Winnipeg Jets

The Winnipeg Jets have already had an upbeat and active offseason with a number of signings and re-signings. Improvements have been made and many concerns, at least for this offseason, can be thrown out the window because the Jets did what they set out to do. The Jets have addressed many needs through free agency and the draft. The Jets’ front has been quiet as of late, but they still have to make some necessary evaluations before the season begins.

The summer is winding down and the probability for a season is still up in the air. In this business, however, you work every day, per se, and the Winnipeg Jets still have to tackle some crucial necessities. With that, there are still some concerns as August winds down—albeit, very minor at best.

The No. 1 concern as it stands right now is the fact that Evander Kane remains unsigned. I’ve been outspoken about it and by this point, everyone should know that Kane is still an unsigned RFA. As long as the remainder of this offseason exists, this and only this will be the top priority, concern, complication, predicament, problem, worry—and whatever other related word you’d like to throw in here—that the Jets have.

There is another concern regarding an RFA however, one that might easily be overshadowed at times being that Kane remains an RFA.

Other than Kane, the Jets have to take a look at another RFA—Spencer Machacek. Machacek got the call up late last season and sparked the offense providing the team with two goals and nine points in 13 games. The young forward deserves to get a real look when training camp rolls around. Machacek brings size, strength, grit and, from what we saw last season, a small dosage of skill. An opportunity will likely come his way soon.

As far as concerns revolving around what the Jets already have, well there really aren't any. The Jets don’t need to go out and make trades or sign some lower-tier free agent to make it look like they’re still trying to make a splash this offseason.

It’s late August and there’s nothing left out there for the Jets and certainly nothing that should urge the Jets to go into impatient mode. The next move to be made is in training camp, followed by preseason, and then the start of the regular season, if there even is one at this point.

But as of now with the summer coming to a halt? Nothing. Nothing needs to be done, changed or improved upon. And as far as concerns, the only one I have is a potential lockout setting back the momentum and youth that the Jets have in their favor.

Let’s just hope there’s hockey in a few months.

I, like many others, have no doubts that Evander Kane will remain with the Winnipeg Jets for a very long time. However, he remains an RFA, and the situation continues to drag week-by-week with little talk or updates between both parties.  

My only concern from this situation is the fact that it has taken this long for both sides to come to terms. Maybe it's more curiosity than concern, but the whole ordeal is interesting to say the least.

It's mid-August, and the Jets are still negotiating with their top forward. Rumors and reports broke about a week ago that Kane was offered a six-year, $29 million contract according to the Winnipeg Free Press. If so, why hasn't he accepted yet?

Would it not be wise for Kane to take the proposed deal? The length of the rumored deal seems perfect and the terms seem more than fair. Money can't be the issue that's holding Kane back from signing on the dotted line.

Kane isn't the only top-notch RFA forward awaiting to come to terms this offseason. Dallas Stars budding superstar Jamie Benn is another RFA awaiting a new deal. Much like Kane, Benn is being counted on to be the leader of the Stars for years to come. And much like Kane, Benn is a very good player with potential to become great in this league.

Kane and Benn may get similar deals, but one contract that both of theirs could be based off of is recently re-signed Jeff Skinner of the Carolina Hurricanes. According to ESPN, Skinner recently signed a six-year, $34.35 million contract extension—an average annual value of $5.725 per year.

As far as discussions go between Kane and the Jets, maybe money is a slight issue after all. With Skinner making an AAV of $5.725, maybe Kane wants to make over $5 million per year as well. Even so, I can't imagine money being the sole reason for negotiations to go on this long.

Maybe, just maybe, there isn't a need to rush. Maybe Kane's enjoying a nice and long summer vacation and is just waiting until September to sign the new deal. Or maybe it doesn't even matter, with the NHL's current CBA set to expire in September.

Really, it does matter, but maybe it's what's delaying the process in general.

Negotiations continue between the NHL and the NHLPA in hopes for a new deal by September 15th. However, no new CBA will mean another lockout. Whether this has an affect on Kane and his own contract negotiations is unknown. 

Kane is the Jets' top priority, and a deal will get done eventually, regardless of the terms. Patience is hard to come by when the top forward remains unsigned. And in the midst of a potential lockout, folks will get riled up if Kane isn't signed by then.

Season or not, Kane will be a Jet in 2012-13 and many years to come. When Kane does eventually come to terms, I'm sure fans will want to see that presser to hear firsthand from Kane on why the process took so long. It's only a matter of time.

After an offseason of improvements in many different aspects of their game, the Winnipeg Jets are bound to enter 2013 with newly acquired strengths, as well as continued growth of existing assets. However, the Jets still have weaknesses that could haunt them in the new season.

Last season, you could've argued that it was a 50/50 split of strengths and weaknesses, but heading into 2013 after an offseason of many improvements, the Jets are in a much better position now than they were last year.

Let’s take an in-depth look and break down the Jets' strengths and weaknesses as they set to take flight in a little over two months from now.

Strengths

Goal Scoring

When you take a look at the Jets' roster, it’s hard to think of goal scoring as a strength just by basing it off of names. And last season, it seemed goal scoring fluctuated every other month which frequently led the Jets to go on scoring droughts.

However, can we consider it a weakness? No.

The Jets have goal scorers. They’ve had them last season and will continue to have them in 2013. The difference from other teams is that their goal scorers are under-the-radar players who go unnoticed even in the hockey-craved city of Winnipeg.

The Jets have players who can score goals, and most of them are capable of additional improvement. Evander Kane, Andrew Ladd, Blake Wheeler, Bryan Little, Alex Burmistrov, and even guys like Kyle Wellwood and Nik Antropov  cancontribute. If that’s not enough, I’ll throw in Dustin Byfuglien and the rest of the defense who chip in on a daily basis.

With the new additions of Olli Jokinen, a playermaker with great passing ability, and Alexei Ponikarovsky, a power-forward who can help generate secondary scoring, the Jets will have even more talent going into 2013.

With that being said, will the Jets light the lamp with five goals per game and be one of the best goal-scoring teams in the league? Probably not. But I don’t foresee goal scoring as a weakness nor an issue.

Goaltending

Though he isn’t recognized with mind-blowing, league-leading statistics like other top goalies, the Jets' top netminder, Ondrej Pavelec, is one of the best up-and-coming goalies this league has to offer.

Pavelec doesn’t get the defensive support that he deserves to be the best, but when called upon to step to the plate, he becomes the team anchor and savior.

Last season, the Jets relied on Pavelec countless times to be the hero in situations, and he was able to step up to the plate.

As far as the backup goes, newly-acquired Al Montoya has a lot to prove. The former sixth-overall pick always had the potential to be a starter in this league but has yet to find a permanent home. Montoya will be up to the task whenever called upon.

Montoya might not be called upon often, however. Pavelec was rarely the problem last season nor will he be this season.

Forechecking

The Jets were hounds on the puck last season and often impressed me with the way they kept plays alive in the offensive-zone.

Look for forechecking to be one of the Jets' strongest suits going into 2013.

Power Play

A top power play can do wonders for a team, and for the better part of last season, the Jets had just that, finishing in the top 12 in power play percentage.

The skill and puck movement that lies on the power play from both the forwards and defensemen will lead the Jets to another highly productive season in this category.

Offensive-defensemen

When Dustin Byfuglien is your top offensive-defenseman, how can this not be a strength?

Byfuglien is capable of putting home 20 or more goals a season while adding a ton of assists. But it’s not just Byfuglien who makes this a strength, it’s also Tobias Enstrom and Zach Bogosian.

Oh, and the bottom-pairing defensemen chip in once in a while. And did I mention Paul Postma could be in the lineup often?

Weaknesses

Defensive-zone / Defense

When it comes to the defense, the Jets aren’t quite there. Last season, the Jets frequently struggled in the defensive zone, failing to give their netminder crucial support among other important lapses.

There are some games when the defense gets walked around, waltzed around, danced around and have no response or adjustment. They have to do a much better job at adjusting to their opponents’ in-game, which never seemed to occur.

With their current defensemen, the Jets should be better than how they actually are. Regardless, it stills seems as if defensive zone play will be a weakness in 2013.

Penalty Kill

An unfortunate weakness that has always haunted this franchise is their penalty kill.

Last season, the Jets were the seventh worst-ranked team in penalty kill percentage. It seems to be a trend every season, so I have no expectations for a successful penalty kill now.

Faceoffs

Faceoffs are a big part of being a successful team. How can you ever control the game if you never have control of the puck? Unfortunately, the Jets' centers are average at best when it comes to faceoffs.

As a team, the Jets ranked closer to the bottom of the pack in faceoffs won and faceoff percentage. Unless they improve here, this could be a weakness that stings.

Scott Brown of True North announced today on Twitter that the Winnipeg Jets have come to terms with defenseman Tobias Enstrom on a contract extension. According to TSN, Enstrom's extension is for five years with a total value worth $28.75 million. When the extension kicks in, Enstrom will be the highest-paid player on the roster, making $5.75 million per year.

Enstrom, 27, was entering the final year of his four-year deal, which would have made him a UFA in the 2012-13 offseason.

Enstrom played in 62 games last season and tallied six goals to go with 27 assists. Enstrom has spent five years in the NHL and has scored 204 points in 380 career games.

Analysis

This was a great signing by Kevin Cheveldayoff. Enstrom will make $5.75 million per year. This is a bargain for the Jets as Enstrom is already proven to be one of the best two-way defenders in the game.

As far as length, five years is just what I expected. At the age of 27, Enstrom is in his prime and should continue to put up points and play stellar defense throughout the contract.

It would have been a battle in the 2013 offseason for Enstrom's services with many teams involved, but thankfully it didn't have to get to that. The Jets continue to impress this offseason with many key moves that will help sustain the team.

Enstrom has been a key piece for this franchise for all five years of his career and will continue to be one for at least five more.

Kevin Cheveldayoff has shown how aggressive he will be in present and future free agencies with the ownership backing him the whole way.

With the desire to win on mind, Cheveldayoff won't shy away from the big-named free agents. But will Winnipeg ever be the destination where players would actually want to pursue as their next team?

I think so.

High-end free agents, and most free agents in general, only want one or two things when looking for a new club: money and winning. Not only can the Winnipeg Jets supply both of those demands, but they can also provide a lot more key essentials that many other teams lack.

As far as money goes, the Jets have a lot of it to spend. The ownership isn't afraid to spend the money, and Cheveldayoff isn't afraid to pursue a high-end free agent. As long as the price is reasonable, the Jets will be in on many free agents in the coming years. Money isn't an issue.

Most free agents also want to sign with winning teams while still getting paid the big bucks. The Jets have that covered as well, or so it seems.

The Jets are quietly building a stable foundation with the goal of becoming a team that wins every year.

With top prospects and roster players that continue to grow into franchise players, it's hard for them to not be recognized by other players and teams around the league. The overall goal is for the Jets to grow into a team where winning is expected. We could see them lift off as early as next season.

Here's where the Jets differentiate from the rest of the league (or most of the league). Not only can they supply free agents with the two most necessities, but they can provide them with a lot more, starting with one of the best fanbases in all of sports.

Loyal, loud, appreciative...just a few words that sum up the fans of Winnipeg. The atmosphere during games, which is arguably the best in the entire league, is something that all hockey players can appreciate. Even in losses, the effort the players put out on the ice doesn't go unnoticed. Simply put, you won't find true fans like these in many other markets.

Pair the fanbase with the Jets aspirations for becoming a contender and the dedicated owners and management, and you should have players flocking to Winnipeg to play there. The recipe for success is in place.

I'd venture to say that hockey is the number one religion in Winnipeg. With that in mind, what more has to be said? Players will feel loved by the fans all 365 days of the year. Hockey goes on every day of the year for us.

What are some of the cons of playing in Winnipeg? So what, it's cold outside. Put on a jacket.

When it comes to hockey, you won't find many other markets that can compete with Winnipeg.

It’s the middle of the offseason and the Winnipeg Jets are still looking to reach the cap floor. And in the process, they have a lot of money to spend and some roster spots to fill. With that in mind, their initiative next season is to make the playoffs as has been made clear by GM Kevin Cheveldayoff.

The Jets have already brought in some experienced veteran players, but with some roster spots still up for debate, should they look for additional experience and leadership via free agency? Leadership and experience will help the Jets get closer to the playoffs next season as well as brush off leadership on the younger players.

It wouldn’t hurt the Jets to continue to improve in the short-term by signing some more veteran depth that brings in the much-needed leadership to help contend for the playoffs. Money and cap space become irrelevant for one-year deals, so put those figures aside. It should make sense if they want to reach the floor in a way that helps them progress toward the short-term goal.

There are a few notable names out there in free agency that fit into the category of veteran/experienced players that the Jets could use. One of those players is the highly-touted and beloved former Winnipeg Jet, Shane Doan.

Doan’s all-around game paired with leadership and offensive ability could help make the Jets more than just a playoff contender next season. Doan’s history with Winnipeg makes him one of the fan favorites, which probably intrigues the Jets all the more. However, there are other teams that want him and he’d probably choose them over Winnipeg simply because of contention. It doesn’t hurt to try though. Money isn’t an issue here.

An under-the-radar signing could be the acquisition of Andrew Brunette. The soon-to-be 39-year-old still has some game left in him. Brunette is a hard-working forward who never takes a shift off, and he’ll make himself noticeable in every situation. Plus, his experience bodes well for the younger forwards.

There's also the debate whether or not it would be a good idea to sign an old vet or bring up a younger player instead. The Jets don't have many readily-available forwards to come in and play. Another short-term signing wouldn't hurt the organization at all especially since the cap isn't an issue. The Jets still have to spend roughly $3.3 million to reach the cap floor.

The careers of these veterans are winding down and there’s not much time left for them to get what they want—which is usually why they only want to go to a contender so that they can seize the opportunity for a Stanley Cup. The Jets aren’t looked upon as one of those contending teams, but if the management does a good job at convincing a player otherwise, that player might buy into it.

The Jets have a good amount of leadership and experience as they stand right now, but bringing in just one more player wouldn't hurt. Even with all the recent signings the Jets have made, I still don’t think they’re done “shopping around” just yet.

The Jets might not be contending for the Cup next season, but they’ll certainly be contending for a playoff spot. With the addition of another veteran forward, getting over the hump will be that much easier.

The Winnipeg Jets have made two important signings this afternoon to help bolster their team.

Kyle Wellwood, who had a career-high in points while tying his career-high in goals last season, has re-signed with the Jets according to TSN's Darren Dreger. The deal is for one year and is worth $1.6 million, an upgrade from his $700,000 contract last season.

The Jets have also signed RFA defenseman Paul Postma to a one-year deal according to Ken Wiebe of the Winnipeg Sun. The contract is a one-year one-way deal worth $550,000.

ANALYSIS

The Winnipeg Jets have made two very important signings this afternoon. Wellwood has made himself very unexpectedly useful after his career-high season last year. The Jets could use his skill set for another year and the potential to see him improve exists.

It's looking more and more likely that the Jets are going to have a very competitive team as their top three lines continue to grow.

Look for Wellwood to fit somewhere on the third or fourth line, possibly even playing with Nik Antropov and Alexei Ponikarovsky. All three have played together in Toronto.

Postma is another good under-the-radar signing. He has potential to be a very stellar offensive defenseman in this league and will get the opportunity to prove himself next year.

Postma played in three NHL games with the Jets last season, but spent most of his time in the AHL with the St. Johns IceCaps.

The book on Postma is offense. He has a top-notch shot from the point as he showed in St. John's all year, and he'll be poised to carry it over to the NHL.

Expect Postma to challenge for the sixth defensive spot come training camp and preseason.

Winnipeg Jets center Kyle Wellwood is one of the best unrestricted free agents remaining through July 4. Wellwood deserves a long-term contract in the NHL.

CBS Sports ranks Wellwood as the No. 34 overall unrestricted free agent, which is sixth-best among players not yet signed through July 4. Wellwood makes more sense for a long-term deal than the players listed above him.

Alexander Semin? Some analysts at TSN said some negative things about the sniper’s character. Whether or not these opinions are justified, some NHL executives might be wary to offer Semin a huge contract. Based solely on Semin’s talent level and ability to score lots of goals, he should get plenty of calls from franchises seeking his services.

With that said, he is the highest-rated unrestricted free agent on CBS Sports’ list without a new contract (updated through July 4).

Shane Doan? Doan is worthy of a long-term deal based on production and leadership, but the Phoenix Coyotes legend will be 36 years old during the 2012-13 season. He has also expressed a desire to stay with the Coyotes if the franchise can find an owner.

Andrei Kostitsyn? The Nashville Predators will not bring back the winger in 2012-13. Kostitsyn will get offers, but general managers should avoid giving him a long-term deal. Some might consider Kostitsyn a bust through this point in his career, as he was drafted 10th overall in 2003.

Kostitsyn has three seasons with more than 20 goals, but he has only scored 50 points once in his career. In addition, he was involved in the curfew incident with former Predators teammate and current KHL player Alexander Radulov.

Pavel Kubina? Kubina has won a Stanley Cup championship and has appeared in three Olympic Games with Czech Republic, but at 35 years old, who knows how much longer he will play? NHL franchises will marvel at his 6’5”, 258-pound frame, but his career minus-120 rating hurts his chances in free agency.

Next on CBS Sports’ list comes Kyle Wellwood. Wellwood should get a long-term contract before any of the players listed above.

Wellwood is not the biggest or most talented NHL center, but he has held his own in 490 NHL games played (including playoffs). Wellwood has scored at least 11 goals in five of his eight NHL seasons. He does not take many penalties, as the Windsor, Ontario native has only 34 PIM in his career. Wellwood will help an NHL franchise without hurting it.

Wellwood can also shoot the puck. He had a 19.4 percent shooting percentage in 2011-12.

Before signing free agents, it is always wise to see how they produced on both good and bad teams, if possible. Though Wellwood has played most of his career on underachieving clubs, he did play with the Vancouver Canucks from 2008-2010.

During Wellwood’s time in Vancouver, the Canucks won their division and finished with more than 100 points in both seasons. Individually, Wellwood scored 18 goals in 2008-09 and 14 goals in 2009-10 on Canucks teams that featured elite NHL forwards like the Sedin twins and Ryan Kesler.

In 2011-12, though, Wellwood had his best NHL season. Wellwood scored 18 goals and a career-high 48 points for the Winnipeg Jets. He also won 54.0 percent of his faceoffs. These numbers alone, considering his age of 29, should earn him more in free agency than the $700,000 made in 2011-12.

Wellwood will not be a first-line player for any team, but franchises looking for more depth at forward or help on the power play should give Wellwood’s representatives a call.