the '90s. Canadian hockey took a hit the likes of which it had never seen.

This created the emergence of US hockey. With more teams and more revenue than ever expected coming from America, the NHL saw it fit to put hockey rinks everywhere they possibly could. This American expansion included Atlanta and Phoenix.

The Atlanta Thrashers would toil in complete mediocrity from 2000 to 2011 when the team moved to Winnipeg, bringing the long dead, but not forgotten, Jets back to all of Canada.

The Phoenix Coyotes have been a better team than the Thrashers ever were. Over the last several seasons Phoenix has been a competitive and fun-to-watch team on the ice. During that same time period, the team went bankrupt. After an attempt by RIM CEO Jim Balsillie to purchase the team and move it to Hamilton, Ontario, the NHL finally bought the team for 140 million dollars.

Since the NHL purchase of the Coyotes, the on-ice product has become much better, but the financial situation no better. Last season, Phoenix was barely staying afloat in the league and had a large lawsuit surrounding the team.

This is all during a time when the American economy is just recovering from the huge downward spiral early in the decade while the worth of the Canadian dollar is rising. If you look at the situation now, it is the exact opposite of what was happening in North America during the '90s.

Now is the time for Canada to regain another franchise in the NHL. The Phoenix Coyotes have become an increasing burden on the NHL; coupled with the lack of revenue the team will make due to the lockout, it creates a situation that is ideal for relocation. The best place to relocate for the Coyotes is a place where they will always receive crowds and where the team can afford to operate.

There is no better place to have a hockey team right now than Canada.

Sooner rather than later, the NHL will be forced to sell the Phoenix Coyotes, and I know that there will be several aggressive buyers interested in moving the team to either Hamilton, Ontario or reviving the Nordiques.

Though the lockout seems ridiculous, it is time for Canadian fans look on the bright side. Soon we will have another watershed moment, when we can all join hands and welcome back our eighth NHL franchise.

We're nearing the end of October, and under normal circumstances, we would have already seen two or three weeks of regular season action in the NHL. However, this time around, we're all still living in this dreadful lockout that seems to be a neverending nightmare with no timetable of actually being resolved.

Through all the rumors and meetings between the NHL and NHLPA, both sides seem optimistic that a season will happen. Many fans and followers of this sport seem to share the same optimism as well. But the only question to be asked is when.

When will the season begin?

We have already lost all of October and all of November. December seems like a good month to speculate the possible beginning of the season, but even that may not happen. As this continues to drag out, at what cost does this affect the teams and players as far as the actual season when it comes to actually competing?

If and when the season is set to begin, it's almost certain that the schedule will differ from the normal 82-game format—which means fewer games. Less games means less odds at making the playoffs. A shortened season—say, 60 or fewer games—could hurt the Winnipeg Jets' chances at making the playoffs.

In a normal 82-game season, the odds of making the playoffs are already stacked high against the Jets. For a team like Winnipeg, they need every game they can get to remain in contention for as long as possible. With a shorter season, it becomes even more difficult to keep up in the playoff race.

The Jets started off the 2011-12 season on an inconsistent streak that haunted them the entire year. They couldn't score goals or prevent them from going in. When December came around, the Jets had their best month of the season. Once January hit, they went right back to being as inconsistent as ever. Through all that, they remained in playoff contention.

With a shortened season on hand, there isn't time to be inconsistent for a month. The opportunity to rebound could easily slip away. One bad slump could knock you out of a playoff race before the actual race even begins.

From the beginning to the end, every regular season game becomes more significant and losing becomes more crucial. A five game losing streak would be devastating in a short season because the window to make up ground closes fast.

The Jets aren't built to be a top team in 2012-13, but after acquiring talent in the offseason, playoff expectations are real. A shorter season makes it much more difficult for playoffs to be a real possibility. It puts a lot of pressure on the young players and puts a lot of underachievers under the radar.

The Jets aren't built to play with a lead right out of the gates. Even if they began the season with a hot start, they'd have to remain that "hot" for a number of games, something they aren't capable of. Consistency will be the most important factor in a shortened season.

From the start of the season, every game will feel like it has playoff implications to it. The Jets don't want to dig their way into any type of month-to-month slump this season because they may never have the opportunity to dig themselves out.

What does it mean to live up to a contract?

Does it vary by player? By team? By city? Or by a player's contract itself? While all those questions are relative, the closest answer would be to perform and produce at NHL standards for the type of salary you make.

With a new contract comes new expectations. These expectations are based off of the money a player makes and the production level of players making a similar salary.

The Winnipeg Jets' major move this offseason was re-signing top forward Evander Kane to a six-year contract worth a total of $31.5 million—that's a good $5.25 million per year. Compare that contract with other players of his caliber around the league and you will see that Kane is a very valued player.

The most critical element of a new contract is the price tag.

Kane is coming off of a solid 30-goal season and was due for a raise. Looking at the length and dollar amount of Kane's new contract, it's not far-fetched to give a player like Kane that type of deal.

The only thing that changes are revised expectations.

Kane is a solid goal scorer and can contribute in the assists and points categories, as well. His repertoire includes many different skills and abilities. He contributes in ways such as on ice leadership, a physically gifted ability to play tough, and an ability to play in all zones.

As you can see, Kane isn't all about the offense.

I established that Kane's contract was worth it at the initial signing, but now he has to live up to it. And the question remains, can he in fact live up to his contract? Without giving a distinct answer, I can say that he has more than enough talent to play even beyond his contract.

When a player, any player, is making over $5 million a year, then the most important aspect of their game has to be goals and points.

The criticism usually stems from how well a player is contributing to the offense. Let's face it, as important as role players are for a team, they probably make a quarter of what superstars make.

Kane is not a role player. He is the superstar of the Jets organization.

Kane will give the Jets energy; he'll make a few big hits and probably even drop the gloves a half dozen times a season. His blazing fast, breakaway speed will excite the fans every time he takes a shift. He'll do all that and more, but his contractual expectations won't recognize all that.

In order for Kane to live up to his contract, he would have to score about 30 goals each season at the very minimum, something he's more than capable of doing. And as for points, around 60—or higher—a season would seem more than acceptable.

Those are $5-million-per-year numbers.

Kane has the talent to produce like a $6-million-per-year-player and beyond, which would eventually prove to be a steal for the Jets. The 40-goal potential is there. Not only can Kane live up to his contract, he can surpass expectations and play beyond it.

Today, we over exaggerate the whole idea of a player "living up to his contract."

The base we go from is how other players of the same level are producing. We go into grave detail to try and find any minor blemish as to why a player is overpaid, overrated or simply not worth it.

Contract signings are all relative based on a franchise's state alone. One franchise may not have made the same signing as another. As far as the Jets signing Kane to his recent contract, it's perfectly fine and more than fair value.

It was well worth it for both parties.

Instead of nitpicking minor details and trying to be contract judges, just let Kane play. All he has to do is produce at a respectable level. Another 30-goal season would be just fine. That same pace for the next five years would have him in great standing with his contract.