Yesterday, my co-editor Andrei Lutz wrapped up our top ten Winnipeg Jets prospects list that we’ve been compiling over the past few weeks with our number one prospect, Nikolaj Ehlers. You can view the complete list below but first, a few quick thoughts:
– The sheer quality and quantity of prospects on the list really goes to show you how great of a job Kevin Cheveldayoff has done since taking over the hockey operations department when the team moved from Atlanta to Winnipeg. I mean, look at this list put together by HockeysFuture just months before the Thrashers relocated.
With the exception of Burmistrov (who the jury is still out on as an NHL player), the best you can say about some of those guys is they are replacement-level NHL talent. #2 prospect Carl Klingberg was traded for a half-year rental of Lee Stempniak. Other than Burmistrov, who is the best player on that list – Paul Postma? Prospects are a volatile lot and things can change but compare our top ten list in 2015 to what the list was back in 2011 and it’s impressive to see the quality of prospects Cheveldayoff has brought in.
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– There’s a lot of guys we left off the list that aren’t too shabby themselves. Scott Kosmachuk is just a season removed from a 100-point campaign in the Ontario Hockey League. If you count Ben Chiarot as a prospect still, then we left him off as well. Brendan Lemieux, another interesting piece acquired from Buffalo in the Evander Kane trade, is a darkhorse for a few people to possibly make the Jets as a fourth liner this year. Erik Foley and Michael Spacek are a pair of guys drafted this year that certainly have the potential and talent to make the National Hockey League down the road. Those guys all go towards the quantity part of my second paragraphs.
– 2013 is looking like a good draft.
– I noted this on a few players but it’s going to be an interesting year for a number of these prospects. Most are positioned to be able to make a jump, whether that be to the NHL, a big step in junior, or just getting their professional hockey careers started. And if they’re not ready, then that’s okay. The Jets have set themselves up organizationally to allow these guys to develop and jump in when they are ready.
During the franchise’s time in Atlanta, the team took five first round picks directly to the show. In addition to Ilya Kovalchuk, that list includes Patrick Stefan (lol), Zach Bogosian (traded), Kane (also traded), and Burmistrov (?). Allowing players the chance to develop should pay off for the Jets but we can look at Atlanta as what the consequences can be for rushing guys along.
Here is our complete top ten list:
- Nikolaj Ehlers
- Josh Morrissey
- Connor Hellebuyck
- Nic Petan
- Kyle Connor
- Joel Armia
- Jack Roslovic
- Eric Comrie
- Andrew Copp
- Jansen Harkins
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