The Winnipeg Jets Missed Free Agency, But That’s Okay
It appears the Winnipeg Jets will, for the most part, sit out free agency. But, even with a particular spurning, it’s not so bad.
Sure, the Winnipeg Jets signed Dennis Everberg and Cameron Schilling, but you don’t know who either of those players are. I also do not. I don’t think we’re missing much.
They also inked Laurent Brossoit, who I am barely aware of. The former Oilers backup had endeared himself to the Jets in some way. He will compete for the backup job, presumably. I don’t suppose he’s there to supplant Connor Hellebuyck.
Apparently they also signed Seth Griffith, who is a real person and has 79 games of NHL experience. Really throwing in the deep cuts, Jets.
Those aside (and I do expect there to be a couple more of “huh, how about that?” guys), the Jets haven’t done anything substantial. They re-signed Hellebuyck to a big deal and missed out on Paul Stastny.
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I guess they traded Steve Mason, but that was literally just to re-sign Stastny, so here we are. But…is it a bad thing? Yes, the team needs to continue to tweak and to try to improve any way possible. But look at the available free agents.
There’s Rick Nash! And…Luca Sbisa? Lee Stempniak? Tanner Glass? Please, Lord, no more Tanner Glass. John Tavares was there, but he was never coming to Winnipeg. Say what you want about what they offered him compared to Vegas, but they created space just to get him.
They were willing. They tried. It just didn’t work out. Looking at the other deals, there’s not a lot I would either feel comfortable with the Jets matching or care about losing out on that player.
I would’ve given Valtteri Filppula his deal (One year at $2.75MM), but that won’t keep me up at night. Maybe he wouldn’t even want to come. Petr Mrazek at one year and $1.5MM, I’ll take it. But again, not losing sleep.
Sometimes free agency isn’t what it’s all cracked up to be. Usually free agency isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. You gotta find the hidden gems, no point in waiting for a John Tavares. You’re playing a dangerous game that way.
Maybe the Winnipeg Jets unearthed some gems in Brossoit, Everberg, Griffith or Schilling. I doubt it, but hey, they know a lot more than I do. These things rarely work out but when they do, they look great. Great organizations do these things. Maybe a trade is in the works. Maybe not.
But I know I’m okay with the Jets going into next season just as they are now. See where you’re at in January, then decide to add. The price might be a little higher, but hey, such is life when you’re playing for a Stanley Cup.
Next: Five Reasons Jets Could Collapse In 2018-2019
Free agency came and (not went, it’s still there) and left the Jets in its wake. Or vice versa, who could know? Either way, it’s not a bad thing.