WINNIPEG – The Winnipeg Jets are coming off their first playoff appearance since moving back to Winnipeg and although they were swept in four games by the Anaheim Ducks in the first round they gained valuable experience and led in three of the four games but couldn’t close out. They were in a dog-fight for the last two months of the season to just get in so that also helped them gain that gritty, playoff mentality.
The club also pulled the trigger on a blockbuster deal that saw Evander Kane and Zach Bogosian moving to the Buffalo Sabres in return for Tyler Myers and Drew Stafford as well as prospects Joel Armia, Brendan Lemieux and the Sabres’ first round pick from the Blues which turned out to be the 25th pick. The tough part of this deal will be getting Stafford signed as he found some instant chemistry with the Jets and regained his scoring touch and he will command a high price in this year’s free agent frenzy.
The Jets have a well-stocked system as they have some great young talent waiting in the wings. Nik Ehlers who is almost a lock to make the team, 2013 first rounder Josh Morrissey could push for a job. Nic Petan, Connor Hellebuyck, Armia, Andrew Copp, and the list goes on as they have riches.
The Jets also announced that they were moving their AHL team back to Winnipeg which will be an asset in developing players who are right there in the same rink as the big guns. The Manitoba Moose will be an exciting young team to watch no doubt.
The Jets are now contenders and need to continue to build on their success as there will be hungry teams chasing down that playoff spot and what the team needs short term is a top six forward and a big center ice man. The team needs big and strong centermen to compete in the Western Conference.
Although they need a centerman they will continue to go with the best available player at the time they get to the podium and something you can’t teach is natural scoring ability. One player with whom they are familiar was a teammate of prospect Nic Petan.
Forward Paul Bittner had 71 points in 66 games including 34 goals. The Minnesota native left his high school program and a potential college career to play in the Western Hockey League with the Portland Winter Hawks. The 6’4”, 195 pound forward has the potential to be a top line winger for years to come and he fits the mould of the Jets players: big, fast, smooth skating who can snipe.
“With the 17th selection in the 2015 NHL Draft the Winnipeg Jets select from the Western Hockey League’s Portland Winter Hawks Paul Bittner.”
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