Winnipeg Jets: Should the Jets Extend Tucker Poolman or Let Him Walk?

The Winnipeg Jets will have many important decisions to make this offseason. Kevin Cheveldayoff, the Jets management team, and coaching staff will have to decide which players to protect in the Seattle Kraken expansion draft while also preparing for the NHL Entry Draft and free agency.

But before we look there, the Winnipeg Jets have many key names who will become unrestricted free agents on July 28, if the Jets and player cannot get a deal done before that date.

One player who is a pending UFA is Tucker Poolman. Poolman has been with the Jets organization for the past four years (split 2017-2018 season with Jets and Moose, played 2018-2019 in AHL with Moose, and played the past two seasons with the Jets) after leaving the University of North Dakota after the 2016-2017 season.

Should the Winnipeg Jets extend Tucker Poolman’s contract or let him walk to free agency?

Poolman had an interesting season in 2021. After the Jets’ first game of the season, on January 17, Poolman was put on the COVID-19 protocol lost and did not return to action until February 11th. Then just eleven days after returning to action, the Dubuque, Iowa native was hurt against the Canucks and subsequently held out of the lineup until March 2.

Poolman was then a consistent figure in the Jets’ lineup until the last week of the season. In those final three games, Poolman did not play as he had an undisclosed injury.

Then in the playoffs, Poolman played on Winnipeg’s third defensive pair with Logan Stanley. The twenty-eight-year-old started the playoffs hot with a goal in game one of the first round against the Edmonton Oilers and added an assist in game two, but after that, he was held quiet in the postseason.

Poolman finished the postseason with one goal, one assist, and an even plus/minus rating in eight games played.

What should the Jets do regarding Poolman?

All of that history brings us to now. One argument that can be made by watching the past season is that the Jets showed that they can succeed without Poolman.

In the seventeen regular season games that Poolman did not dress in, the Jets posted a good record of 10-6-1. In other terms, when Poolman was not in the lineup Winnipeg picked up 21 out of a possible 34 points.

These stats do not plead well for Poolman in hopes of getting an extension with the Winnipeg Jets. His playoff performances showed that he can be a solid third pair defenseman, but the regular season tells us that the Jets can compete without him.

It will be interesting to see how the Jets front office decides to handle Poolman. Will they give Poolman a new deal or look to sign a different defenseman and/or promote a prospect into his role? Only time will give us the answer to that.

The Grand Forks Herald also noted that Poolman may be of interest to the Kraken in their inaugural season considering that Poolman played for Seattle’s head coach, Dave Hakstol, in Poolman’s first season at North Dakota. If the Jets decide to not extend Poolman then Seattle may be a viable option for the defenseman.

Winnipeg Jets Fans: Do you think the Winnipeg Jets should resign Tucker Poolman or let him go to free agency? Leave your comments below!

*All Stats Provided by the NHL*