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Winnipeg Jets: 4 biggest Free Agent flops all-time

By Dylan Paré

WINNIPEG, CANADA - FEBRUARY 12: Alexei Ponikarovsky #23 of the Winnipeg Jets keeps an eye on the puck as he flies through the air during first period action against the Philadelphia Flyers at the MTS Centre on February 12, 2013 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The Flyers defeated the Jets 3-2. (Photo by Travis Golby/NHLI via Getty Images)
WINNIPEG, CANADA - FEBRUARY 12: Alexei Ponikarovsky #23 of the Winnipeg Jets keeps an eye on the puck as he flies through the air during first period action against the Philadelphia Flyers at the MTS Centre on February 12, 2013 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The Flyers defeated the Jets 3-2. (Photo by Travis Golby/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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The Winnipeg Jets have never been a team to take gambles or overspend on top guys on the market, but we have made few offseason transactions that were flops.

July 1st, 2012 – Winnipeg Jets Sign Alexei Ponikarovsky to 1 year, $1.8 Million Deal

Coming off the Winnipeg Jets inaugural season, Kevin Cheveldayoff was looking to make a move in free agency. The 2012 offseason was one which saw us picking up other veterans like Olli Jokinen, Al Montoya, and Derek Meech. These moves were in hopes to give our fans a more competitive team, bringing Winnipeg closer to the playoff hockey our fans had craved for years.

Our 2011-12 squad, coached by Claude Noel, had a winning record of 37-35-10, however not quite good enough for a spot in the playoffs. Our core consisted of guys like 25-year-old Blake Wheeler and Andrew Ladd, a 26-year-old Dustin Byfuglien, 19-year-old Alex Burmistrov, 23-year old Brian Little, and a 31-year-old Nikolai Antropov.

Our team had some skill, but we still didn’t have the depth. Kevin Cheveldayoff went out to fetch some, returning with Alexei Ponikarovsky. Chevy got him for one year and was hoping he could rack up some points as a part of the bottom 6 forward group.

Ponikarovsky had some stellar seasons in Toronto, following two sub-par campaigns. While playing in Toronto, Alexei had been able to notch upwards of 45-60 points per season. However, after leaving Toronto and having a few forgettable seasons, the Jets took a low-risk gamble on Alexei Ponikarovsky.

Fast forward a bit, about 12 games into the season. He isn’t producing, with only 2 goals and zero assists. It’s looking like Chevy’s guy that was supposed to help the depth was going to bust.

All the sudden, BAM! Cheveldayoff was thinking two steps ahead, packing him back up to New Jersey. In exchange for a 4th round pick and a 7th round pick, he was off! (The picks who now would be Nelson Nogier and Brenden Kichton, respectively).

It’s safe to say we definitely didn’t win at all on this deal, but we didn’t necessarily lose, because of the trade that Chevy conducted.

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