GJF
Beaver Jedi
Let's just do the same as the players do and don't care about what is happening right now and think of what will happen in and after the summer <3
The upcoming summer is the perfect time to set the tracks for change. Last year of Wheelers salary on the books (although that's only 2.75 M next season), last year of Ehlers, Iafallo, Appleton, Namestnikov, AJF, Schmidt and Pionk. Weather the Jets management goes for change or not remains to be seen and will, AGAIN lol, be interesting to follow over the summer. I think it is time for the partial rebuild... This is our situation:
UFAs:
Monahan, Toffoli
DeMelo, Dillon, Miller
Brossoit
RFAs:
Perfetti, Gustafsson, Stanley
Projected cap space: $13,352,976
Following are assumptions that are based on the Jets how they act and think over the last years. I HIGHLY doubt there will be a major overhaul of people and players, so this is what I think will happen based on all these years of experience in the Jets doing business:
Monahan:
I think they will try and re-sign Monahan, succeeding in this depends on the offers he gets. I could see him re-sign for 2.5 M per over 2 years. I am not saying I want him re-signed, I just think it is the most realistic outcome. I think it is just as likely that some team that lacked offense this season gives him a bit more and he'll go there - first team that comes to my mind is Seattle. So I think him being back is 50-50 at best.
Toffoli:
Won't be back - it's mutual.
DeMelo:
They will try and re-sign him HARD. The Jets love Dylan and I think he will be open but will obviously also assess his options on the market. I could see him leave to another offer that is just as good as the Jets offer but gives him a fresh start somewhere else as he probably agrees about the "Jets just don't have it" vibes. This completely depends on the quality of offers he's getting IMO. Also 50-50 at best.
Dillon:
Won't be back as he'll get some nice offers and pick one.
Miller:
Won't be back but who cares.
Brossoit:
Won't be back. Laurent Brossoit is the one single winner of the 23/24 Winnipeg Jets season. This guy is gonna get a sexy offer from a playoff team desperate for goaltending. At this point, I think he has proven that he's worth a two year 3+ M a year as a starting goaltender for some other team. My money is on the Kings (have zero goalies under contract for next year) - I wish him all the best in the world and he deserves all of it.
Chevy:
So yes, we will most likely lose all the assets spent on the trade deadline but oh well it is what it is for a buying team at the deadline. If Chevy doesn't do it and the get bounced just as easily by a better team in the first round, everyone is calling for his head because he didn't get any reinforcements in anyway. But maybe this is part of the blame he'll have to take at this point: Chevy does seem like a guy that will go with the "pleases what the everyone thinks and wants" options instead of maybe doing the hard thing now for a better future afterwards. This might be part of the reason why we are where we are right now - a good team that isn't elite enough to do more than an abover average good team (= 1st or 2nd round playoff exit).
24-25 as of right now based on status:
Connor - Scheifele - Ehlers
Ehlers - Perfetti - Vilardi
Iafallo - Lowry - Niederreiter
Barron - Names - Appleton
Gustafsson, Lambert, Kupari, AJF, Chibrikov
Morrissey - Pionk
Heinola - X
Samberg - Stanley
Hellebuyck
X
I think this is very likely what the team will look like with 0 UFAs coming back. TBH, I want it to be the case because we need to re-tool over 1 or 2, maybe even 3 seasons. No matter the "but we signed Scheifele and Hellebuyck" or "but we don't even really draft this year" etc arguments. Yes those two re-signed long term but they also are both big factors why we are where we are. They can go and suck it if they are unhappy about it.
What are the odds of Salmonsson coming over? I have no idea, not following him that closely. If he does, he's part of the lineup I think because we need him, lol. Look at that right side of the D
. Then add one average 2nd pair defenseman we sign in Free Agency and that is the roster (+ some backup obviously).
So at THAT point, things actually start to get interesting. Because then you have to take a good look in the mirror and make some honest evaluation of your situation going into the next couple of years. Because the summer after that season is BIG and acting because of it starts this summer - not at the trade deadline 2025, not at the ende of 2025. It starts now.
UFAs 25-26:
Ehlers, Iafallo, Appleton, Namestnikov, AJF
Schmidt, Pionk
RFAs 25-26:
Vilardi, Barron, Kupari, Samberg
This will decide years of the future of this franchise. Obviously cou CAN NOT let Ehlers, Connor, Iafallo, Names and Pionk walk for nothing. These players might not be our future but they all hold some value in this league and the Winnipeg Jets are absolutely not in the position to have these players walk to UFA with no return at all. There are two options: You make a propper, actual plan over the next couple of years and decide based on it or you'll go with the "we'll see what happens" method and decide at the trade deadline next year weather or not to keep these players or to go full sell mode but then obviously the entire next season will be for nothing because we will most likely again be a bubble playoff team and you can't sell half or your roster going into the last quarter of the season with a wildcard place. It is one or the other. Unfortunately, I think Chevy will obviously still in place and go for the second method... If that scenario happens, this franchise is f***ed. This would be the worst possible scenario. This can not happen and I pray to whatever god there may be or not (not a religious person) that Chipman and Chevy REALLY understand and know that.
Now, this is what I would do and here comes the reason for this thread. I would like to know how YOU would handle managing the Winnipeg Jets this summer going into next season because to me, this is the most interesting window of having to actually manage the future of this franchise we maybe ever had since the Jets 2.0. What you're doing now and over the next year and a half will, and I really mean that, define the future of existance of this franchise. If they f*** this up, I could see this franchise move again in maybe 2030/2031/2032. As harsh at it sounds.
Me personally, I would:
Let all UFAs walk but DeMelo. Go hard for a re-signing. 4 years at 4 M - I doubt he'll get a better offer than this. We need him badly because we're going to lose Dillon, Schmidt and Pionk over the next two seasons. We won't have any defenseman left. Then I would take a really, really good look at the market and openly communicate that noone on this team is untouchable and I am willing to listen about offers of everyone.
I would trade Iafallo for sure, Appleton just to get something out of him, even if it is only a 3rd, Namestnikov because there is no way we'll bring him back. Schmidt and Pionk unfortunately are very hard to move because of their contract. Both might be a case of "you need to fiddle them in a package with another player) (Ehlers, Connor?) or you need to send them off at the deadline because teams will be okay in affording them for like a 2nd or 3rd at that point.
RFAs I would definitely try hard to re-sign Vilardi. I don't think he's part of the problem right now - yes he didn't play well in this series but I don't blame him personally. I think he's a player you want to sign long-term for sure. We need Vilardi. I see him and Perfetti as really fitting linemates for the future btw and I am surprised we haven't seen these two on a line together at all this year. I think their styles would fit really, really well together.
Obviously long-term contract for Perfetti.
Samberg - we'll see how his development continues. Right now, I see a lot of Tucker Poolman's development in him unfortunately which scares me a bit. Started out so strong, seemed like sure thing going into the future, regressed quite a bit and faded out more and more. I am not saying that is what is going to happen with Samberg, just that his first two years in the league remind me quite a bit of Poolman's first two years. Let's not hope the path continues...
Stanley - I would trade Stanley this summer as part of a package in a trade.
Baron I would also try and sign long-term but it will depend on the money. I think he's a very fine bottom-6 player to have and he agrees on a fitting contract, I see no reason not to do it. Kupari ... I don't know. I'd wait for next season, hopefully see him healthy for a full year and make my decision based on that.
Starting 25-26 we'd have:
The returns for Ehlers and Connor, a little bit on the side of assets out of the returns of Iafallo, Appleton, Names, Schmidt and Pionk. It is too hard to specify this right now...
Lambert - Scheifele - Chibrikov
McGroarty - Perfetti - Vilardi
Niederreiter - Lowry - Barron
Kupari (?) - Gustafsson - X
There is most likely at least one player out of the UFA trades in here as well.
Barlow in the AHL for at least the 25-26 season IMO
Morrissey - Salmonsson
Heinola - DeMelo
Samberg - X
Hellebuyck
X
The upcoming summer is the perfect time to set the tracks for change. Last year of Wheelers salary on the books (although that's only 2.75 M next season), last year of Ehlers, Iafallo, Appleton, Namestnikov, AJF, Schmidt and Pionk. Weather the Jets management goes for change or not remains to be seen and will, AGAIN lol, be interesting to follow over the summer. I think it is time for the partial rebuild... This is our situation:
UFAs:
Monahan, Toffoli
DeMelo, Dillon, Miller
Brossoit
RFAs:
Perfetti, Gustafsson, Stanley
Projected cap space: $13,352,976
Following are assumptions that are based on the Jets how they act and think over the last years. I HIGHLY doubt there will be a major overhaul of people and players, so this is what I think will happen based on all these years of experience in the Jets doing business:
Monahan:
I think they will try and re-sign Monahan, succeeding in this depends on the offers he gets. I could see him re-sign for 2.5 M per over 2 years. I am not saying I want him re-signed, I just think it is the most realistic outcome. I think it is just as likely that some team that lacked offense this season gives him a bit more and he'll go there - first team that comes to my mind is Seattle. So I think him being back is 50-50 at best.
Toffoli:
Won't be back - it's mutual.
DeMelo:
They will try and re-sign him HARD. The Jets love Dylan and I think he will be open but will obviously also assess his options on the market. I could see him leave to another offer that is just as good as the Jets offer but gives him a fresh start somewhere else as he probably agrees about the "Jets just don't have it" vibes. This completely depends on the quality of offers he's getting IMO. Also 50-50 at best.
Dillon:
Won't be back as he'll get some nice offers and pick one.
Miller:
Won't be back but who cares.
Brossoit:
Won't be back. Laurent Brossoit is the one single winner of the 23/24 Winnipeg Jets season. This guy is gonna get a sexy offer from a playoff team desperate for goaltending. At this point, I think he has proven that he's worth a two year 3+ M a year as a starting goaltender for some other team. My money is on the Kings (have zero goalies under contract for next year) - I wish him all the best in the world and he deserves all of it.
Chevy:
So yes, we will most likely lose all the assets spent on the trade deadline but oh well it is what it is for a buying team at the deadline. If Chevy doesn't do it and the get bounced just as easily by a better team in the first round, everyone is calling for his head because he didn't get any reinforcements in anyway. But maybe this is part of the blame he'll have to take at this point: Chevy does seem like a guy that will go with the "pleases what the everyone thinks and wants" options instead of maybe doing the hard thing now for a better future afterwards. This might be part of the reason why we are where we are right now - a good team that isn't elite enough to do more than an abover average good team (= 1st or 2nd round playoff exit).
24-25 as of right now based on status:
Connor - Scheifele - Ehlers
Ehlers - Perfetti - Vilardi
Iafallo - Lowry - Niederreiter
Barron - Names - Appleton
Gustafsson, Lambert, Kupari, AJF, Chibrikov
Morrissey - Pionk
Heinola - X
Samberg - Stanley
Hellebuyck
X
I think this is very likely what the team will look like with 0 UFAs coming back. TBH, I want it to be the case because we need to re-tool over 1 or 2, maybe even 3 seasons. No matter the "but we signed Scheifele and Hellebuyck" or "but we don't even really draft this year" etc arguments. Yes those two re-signed long term but they also are both big factors why we are where we are. They can go and suck it if they are unhappy about it.
What are the odds of Salmonsson coming over? I have no idea, not following him that closely. If he does, he's part of the lineup I think because we need him, lol. Look at that right side of the D
. Then add one average 2nd pair defenseman we sign in Free Agency and that is the roster (+ some backup obviously).So at THAT point, things actually start to get interesting. Because then you have to take a good look in the mirror and make some honest evaluation of your situation going into the next couple of years. Because the summer after that season is BIG and acting because of it starts this summer - not at the trade deadline 2025, not at the ende of 2025. It starts now.
UFAs 25-26:
Ehlers, Iafallo, Appleton, Namestnikov, AJF
Schmidt, Pionk
RFAs 25-26:
Vilardi, Barron, Kupari, Samberg
This will decide years of the future of this franchise. Obviously cou CAN NOT let Ehlers, Connor, Iafallo, Names and Pionk walk for nothing. These players might not be our future but they all hold some value in this league and the Winnipeg Jets are absolutely not in the position to have these players walk to UFA with no return at all. There are two options: You make a propper, actual plan over the next couple of years and decide based on it or you'll go with the "we'll see what happens" method and decide at the trade deadline next year weather or not to keep these players or to go full sell mode but then obviously the entire next season will be for nothing because we will most likely again be a bubble playoff team and you can't sell half or your roster going into the last quarter of the season with a wildcard place. It is one or the other. Unfortunately, I think Chevy will obviously still in place and go for the second method... If that scenario happens, this franchise is f***ed. This would be the worst possible scenario. This can not happen and I pray to whatever god there may be or not (not a religious person) that Chipman and Chevy REALLY understand and know that.
Now, this is what I would do and here comes the reason for this thread. I would like to know how YOU would handle managing the Winnipeg Jets this summer going into next season because to me, this is the most interesting window of having to actually manage the future of this franchise we maybe ever had since the Jets 2.0. What you're doing now and over the next year and a half will, and I really mean that, define the future of existance of this franchise. If they f*** this up, I could see this franchise move again in maybe 2030/2031/2032. As harsh at it sounds.
Me personally, I would:
Let all UFAs walk but DeMelo. Go hard for a re-signing. 4 years at 4 M - I doubt he'll get a better offer than this. We need him badly because we're going to lose Dillon, Schmidt and Pionk over the next two seasons. We won't have any defenseman left. Then I would take a really, really good look at the market and openly communicate that noone on this team is untouchable and I am willing to listen about offers of everyone.
I would trade Iafallo for sure, Appleton just to get something out of him, even if it is only a 3rd, Namestnikov because there is no way we'll bring him back. Schmidt and Pionk unfortunately are very hard to move because of their contract. Both might be a case of "you need to fiddle them in a package with another player) (Ehlers, Connor?) or you need to send them off at the deadline because teams will be okay in affording them for like a 2nd or 3rd at that point.
RFAs I would definitely try hard to re-sign Vilardi. I don't think he's part of the problem right now - yes he didn't play well in this series but I don't blame him personally. I think he's a player you want to sign long-term for sure. We need Vilardi. I see him and Perfetti as really fitting linemates for the future btw and I am surprised we haven't seen these two on a line together at all this year. I think their styles would fit really, really well together.
Obviously long-term contract for Perfetti.
Samberg - we'll see how his development continues. Right now, I see a lot of Tucker Poolman's development in him unfortunately which scares me a bit. Started out so strong, seemed like sure thing going into the future, regressed quite a bit and faded out more and more. I am not saying that is what is going to happen with Samberg, just that his first two years in the league remind me quite a bit of Poolman's first two years. Let's not hope the path continues...
Stanley - I would trade Stanley this summer as part of a package in a trade.
Baron I would also try and sign long-term but it will depend on the money. I think he's a very fine bottom-6 player to have and he agrees on a fitting contract, I see no reason not to do it. Kupari ... I don't know. I'd wait for next season, hopefully see him healthy for a full year and make my decision based on that.
Starting 25-26 we'd have:
The returns for Ehlers and Connor, a little bit on the side of assets out of the returns of Iafallo, Appleton, Names, Schmidt and Pionk. It is too hard to specify this right now...
Lambert - Scheifele - Chibrikov
McGroarty - Perfetti - Vilardi
Niederreiter - Lowry - Barron
Kupari (?) - Gustafsson - X
There is most likely at least one player out of the UFA trades in here as well.
Barlow in the AHL for at least the 25-26 season IMO
Morrissey - Salmonsson
Heinola - DeMelo
Samberg - X
Hellebuyck
X
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