Jets Final Roster Cuts Coming Soon

With the signing of rookie Mark Scheifele, the Jets official training camp number came to 24, one more than the league requires for the start of the season.

The Jets also signed goalie David Aebischer to an AHL contract, meaning he will start the season in St. John's with the Ice Caps, alongside Edward Pasquale and Peter Mannino.

For the roster to be cut to the needed 23 players, it is likely that one of the 14 forwards still in camp, not including the many injured players such as Eric Fehr, Ben Maxwell, Kenndal McArdle, or Aaron Gagnon, will be cut.

The Jets have to submit their 23 man roster by today to the NHL.

Others still in camp is Troy Bodie, still on a tryout basis.

Hurricanes 4, Jets 0

Coming into Winnipeg Jets training camp, David Aebischer was looking for a spot to return to the NHL, possibly trying to battle Chris Mason for the backup role behind Ondrej Pavelec.

However, Aebischer may have played his way out of a chance to play for the Winnipeg Jets this season.

Through the first forty minutes, Aebischer let in four goals and managed to take two straight penalties that put the Jets on a 5-on-3 penalty kill, already down 3-0.

From the get-go, the Jets were reeling as Zac Dalpe made it 1-0 after blowing past Arturs Kulda on the right side and ringing a shot over Aebischer's glove side at 6:43 of the first.

Jay Harrison would make it 2-0 after his point shot pinballed past Aebischer short side at 7:52 to make it a quick 2-0 'Canes lead.

The second period was no different for the Jets as the 'Canes took the play to the Jets defense, as Jerome Samson scored at 13:05 short side on Aebischer on a shot that glanced off defenseman Dustin Byfuglien.

After killing off one of Aebischer's two penalties, Riley Nash would score on a gimme after a scramble in front was not cleared by Randy Jones at 18:34 as the second power-play was ending.

In the third, both teams were stalemated by each other, despite a few shots off the post behind Aebischer.

Jets now focus on tomorrow's Kraft Hockeyville game in St. John's, Newfoundland which will feature the other half of the Jets.

Pre-Season Game #3: Jets @ Predators

Winnipeg Jets @ Nashville Predators
7:00 PM CT Bridgestone Arena

After a split decision between split-squads against the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Jets find themselves facing another Western Conference opponent in the Nashville Predators on Saturday night.

The Jets all-time franchise record against the Predators is 6-6-3, with a 2-5-0 record at Bridgestone Arena.

Going into Saturday night and looking back at the game that was on Tuesday night at the MTS Centre, the Jets will be looking to their blueline to contribute offensively once again.

With Paul Postma's four point night and Dustin Byfulgien's two point night, the Jets went on to trounce the Jackets 6-1, but the other squad couldn't handle the Jackets on the road, losing 5-1 with Evander Kane's first goal of the pre-season the only Jets tally.

The Jets squad in Nashville will include Kane and rookie sensation Mark Scheifele, who is coming off an impressive four point effort in Winnipeg on Tuesday.

Scheifele will look to impress once again as he is starting to make the case of possibly starting the season in Winnipeg.

Also in the lineup in Nashville will be Blake Wheeler, who played in Columbus, and Bryan Little, who is playing in his first pre-season game.

Game time is 7:30 PM CT and is available on TSN-Jets.

Jets Invite Four More To Training Camp

The Winnipeg Jets have invited four players to take part in their training camp coming up in a few days.

Among them is ex-Colorado Avalanche and Montreal Canadiens goalie David Aebischer, who has been playing for the last three seasons with Lugano of the Swiss Elite League.

The Jets have also invited another ex-Avalanche player David Koci to camp. Koci played with the Avalanche last season, collecting one goal and 80 penalty minutes in 35 games with Colorado. Known more as a tough, physical player than a goal scorer, Koci has played both forward and defense in his career.

Portage La Prairie, Manitoba native Troy Bodie has also been invited to camp. Bodie spent last season split between the Anaheim Ducks and Carolina Hurricanes, playing in 59 games, registering one goal and three assists along with 61 penalty minutes.

Also, Finnish scorer Janne Pesonen has been invited to camp. Pesonen played with Kazan Ak-Bars of the KHL last season, scoring 27 points (14 goals, 13 assists) in 46 games.

With these four the number of players invited to camp is 43.

Camp opens Friday, September 16th with physicals followed by the first on-ice sessions at the MTS Iceplex on Saturday, September 17th.

Aebischer Crowding Jets Crease

The puck has not been dropped on the Winnipeg Jets first regular season or pre-season game and already there is competition in their nets.

Former Colorado Avalanche and Montreal Canadiens goalie David Aebischer has been extended an offer to try-out at training camp this September per a NBC report

He joins starter soon to be 24 year-old Ondrej Pavelec and 35 year-old journeyman Chris Mason in the quest to be the Jets stoppers.

However, Aebischer's chances of making the team and sticking around may be slim to none unless he has regained the play he had in the 2003-04 season with the Avalanche when he went 32-19-9 with a 2.09 goals against average and a .924 save percentage.

His downfall came when he was dealt to Montreal in return for Jose Theodore and he struggled mightly before bowing out in the 2007-08 season in North American and going to play for Lugano of the Swiss Elite League.

Aebischer has a long hill to climb if he were to even grab a backup position as Mason has become the mentor to a younger Pavelec. Mason has had mixed success in the NHL as well, but has more experience than Aebischer with four seasons of 15 or more wins, including a career high 30 in 2009-10 with the St. Louis Blues.

Pavelec is undoubtedly the starter in Winnipeg, so Aebischer's focus would be primarily on grabbing Mason's spot.

The big question is if Aebischer would be willing to play in the AHL with the St. John's Ice Caps if he were not to make the Jets.

Mason has never made more than $3 million a season, even as a starter in St. Louis, which would perk the question of if the Jets were to sign Aebischer what would he even be worth?

Anywhere between $700,000 and $1.5 million would be fair, but his chances as of now are not good to make it that far.

However, Aebischer's presence at training camp may be a good measuring stick for all the goalies in the Jets organization.

Management has likely brought Aebischer in to see how badly Pavelec, Mason, and even minor leaguers such as Peter Mannino and Edward Pasquale want spots on the Jets or even in the organization.

Will time away from the NHL been good for a former #1 goalie?

Only time will and can tell.