Jets All Out Top 25 II: Honourable Mentions

We begin our second annual Jets All Out Top 25 player rankings with the honourable mentions - or the players who are on the cusp of making the list as they work their way up or even the players who have been here before and haven't quite confirmed a spot on the regular Jets roster.

Here are those honourable mentionees...

Meech returned from injury to help in the Calder Cup Playoffs.
(Photo Courtesy Yahoo! Sports)

Derek Meech, 28, D, 5'11, 200 lbs
Last Year's Ranking: Honourable Mention 
This Year's Ranking: Honourable Mention
Difference: 0


Winnipeg native Derek Meech finds himself once again on the honourable mentions list.  Main reason being that his season was grossly shortened by a knee injury he sustained in the early part of the season after spending time with the Jets, including two games in uniform.  However, Meech did return to the St. John's Ice Caps lineup in time for the Calder Cup Playoffs which he was a big reason the team made it to the third round.  In 15 playoff games, Meech had nine points (four goals, five assists).


Arturs Kulda, 24, D, 6'2, 215 lbs
Last Year's Ranking: Not Ranked 
This Year's Ranking: Honourable Mention
Difference: 0

Arturs Kulda caught many by surprise last season, even in the Jets management.  Kulda, a hulking, but still sizable looking defenseman, spent nine games early in the 2011-12 season with the Jets and did not look too out of place.  His play with the Jets rocketed him up the defensive depth chart, especially with the injury to Derek Meech and others throughout the season.  In 63 games with the Ice Caps, Kulda had 20 points (six goals, 14 assists).  As of now, Kulda is starting the 2012-13 season with the Novosibirsk Siber of the KHL.

Aaron Gagnon, 26, C, 5'11, 186 lbs

Last Year's Ranking: Not Ranked
This Year's Ranking: Honourable Mention
Difference: 0

The ex Seattle Thunderbird centre made a small impact late in the season with the Jets lineup decimated with injuries.  Gagnon played in seven games, mostly as a faceoff man to help the Jets struggling draw game.  Though he did not register any points, Gagnon was used in certain situations when needed on the fourth line and saw his stock rise a little.  In St. John's, Gagnon had 34 points (14 goals, 20 assists) in 63 games and added nine points (five goals, four assists) in 15 playoff games.

Zach Redmond, 24, D, 6'2, 205 lbs

Last Year's Ranking: Honourable Mention
This Year's Ranking: Honourable Mention
Difference: 0

Another player who saw their stock rise in a big way was defenseman Zach Redmond.  In his first professional league season at age 23, Redmond helped anchor the Ice Caps defense in St. John's in a big way.  In 72 games, he tallied 31 points (eight goals, 23 assists), which helped him earn a spot in the AHL All-Star Classic, and he had three points in ten playoff games.  Redmond shot up the defensive depth chart as well and will be looking to take another step up the ladder to the NHL.


Ben Maxwell, 24, C, 6'1, 195 lbs
Last Year's Ranking: 20

Ben Maxwell bounced around in 2011-12.
(Photo Courtesy Yahoo! Sports)

This Year's Ranking: Honourable Mention

Difference: -10

Ben Maxwell's 2011-12 season was a strange one.  First he started the season in the Jets system, playing a few games with the Jets and in St. John's.  He was then waived and picked up by the Anaheim Ducks, played six games, scoring one assist and then spent the majority of the season with the Ice Caps scoring 25 points (eight goals, 17 assists) in 43 games.  He was later reclaimed on waivers by the Jets and played nine games in total scoring five points (one goal, four assists).  Maxwell is a dark horse to make the team this season if he could jump ahead of top prospect Mark Scheifele and Patrice Cormier as a centre.

Ed Pasquale, 22, G, 6'3, 210 lbs

Last Year's Ranking: Not Ranked

This Year's Ranking: Honourable Mention

Difference: 0

Eddie Pasquale made himself known with a solid rookie 2011-12 season.  Usurping Peter Mannino of the starting spot in St. John's after battling him and NHL veteran David Aebischer, Pasquale would go 23-12-1 with a 2.41 goals against and a .911 save percentage.  In the playoffs, Pasquale kept up his great play going 7-8-0 with a 2.41 goals against and a .917 save percentage as he anchored the Ice Caps to the third round of the Calder Cup Playoffs.  At 22, Pasquale is another diamond in the rough who will only get better as he enters 2012-13 as the possible stater again.

Sorting Out Jets 2012 Restricted Free Agents

The Jets major concern this off-season is resigning two top RFAs: Ondrej Pavelec and Evander Kane.
(Photo Courtesy Yahoo! Sports)

 It's not a question of whether the Winnipeg Jets can sign their restricted free agents this off-season, but rather a question of if the negotiations are ongoing and productive.

Not nearly two weeks removed from the Los Angeles Kings Stanley Cup crowning and the Jets and their general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff find themselves in mucky waters when it comes to some of the restricted free agents.

Most notably two RFAs - Evander Kane and Ondrej Pavelec - are the two whom rumours and myths abound to which jersey they are going to wear next winter.

However, Cheveldayoff and the Jets brass have a deadline to meet as July 1st is coming quickly.

Let's sort out the restricted free agent market for the hometown Jets.

Available RFAs: Ondrej Pavelec (G), Paul Postma (D), Arturs Kulda (D), John Negrin (D), Brett Festerling (D), Eric Fehr (F), Michael Forney (F), Evander Kane (F), Spencer Machacek (F), Maxime Macinauer (F), Ben Maxwell (F), Fredrik Pettersson (F)

The Jets only 30 goal scorer was Kane in 2011-12.
(Photo Courtesy Yahoo! Sports)

First and most important, let's sort out the Evander Kane RFA story.

Kane, coming off his first 30 goal season in the NHL, finally showed some of the potential that made him the fourth overall pick in 2009.

He reached career highs in goals (30), assists (27), and points (57), along with a +11 rating and 53 penalty minutes.

The fact that Kane only produced 69 points in his first 139 games in Atlanta, then posting 57 points in his 74 games this season in Winnipeg shows he has finally reached a spot where he can be a big game player.

However, his first season in Winnipeg was not all rainbows and unicorns.

Kane was rumoured to be a continual pest at some night club scenes across the city and was rumoured to have sustained a concussion by getting into a bar fight that had him out for a string of games in early January.

Despite the rumours or truths that abounded about Kane's social life in Winnipeg, the Jets are still keen and committed to locking up their only 30 goal scorer last season to a deal this summer.

Once again the rumours started swirling and were put immediately to rest by Kevin Cheveldayoff after TSN's Darren Dreger announced this week that preliminary talks have started between Kane's agent Craig Oster and the Jets brass. (TSN.ca, 6/20/2012)

Kane's size and speed are deadly for the Jets offense.
(Photo Courtesy Yahoo! Sports)

For a team that had problems scoring at times and a lack of depth up front, Kane's resigning is the most important to the team's offense moving forward.

On the back end, the RFA story of Ondrej Pavelec is even more complicated.

In the Winnipeg Free Press yesterday, Gary Lawless reported that the set price for resigning the Jets young goalie, who will turn 25 in August.

According to Lawless, the KHL offer is slated for one year at a rate above the $5 million mark.

For Pavelec, the range was for a four-year deal in the $4 million range.

For Lawless, the Jets must have had a lower number in mind or the deal would have been signed already. (Russian Offer Puts Space Between Pavs, Jets, Winnipeg Free Press, 6/20/2012)

Pavelec assumed the starters role in 2011-12.
(Photo Courtesy Yahoo! Sports)

The rumours of Pavelec's apparent departure to the Kontinental Hockey League has raged all month long and continues to be the hottest topic for Jets fans and reporters as Pavelec's future with the Jets may be muddier than at first suspected.

His 2011-12 season was a career season in many regards, including games played (68), wins (29), saves (1845), and minutes played (3932).

His 29-28-9 record is - at best - a mediocre record.

Compared statswise to other goalies in the NHL from the past season and Pavelec - the Jets MVP - does not stacked up well at all.

Pavelec ranked 66th in goals against average with his extremely high 2.91 goals against - which put him rankwise behind many backup goalies including Mathieu Garon (2.85), Ray Emery (2.81), Josh Harding (2.62), Jason LaBarbera (2.54), and Martin Biron (2.46) just to name a few.

Is Pavelec then the goalie the Jets want in their net?

Granted, it is Pavelec's first full season as the unrivalled number one goalie in an NHL crease.

Despite mediocre numbers, Pav is a fan favourite in Winnipeg
(Photo Courtesy Yahoo! Sports)

But for the Jets to sign him and make it worth it, Pavelec has to show he can improve his technique - which at times was sporadic and unorthodox - and his numbers consequently.

After the big two free agents slip off the market, the RFA pool is downplayed a bit more.

Eric Fehr, who was acquired in a trade from the Washington Capitals last summer, was projected to be the hometown hero, who would be the 20 goal scorer on a second or third line.

Fehr's season, however, was tumultuous and sporadic and he never stuck in the lineup for any long period of time.

In 35 games this season, Fehr notched only two goals and one assist a far cry from his 39 points (21 goals, 18 assists) two seasons ago in Washington.

Injuries hampered his season and the poor performance he did put in this season has put a definite hamper on his return to the Jets lineup.

If Fehr is re-signed (which is highly unlikely) it will be to battle for a spot and for an NHL veteran of 265 NHL games, he would rather test the market.

Two other players who made their way in and out of the lineup this season included Ben Maxwell and Spencer Machacek.

Maxwell was traded halfway through the season before being picked back up by the Jets via waivers late in the season.

Originally traded to the Thrashers as part of the Brent Sopel deal in 2011, Maxwell dressed in nine games for the Jets, collecting one goal and adding four assists with a plus three rating.

His prowess for being a playmaker in part of seasons in the the AHL with the Hamilton Bulldogs and more recently St. John's Ice Caps have earned him a right to compete for a job in Winnipeg.

Maxwell will likely be given at least a qualifying offer as the Jets will see if he can continue his gradual development after being a second round pick in 2006.

Spencer Machacek showed promise in limited time.
(Photo Courtesy Yahoo! Sports)

As for Machacek, a third round pick in 2007, he found himself adorned to Jets fans late in the season with his high intensity play and his nose for the net.

In only 13 games with the Jets - primarily in a checking role - Machacek netted two goals and aided on seven along with seven penalty minutes and a plus eight rating.

Machacek's development has been gradual, which is a surprise in the former Atlanta system.  He has played in over 60 games in the AHL the past four seasons and has always collected 48 points or more.

He is a no-brainer to lock up for the Jets.

Two more no-brainers to lock up are defensemen Paul Postma and Arturs Kulda.

Kulda, who brilliantly filled in on defense in the early part of the season, has nine games in a Jets jersey under him, which included a plus three rating.

A seventh round pick in 2006, his style is more to the liking of a defensive defenseman with a good first pass and a smooth skating style.  His 20 points in 63 games in St. John's this season show he is well capable of mixing in some offense time and again.

Paul Postma continues to develop well in the AHL.
(Photo Courtesy Yahoo! Sports)

As for offensive defensemen, Postma may have been a steal in the 2007 draft as he was the 205th pick in the seventh round as well.

His consistent progress to becoming an regular NHL defenseman took greater strides this season as he put up 44 points in 56 games in St. John's and dressed in three games (albeit much time spent on the bench) for the Jets.

His 2011-12 pre-season was also a good sign of things to come as he acquainted himself with Jets fans early alongside 2011 pick Mark Scheifele.

The Jets are extremely deep on defense, and Kulda and Postma are a big part of the Jets future on the blueline.

Others who had a strong showing in St. John's this past season include Maxime Macinauer, who was acquired in the trade for Maxwell, and defenseman Brett Festerling.

Macinauer played in 29 games for the Anaheim Ducks before the trade to the Jets and spent much of his time in St. John's as a checking centre not figuring in on the scoring much.

As for Festerling, he was a rock on the Ice Caps blueline.  In 50 games, he netted 18 points (three goals, 15 assists) and was a plus eight.

He also suited up for five games as a Jet early in the season, posting a minus one rating.

As for Festerling and Macinauer's resigning, it goes along the same paths as the other remaining restricted free agents - it all depends on the Jets need for development.

If there are spots that need to be opened for the likes of a Zach Yuen, Mark Scheifele, or an Ivan Telegin this coming season in St. John's, then the Jets may opt to not resign them.

Here are a brief look at the remaining RFAs:

John Negrin was acquired from the Calgary Flames organization later in the season and played in 14 games for the Ice Caps collecting three assists, but did not suit up in the playoffs.

A former third round pick in 2007, Negrin has only three games of NHL experience.

Michael Forney bounced between the Ice Caps, the ECHL's Colorado Eagles and was eventually loaned to the Texas Stars of the AHL for the remainder of the season.

In 53 games with the Eagles, Forney had 51 points (20 goals 31 assists) but with the Stars only two points in 11 games and no points in three games in St. John's.

Fredrik Pettersson returned to Swededn in 2011-12 after spending the 2010-11 season with the Chicago Wolves scoring 32 points (11 goals, 21 assists) in 67 games.

A fifth round pick of the Edmonton Oilers in 2005, Pettersson just finished his season in Sweden with Vastra Frolunda HC of the Swedish Elite League posting 40 points (16 goals, 24 assists) in 54 games along with an incredible plus 26 rating.

Rangers Shutout Jets in Big Apple 3-0

Marian Gaborik singlehandedly beat the Winnipeg Jets Sunday night, with three points, including two goals, en route to a 3-0 win over the Jets.

Martin Biron, who has started both games for the Rangers against the Jets, stopped all 23 shots against him in the win.

Derek Stepan's power play marker at 10:01 of the second period proved to be the game winner.

Gaborik made it 2-0 8:31 into the third and then iced the game with an empty netter with two seconds left.

Ondrej Pavelec stopped 24 of 26 shots for the loss.

Mark Stuart did dress for the game and played only 18:05.

Zach Bogosian led all Jets in ice time with a season high 29:47, while Paul Postma only played three shifts all night.

Ben Maxwell had only three shifts as well while Tim Stapleton only had seven shifts for 6:49 of ice time.

Kyle Wellwood, Alexander Burmistrov, Dustin Byfuglien, and Evander Kane were all minus two on the night.

Jets now focus on the last game of their road trip in Buffalo on Tuesday.


Photo Courtesy of Yahoo! Sports & Getty Images

Jets Down 'Canes 5-3

It was another slow start for the Jets, but this time, they followed it up with a more than strong finish.

Propelled by five unanswered goals between the second half of the first period and the entire second period, the Jets won their second game in a row on home ice 5-3 over their divisional rivals the Carolina Hurricanes Saturday night.

The Jets and starter Ondrej Pavelec found themselves down 2-0 very quickly on a weak first goal by Jussi Jokinen and then another goal by Jeff Skinner prompting head coach Claude Noel to shake things up.

Chris Mason would relieve Pavelec not even seven minutes into the game, as Pavelec allowed two goals on the first five Carolina shots.

Alexander Burmistrov would get the Jets on the board with a highlight reel power play goal that found the roof of the net on Carolina starter Brian Boucher's glove side.

With time running out in the first period, Kyle Wellwood found the puck at the side of the net with under a second remaining to tie the game after one period 2-2.

In the second, the Jets would continue to pressure Carolina. After outshooting them 13-6 in the first period, the Jets would only get six shots at Boucher in the second but half of their shots made their way to the back of the Hurricanes net.

Jim Slater would net his third of the season from Tanner Glass, as Slater would wrist a shot past Boucher's shoulder for a 3-2 Jets lead.

Nearly two minutes later, captain Andrew Ladd would score his second on a weird bounce off the board that he took a swipe at near the blueline. The puck fooled Boucher and found the back of the net to give the Jets a 4-2 lead.

Evander Kane would make it 5-2 at 7:30 of the third when he finally potted his first of the season from in tight, being the recipient of the great work by Nik Antropov behind the net.

The 'Canes would respond with a goal midway through the third period, but the damage was done as the Jets came away with a 5-3 victory giving them a 2-4-1 record, good enough for five points on the season.

Chris Mason stopped 18 of 19 shots after replacing Pavelec and was honoured with the first star selection.

Antropov, Zach Bogosian, and Wellwood would finish the night with two points apiece.

Antropov was seven of 13 in the faceoff circle, while Bryan Little was 12 of 18, Slater was three of six, and Maxwell was seven of eight.

Mark Scheifele played only nine shifts for 7:21 of ice time. It seems he may only be playing nine games this season for sure now.

Tobias Enstrom led the Jets in shots with five and ice time playing 27:12. Dustin Byfuglien played 23:39, Bogosian 20:56, Oduya 20:17, Little 20:05, and Ladd 20:03.

Despite being banged up from the Senators game Thursday, Ladd's goal would stand up as the winner. In addition to his goal and 20:03 of ice time, Ladd had three shots, three hits, and won all three faceoffs he took during his 23 shifts.

Jets now prepare for the New York Rangers Monday night.

Photo Courtesy Yahoo! Sports & Getty Images

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.

Jets Treat Fans on The Rock To 3-1 Win

Mark Scheifele continues to be one of the biggest topics of conversation around Winnipeg and across Manitoba.

Scheifele opened the scoring at the annual Kraft Hockeyville game in St. John's, Newfoundland at 1:19 of the second period on the power play for his third goal of the pre-season.

Through three pre-season games, Scheifele is among the league leaders in points and goals with six points and three goals and is making the case to stay at least for nine regular season games come October 9th.

Not only was Scheifele a hot topic, but so was Portage born Troy Bodie, who redeemed himself after the incident in Nashville Saturday night with Zac Stortini when he scored the eventual game winning goal with 3:36 left in the second period.

Bodie, who is trying to vye for a spot on the team after the sad passing of Rick Rypien left a hole in the Jets lineup, has proven how tough he can be and how he can contribute for Winnipeg.

Mika Zibanejad, a fellow first round pick in 2011, countered for Ottawa with 14:15 to go, but Ben Maxwell put the game on ice at 13:37 of the third to restore the Jets two goal lead.

The Jets are now 2-3 in the pre-season and cuts are expected to be coming before the Jets next game, which will be at home for the first time in over a week as they host the Carolina Hurricanes at the MTS Centre.

Jets All Out Top 25: #19 Patrice Cormier

Patrice Cormier, 21, C, 6'2, 205 lbs
Last Year's Rating: N/A This Year's Rating: #19 Difference: N/A

Patrice Cormier has been known to play with an edge throughout his junior career in the QMJHL. During the 2009-10 season, Cormier was involved in an on-ice incident when he hit opposing player Mikael Tam with a flagrant elbow which landed him a season (and QMJHL-ending) suspension.

In his QMJHL career, Cormier collected 144 points in 189 games with the Rimouski Oceanic and the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies.

In 2008, Cormier was selected 54th overall by the New Jersey Devils and was later involved in the trade that sent Ilya Kovalchuk to the Devils from the Thrahsers. He, Johnny Oduya, Nicolas Bergfors, and picks went to Atlanta.

Cormier played in the 2010 AHL playoffs with the Chicago Wolves for nine games, collecting eight penalty minutes. He played 11 games last season with Chicago, after being out with injury for the start of the season, before being called up to the Thrashers, where he played in 21 games, collecting two points.

If Cormier can put his past negative play of the QMJHL behind him, he can become one of the biggest two-way pests in the NHL. His grit is well documented in his junior career as he is not afraid to drop the gloves, collecting 118 penalty minutes in 2008-09 with the Oceanic and 339 in his QMJHL career.

He has stiff competition for a centre job, competing with the likes of Tim Stapleton, Ben Maxwell, and possibly Aaron Gagnon. If Cormier can make a transition to the wing, he could make the Jets lineup. But his feisty play may be the best suited as a centreman.

Jets All Out Top 25: #20 Ben Maxwell

Ben Maxwell, 23, C, 6'1, 195 lbs
Last Year's Rating: N/A This Year's Rating: #20 Difference: N/A

A former second round pick of the Montreal Canadiens, 49th overall in 2006, Ben Maxwell finally was freed of the Canadiens organization last year in a deal that sent him and Brett Festerling to Atlanta for Brent Sopel and Nigel Dawes.

After a solid, average junior career with the Kootenay Ice from 2004-05 to 2007-08, Maxwell spent three seasons with the Canadiens AHL affiliate Hamilton Bulldogs, scoring over 40 points in each of those season. He was able to suit up in 20 games for the Canadiens, but could not manage to move up the depth chart.

Maxwell came over later in the season, at the trade deadline, and spent two games with the Chicago Wolves before appearing in 12 games for the Thrashers, collecting two points, nine penalty minutes, and a minus seven rating.

Known as a two-way centre in his junior career, where he battled injuries in his last two seasons, Maxwell could be, if he reaches his potential, a good third-line checking centreman.

In junior, Maxwell collected 159 points in 210 games, with a career year in 2005-06, where he scored 60 points (28 goals, 32 assists).

In his three years in Hamilton, Maxwell scored 142 points in 177 games, including his best season in his rookie AHL season in 2008-09, collecting 58 points (22 goals, 36 assists) in 73 games.

For Maxwell, this season could be his final breakthrough season. The Jets are relatively weak in the depth chart at centre as he is behind Nik Antropov and Alex Burmistrov. He will be battling both Patrice Cormier and Tim Stapleton for the final two centre jobs, and possibly one of them may have to switch to the wing to make the lineup.

This is Maxwell's first real chance to cracking an NHL lineup full time in his career, and here's hoping his time spent in the AHL was well worth it.

An RFA this upcoming off-season, Maxwell

2011-12 Predictions: Jets Forwards

With the real dog days of summer upon us in full force, we're going to predict what we think the top four lines of the Jets will be for the upcoming 2011-12 season.

For the sake of being somewhat unpredictable, I think there may be some small surprises and some obvious guesses.

First Line: Ladd - Antropov - Kane
Nik Antropov's 6'6" frame is the largest body up front for the Jets by one inch over winger Blake Wheeler and thus is a no brainer to be the first line centre come opening night. But can he cash in with the team now that they have changed over to Winnipeg? He had career highs in Atlanta in 2009-10 with 67 points (24 goals, 43 assists), although he was playing some of the season with Ilya Kovalchuk.

For Evander Kane, he only keeps getting better and his stock should rise high enough to be a first line player on this team, beating out Bryan Little. Kane collected 43 points (19 goals, 24 assists) in his sophomore season in 2010-11 and is only going to get better.

Andrew Ladd had a career season with 59 points (29 goals, 30 assists) in 2010-11 that eclipsed his previous career year of 49 points two seasons ago in Chicago. Ladd signed a five-year contract with the Jets as an RFA and is the team's captain going into the future. His success and leadership are the cornerstone of this team going forward.

Second Line: Little - Burmistrov - Wheeler
Alexander Burmistrov had a promising rookie season with a few highlight reel goals last season with 20 points in 74 games. Being put into the NHL so quickly after being the 8th overall pick last season, his learning curve could have been somewhat affected but his talent showed through some games and he can only get better.

On his wings are two of the more talented young wingers in the game. It will remain to be seen if Bryan Little takes a centre role within Claude Noel's offensive system or if he stays on the wing to use his speed down the side. Little is coming off two sub-par seasons with 34 points (13 goals, 21 assists) in 2009-10 and 48 points (18 goals, 30 assists) in 2010-11 after he posted 31 goals and 51 points two seasons ago.

Blake Wheeler resigned a two-year deal this summer as an RFA with the Jets looking to be a big part of the offense after he had his most productive time in the NHL with the Thrashers scoring 17 points in only 23 games at the end of last season. At 6'5", Wheeler will be a big part of the offense.

Third Line: Fehr - Slater - Cormier
With the addition of Eric Fehr, the Jets third line will have some scoring threat, as Fehr scored 21 goals in 2009-10 and scored 10 or more in the last three seasons. Being the hometown Manitoba boy will make Fehr an instant fan favourite.

Jim Slater, a longtime Thrasher, will be the grit down the middle along with a young, gritty Patrice Cormier. Slater has 100 points in 371 career games over six seasons, all in Atlanta.

Cormier played in 21 games last year with the Thrashers collecting 2 points (1 goal, 1 assist).

Fourth Line: Glass - Maxwell - Thorburn/Rypien/Jaffray
The grit of Tanner Glass, Chris Thorburn, and Rick Rypien will definitely help the Jets be a gritty team and a hard team to match up against if these pests are on.

Thorburn, a Thrasher vet, has played his last four seasons in Atlanta scoring 65 points and collecting 362 PIMs in 313 games.

Rypien, a former Manitoba Moose, has had a long history in Winnipeg and should be a fan favourite after his time with the Vancouver Canucks. Rypien collected 226 PIMs and 16 points in 119 career games with the Canucks over the past six seasons.

Glass, who was a part of the Canucks run to the Stanley Cup Final last spring, has 233 PIMs and 23 points in 184 career games with Vancouver and the Florida Panthers.

Jason Jaffray, another ex-Moose, may be given another look at joining the team, as he became a big piece of the Moose franchise, especially in their run to the Calder Cup Finals in 2009. Jaffray has 10 points in 36 career NHL games with Vancouver and the Calgary Flames.

Rounding out the fourth line is centre Ben Maxwell, a piece of the Brent Sopel trade with Montreal. Maxwell, 23, had 2 points (1 goal, 1 assist) in 12 games with the Thrashers after spending the last few years with the Hamilton Bulldogs of the AHL.

Next In Line: Carl Klingberg at 6'3", 205 lbs. could be another big winger the Jets could be very happy with in the near future.

Kendal McCardle could finally have a chance to break into an NHL full-time as a third or fourth line grinder. But he has many grinders to leap frog to get into the lineup full time.

Aaron Gagnon has the potential to be a third or fourth line centre, but with the depth up the middle, his training camp could spell his fortune for the upcoming season.

Jets Lock Up Wheeler and Six Others

The Jets locked up forward Blake Wheeler to a two-year, $5.1 million deal.

The Jets also signed RFAs Riley Holzfapel, Ben Maxwell, Arturs Kulda, Brett Festerling, Spencer Machacek, and newly acquired Kendal McCardle.

Jets Have Made Qualifying Offers To Seven

The Jets have made qualifying offers to the following players, meaning they can match any offer sheets that may come from other teams.

Zach Bogosian and Blake Wheeler as well as defensemen Arturs Kulda and Brett Festerling, winger Spencer Machacek, and centres Ben Maxwell and Riley Holzapfel.


http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/Jets-made-qualifying-offer-to-Bogosian-124653169.html

Jets Free Agents Still Out There

Blake Wheeler, RFA
44 points (18 goals, 26 assists) in 81 games with Atlanta & Boston

Zach Bogosian, RFA
17 points (5 goals, 12 assists) in 71 games with Atlanta

Rob Schremp, RFA
26 points (13 goals, 13 assists) in 63 games with NY Islanders & Atlanta

Ben Maxwell, RFA
2 points (1 goal, 1 assist) in 12 games with Atlanta

Noah Welch, UFA
2 games with Altanta

Other UFAs: F Eric Boulton, F Jason Krog, D Freddy Meyer, F Jared Ross, F Rob Schremp, D Jaime Sifers

Other RFAs: F Akim Aliu, D Brett Festerling, F Riley Holzapfel, F Andrew Kozek, D Arturs Kulda, F Spencer Machacek, F Ian McKenzie


With the signing of Andrew Ladd, Wheeler and Bogosian remain the top two names on the Jets free agent list. The likelihood of Schremp coming back lies heavily in his character and since he was a big name player coming into his NHL career, will Kevin Cheveldayoff be interested in a show-boat like player who has shown a downside of defensive play?

If the Jets decided to part ways with Anthony Stewart, look for Schremp to follow suit.