1st line: Ehlers-Scheifele-Wheeler
Imo, this line worked better than when Connor was on it and it also provides Connor to play with laine whom he has excellent chemistry with (more on that later). Ehlers provides a different dynamic that transforms this line offensively. It also takes a load off of scheifele since he doesn’t need to do a dump and chase since ehlers is great at controlled zone entries. If you look back, this line is very good. Wheeler and scheifele are great at getting the puck to ehlers and ehlers has the quickness to put it in the net.
Line 2: Connor-copp-laine
Connor and laine have great chemistry. It’s as if hey know where each other is when they are together. They are both threats to score and both have the playmaking ability to complement each other. Laine has he size and Connor has he speed, not to mention that both have tremendous skill. Laine is better than Connor at controlled zone entries and copp can do them well. Connor isnt bad either. If this line needs to dump and chase, copp would mainly be the one getting it but both Laine and Connor can as well. Copp can also take care of the defensive side of the puck and Connor can pitch in as well (better than ehlers). All in all, this Is a well rounded line. I could see little replace Copp but little-laine does not work so this is worth a shot. Anyways, copp kind of deserves it after ha phenomenal play in the 2nd half and in the playoffs
Line 3: Vesalainen-little-roslovic
With perreault’s departure in order to pay both Connor and laine long-term, this is the logical choice. Vesalainen and roslovic would control board play while little and Vesalainen would do the majority of the goal scoring. Halfway through the season I would move roslovic to c and little to rw.
Line 4: McGinn-Lowry-appleton.
McGinn would make WPG fans forget all about Brandon Tanev. He brings the same spark and playing style but with more scoring prowess. With appleton in that line it should be able to chip in 30-40 goals easily, which is solid production for a 4th line. This line would also be a great shutdown line.
Defence pairings
Top pair: JoMo-pionk.
Now bear with me, pionk’s play with the puck is very good. His play without the puck is well...a work in progress. With JoMo as his partner, I can see this line being a lower end top pair. While the pair would be phenomenal offensively, morrissey should be able to cover up most of pionk’s mistakes. There will be growing pains, by from what I have seen from pionk, he isn’t all bad. His defensive play without the puck needs work but he is an offensive catalyst. Late in games where we have a 1 goal lead however, I would not role this pair out. I would play buff in pionk’s spot. Pionk would then play with beaulieu and gets some mins of with niku and get none, in which case beaulieu poolman would become the 2nd pair.
2nd pair: niku-buff
Niku played really end towards the end of his stint and started to dominate the offensive side of the puck. When he wasn’t as comfortable, we saw a smart defensive player who got pushed around a little. With hopefully good work put in in the summer, niku should be able to somewhat hold his own agains bigger forwards. I see a younger Enstrom in him. Buff should be able to take care of pionk while provinding a strong edge to that pairing. I refrain from physical because niku has a physical edge to him as well.
3rd pair: beaulieu-poolman
Don’t need to explain much as this pair is a pair that does it all. The main focus would be defence but both could chip in offensively as well. If need be they can play higher on the lineup as well. I really don’t care much if it’s kulikov or beaulieu but in the case where we’re protecting a lead late in a game, I see no point in cutting mind for niku and pionk only to give them to kulikov. That’s why I would rather have beaulieu. However, what most people don’t notice is that we have it seen a kulikov away from myers. Kulikov has always been too focused on covering up for myers that he hasn’t been able to produce. There is offence there but it doesn’t show. Here’s to hoping it does next season.
Extra:kulikov
Not super fast, not super durable, not super physical, not super anything really. While every other defencemen brings something different to the lineup, kulikov brings a lot of meh. He is an nhl defencmen, by he isn’t as good as the 6 defencemen already in the lineup. I see him being part of a tdl deal if the jets make one
Green starts in the echl since he missed essentially a whole season. Bitetto is probably claimed off waivers when/if we try to send him down.
Sign a goalie to a pto for the backup job with the moose. Could be anyone, I signed McKenna since he provides berdin some experience.
NJ isn’t doing that trade unless WPG adds a 2nd or 3rd rd pick. NJ isn’t giving up a 4th for an overpaid 31 year old wing with 2 years left on his contract.
NJ isn’t doing that trade unless WPG adds a 2nd or 3rd rd pick. NJ isn’t giving up a 4th for an overpaid 31 year old wing with 2 years left on his contract.
NJ isn’t doing that trade unless WPG adds a 2nd or 3rd rd pick. NJ isn’t giving up a 4th for an overpaid 31 year old wing with 2 years left on his contract.
Perrault still has value he can play anywhere in the lineup and put up 30-40 points. If New Jersey dosent want him I’m sure there are 5-6 teams that would take him with a c tier prospect attached.
He’s entering his age 32 season and is about getting paid 4.1 mil for the next 2 years - he put up 31 pts in 82 games last season. He’s on the decline. There is not one team in the NHL that would give up a 2nd for him.
Perrault still has value he can play anywhere in the lineup and put up 30-40 points. If New Jersey dosent want him I’m sure there are 5-6 teams that would take him with a c tier prospect attached.
Of course he still has value, but he is about to make 4.1 mill for the next 2 years. That’s a lot for a 30 pt winger entering his age 32 season. It’s going to take more than a C tier prospect
He’s entering his age 32 season and is about getting paid 4.1 mil for the next 2 years - he put up 31 pts in 82 games last season. He’s on the decline. There is not one team in the NHL that would give up a 2nd for him.
Perreault is not declining. He was just a victim of his own versatility. He never played in one place for more than a few games and the only line he played long on was with roster plug Tanev and defensive shtudown c Lowry. I’m sorry but that isn’t great for production. He is the main reason Tanev had the season he did.
No one will give a 2nd but a c-prospect attached to him for a 4th is more than reasonable. Let’s not forget that both maata and de haan got 3rd’s
Do hey ha e someone ready for a backup role though? If hey trade dell who takes his spot. Comrie would be a great choice (California grown and starter potential).
Perreault is not declining. He was just a victim of his own versatility. He never played in one place for more than a few games and the only line he played long on was with roster plug Tanev and defensive shtudown c Lowry. I’m sorry but that isn’t great for production. He is the main reason Tanev had the season he did.
No one will give a 2nd but a c-prospect attached to him for a 4th is more than reasonable. Let’s not forget that both maata and de haan got 3rd’s
I feel like it would have been done already if teams would offer a 4th for Perrault and a prospect. Maybe a team offers a 4th if WPG retains some salary.
Maata is awful I can’t believe bowman made that trade. On the other hand, the de haan trade was a good one. De haan is an extremely reliable 2nd pairing defenseman. Very good in his own zone. The only problem is he’s injury prone.
I feel like it would have been done already if teams would offer a 4th for Perrault and a prospect. Maybe a team offers a 4th if WPG retains some salary.
Maata is awful I can’t believe bowman made that trade. On the other hand, the de haan trade was a good one. De haan is an extremely reliable 2nd pairing defenseman. Very good in his own zone. The only problem is he’s injury prone.
Why would the jets want to move Perrault, their top possession player. If laine gets bridged perreault will be kept which is why he hasn’t been traded
Perreault is also a very good defensive player. I don’t see why he would t get the same as de haan. They both are more then their production
I like the lines and the explanations
Jets should give Niku every chance to play with Buf and develop some chemistry. I wonder if they do shelter him a bit in late game situations and move NB or Kulikov up
I like the lines and the explanations
Jets should give Niku every chance to play with Buf and develop some chemistry. I wonder if they do shelter him a bit in late game situations and move NB or Kulikov up
I feel they don’t need to for niku as much as for pionk. I don’t think niku does get sheltered as his puck moving ability is a commodity and he isn’t very bad at defence either. But yes pionk and niku to some extent should be sheltered and nb or kulikov should play up in their spot, but only late in games
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