Jets Offseason Update
2014-08-14The Jets have had a busy offseason, with retooling the club and trying to ice a contending club in Winnipeg.
Last offseason was the 1st of a huge offseason, where the club added several big players and assets to the organization.
This time around the Jets have added some more skill to the lineup. Starting off in Mid Febuary where the team shipped out Mike Richards and Calvin De Haan to acquire Elite Veteran Henrik Zetterberg. The Team made the playoffs, which was good success for them after years of missing before. But they got swept in 4 games to the SJ Sharks. At the End of the Seson the Jets decided to buyout the rest of Ales Hemskys contract, making him a UFA. Best of luck in the future.
As we got close to the 2014 Entry Draft, the Jets traded a 1st 2014, 2nd 2015, Ian Cole in return for Wayne Simmonds. "Simmonds will bring solid checking and a goal scorers touch to our team. He is only 25, and will still be a RFA at the end of his deal. He will be awseome on the teams 3rd line to start the year." Says Schurman.
In Free Agency the Jets Re Signed David Backes to a 4 yr contract worth 5.5 Million Per Year. Then when the open Market hit the club also Re Signed Veteran D man Stephane Robidas to a 3 year term. The Jets were really looking for a good proven backup goalie to Jonathan Quick. Signing Evgeni Nabokov to a 1 year contract. He will get a good amount of games in as backup. The Jets also signed some depth players which includes Colin McDonald, Patrick Dwyer, Adam Burish, Matt Hendricks and David Van De Gulik.
"We like all of our signings this offseason. Glad we got a strong d man back with our club in Robidas. Very happy with the way our Goaltending looks this season. We got a Strong D core and Offensive Core. We tried to Sign Andy Greene, but in the end he Went to Vancouver. He would of been solid for us in the #2 spot. But since that fell thru we had more cap space we could use. So we traded Campbell, 1st 2016, Olsen for Kunitz and Oleksy. Kunitz is an extremely talented LWer, had has a great defensive checking game, and can score goals. He will add alot of offense and experience to our group. We are also thrilled that MacKinnon will make the team this year, we love the potential of this young kid! We look forward to start training camp and the new season coming up!" Says Schurman
Jets Projected Team Lineup:
Kunitz - Zetterberg - Backes
Pacioretty - MacKinnon - Stepan
Purcell - Helm - Simmonds
Dwyer - Gordon - Petrell / McDonald
Hamhuis - Byfuglien
Hamilton - Robidas
J.Shultz - Hjalmarsson
Quick
Nabokov