Winnipeg Jets: 3 Defensemen the Jets Should Look to Sign this Offseason
The Winnipeg Jets are in the market for a defenseman this offseason. Here are three free agent defensemen the Winnipeg Jets should look to sign.
As the NHL season comes to a close and the offseason beckons for each franchise, the Winnipeg Jets will start considering which free agents they should try to sign as they look to build a Stanley Cup winning team for the 2021-2022 season.
One thing that was apparent from the 2021 season is that Winnipeg struggled on defense and need to add in that department to become a complete team and Stanley Cup contender.
The Jets front office will definitely be looking to sign a defenseman or two during free agency and here are three defensemen the Jets should target during this offseason period (in no particular order):
3. Mike Reilly
This player will probably get the biggest pay raise out of the three on the list as he played absolutely outstanding last season.
The twenty-seven-year-old, Reilly, started the season with the Ottawa Senators and was subsequently traded to the Boston Bruins at the trade deadline as Boston was gearing up for a postseason run.
Reilly impressed with the Bruins. In 15 regular season games, he had eight assists and amassed a +7 plus/minus. Then in the playoffs, he had four assists in eleven games.
The Chicago, Illinois native does not have a track record of scoring goals, but he is known to be a great passer and picks up many assists. When he was traded this year, Boston inserted him right on the powerplay.
According to Puck Pedia, Reilly is coming off a two-year contract that carries an average annual value of $1,500,000.
With five years of NHL experience, Reilly is hitting his true potential and if he does become a free agent, many teams will try and sign him.
Reilly would be a terrific signing for the Winnipeg Jets but may come at a heavy price tag.
2. Jamie Oleksiak
One thing that was lacking on the Jets defense this past season was a veteran physical presence. Logan Stanley played extremely well in his rookie season on Winnipeg’s third pair, but Winnipeg can definitely use a tough defenseman with a good amount of experience to play on a pair with Josh Morrissey or Neal Pionk or even create a shutdown pair with Stanley.
Oleksiak could be the perfect player for the Winnipeg Jets. For starters, the Toronto native is a six-foot-seven-inch 255 pound left shot defenseman with over thirty games of playoff experience.
The former 2011 14th overall selection has not missed a game the past two seasons and is someone who logs a considerable amount of ice time. In the 2021 season, Oleksiak averaged more than twenty minutes of ice time per game.
Oleksiak is a defensive defenseman and is a good penalty killer. Last season was one of his best seasons offensively as he scored six goals and contributed eight assists.
Oleksiak can provide the Jets a new forceful look on their blueline and could give the Jets another great option to shut down opposing goal scorers.
1. Jani Hakanpaa
Like Reilly in the first slide, Hakanpaa was also traded at the deadline this season. Hakanpaa was traded from the worst team in the West Division, the Anaheim Ducks, to Stanley Cup contenders, the Carolina Hurricanes.
Hakanpaa excelled when he joined the Hurricanes down the stretch. In his fifteen games with the Canes, the twenty-nine-year-old had two goals, one assist, and had a +4 plus/minus.
Hakanpaa did not have the same effect in the playoffs as he was held off the scoresheet in his eleven games played and registered a -4 plus/minus
Just like Oleksiak, Hakanpaa is more of a defensive defenseman who can kill penalties. The one difference between the two is Hakanpaa may be a much cheaper option compared to the experienced Oleksiak.
Hakanpaa was extremely efficient this past season in limiting giveaways with only seven in 15 games, while also averaging more than three hits per game.
The Kirkkonummi, Finland native could be a nice signing for the Winnipeg Jets as a second or third pair defenseman while not being a considerable hit to the salary cap.
Winnipeg Jets Fans: Which UFA defenseman do you want the Winnipeg Jets to sign this offseason? Leave your comments below!
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*All Stats Provided by the NHL*