Realistic Optimism

Team: 2023-24 Winnipeg Jets

Initial Creation Date: May 15, 2023

Published: May 15, 2023

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Jets sign scheifele and helly to matching to a 9M x 6 year deals. Its going to hurt the last couple of years, but still worth it in my opinion. This team isn't going anywhere without either and with the jets saying they arent interested in rebuilding, this is likely what they try to do.

Now, before helly and scheifele commit, both likely need to see some changes, so that's where I started. PLD isn't staying once he hits UFA and in a small market, the jets cant afford to let him go for nothing. Therefore, a trade becomes a necessity. Similarly, the jets got some new leadership this year. However, with wheeler still in the room, the leadership cant take over. So time to let him go.

Helly needs a backup. If the jets want his new contract to be anywhere close to value in its latter years, they cannot have him playing 60-70 games a year. They need a competent backup who can keep helly fresh and playing on a vezina level every night.

Scheifele needs a big winger. He's said it himself, he likes playing a possession game. Him and ehlers already have great chemistry on the rush, now they need someone who can cycle the puck with him. For this, I went out and got Anthony Mantha. He'll be cheap, if he'll cost anything at all and if he can bounce back, that could be a dominant line.

While I could play nino in the top 6, the third line as currently constructed will win us games when the top line isn't carrying. This is a big thing the jets have been missing over the years, proper depth scoring. A third line that can contribute 0.5-0.75 goals a game would be a game changer.

Therefore, there is a hole at top 6 rw. Perfetti also likely needs someone to share centre responsibilities with him for the year to help him transition to C. I went with Johansson.

Finally, there is a major logjam on the back end. Heinola is ready and should get a chance to show what he can do. Therefore, time to move on from schmidt and bring up heinola who would thrive in bowness' system. I would explore bringing in some size onto the top pair with jomo, but until the right deal doesn't present itself, no point in messing with what works.

The jets draft Matthew wood and Callum Ritchie with 12 and 38 oa.

I also brought Toews in as a faceoff specialist and 4C. Overall, those are my thoughts.

Let me know what you think.

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