Would have to be a 3rd team retaining

It would be nice to have Appleton back, but he's done nothing to be worth a comparable player and a 3rd even with retention. If a 4th or lower on its own doesn't do it, Winnipeg should walk away.

Toninato has played well, what happened to Vesalainen?

It be great to have Appleton back! But definetly for a low rounder or to dump Beaulieu. But Copp is doing well on the 2nd line so I'd keep him there. With the idea of Appleton back, I'd do the forward lines like this:

Connor - Dubois - Svech
Copp - Scheiflie - Ehlers
Stastny - Lowry - Wheeler
Vesay - Gustoff - Appleton

Harkins

Morrissey - Schmidt
Dillion - Poink
Stanley - DDM

Beaulieu

Helly
Comrie

I thought about a 4th instead of a 3rd, but I just believe getting Appleton back would be worth it. It would be powerful, and help rejuvenate the Team getting a teammate back they believe in. Appleton understands the Top 9's transition game and has been with the team for a few years, before having a strong year with Copp and Lowry. Appleton has a lot of chemistry with the Jets players and their game styles, it would definitely be worth it to get Appleton back. He'll resign at a good price too.

I think your setting yourself up for disappointment, pinning such high hopes on Appleton. The Jets finished the year badly with him, so getting him back likely won't make any difference. Guys who play less than 10 minutes a game don't have much effect on it. But at the right price, I'd be happy with him.

Gustafsson has played really good for the Jets when he played 22 games on the 4th C role at 19 yrs old. Good defensive game at 19 in the NHL. But after only able to play 4 games in 2021-2022, he was sent down to the AHL where he grew stronger offensively and strong 2 way game. Since being sent down he has 34 Points in 43 games. Gustafsson is a key piece in a Penalty Kill that is around 87.7 percent and 2nd in the AHL. Jets have a struggling PK that is around 30th. Toninato isn't gonna help with the Penalty Kill, he isn't a Penalty specialist. Gustafsson has a strong defensive 2 way game, and is very good at killing Penalties. Gus is also good at making opportunities and scoring on opportunities. Gus is ready for the NHL.

As for Vesalainen, he costs way too much and would only leave around $500K in a 22 player roster. Sending Vesalainen down allows an extra $200K that would allow a player at minimum wage, so you can have a 23 man roster ready for the playoffs. Vesalainen would also get a lot more ice time and opportunities in the AHL, he could play a lot of time with Perfetti and Heinola while they are still playing in the AHL.

Appleton is near minimum wage, and has been underutilized in a system he doesn't get enough opportunities or ice time to get used to the teams transition game. The team is still full of a lot of new players that haven't played more than a year together, and it's not on one player struggling. It could be a draining atmosphere, and the team isn't doing good... Appleton has proven he is good with the Jets players and understands the players and the System.

Sometimes you gotta be willing to pay extra to get the pieces that you're missing to finish your puzzle, either ways it wouldn't be finished. After all the pieces are together, you can see the big picture and you wouldn't have to spend anymore. Then it will be other's paying us premiums to get the Pieces they need, by then we will have other pieces that can have a different look to the Puzzle.

I think the one key thing you’re forgetting is how much of an offensive black hole Copp becomes with Lowry. The jets need him to produce, he’s become a mainstay in the top 6. Putting him back with Lowry would be a catastrophic mistake.

I think Appleton would be a good piece. But realistically he’s not going to be that much of an upgrade over what the jets currently have. He was apart of an awful PK group last year, wouldn’t make a difference on the PK, almost the same argument you make about Toninato. I’d rather see vesalainen stay with Lowry and Stastny.

I understand your idea, but it creates more problems than it solves. Copp needs to be in the top 6.

Gustafsson needs to play with the jets. He’s ready and it’s insane that he hasn’t been called up. Like you said a main piece in an extremely good Moose PK, an area jets need desperate help in. Also gives Perfetti the opportunity to take over that top C position in the AHL.

Also Jets would be smart to start extension talks with Dubois during the season.

I have no arguments against Copp... I've always believed in Copp, and believed he could get points before the 2020-2021 season. I'd be fine with Copp in top 6.

It's just Copp-Lowry-Appleton were able to play against the best and still do amazing, with a weak D last year. It's just they mix well together. Appleton has a more offensive grind that suits Copp's game, that does good with Lowry's good 2 way positioning. Along with Copp and Lowry with their strong chemistry all this time together, they were able to play against the best and still put up points. Copp got majority of his points playing outside of the Top 6 and created an Elite Top 9 that could shut down teams and out score teams with a weak D last year.

Even if we get Appleton back and he plays the 4th line RW, I think it would definitely be worth it to bring Appleton back. Make him challenge other's for the opportunities. He has a lot of Chemistry with our team game and understands our Players already having played with them for years. If Appleton is rejuvenated into an even better player than we expect, then it would only make it more rewarding.

The Pk sucks cause its extremely passive and many of the penalty killers are very slow.

The PK has looked better with defensively challenged Connor and Wheeler on it compared to supposedly defensively good Lowry and Copp, wonder why that is... 🤔

I see what you’re saying for sure, but it’s undeniable that Copp becomes an offensive black hole when he plays with Lowry. Before moving into the top 6, the most points he ever had was 28 in 82 and that was with Lowry. The jets need secondary scoring, putting Copp with Lowry immediately takes that away. He’s on pace for 63 points this year. Crushing any of his previous career bests. I just think it would be counterproductive to move him back.

I think if Appleton could be had for a 5th or even just dumping beau for him I’d do it. Because it’s worth the chance. If he doesn’t work or mesh again, they didn’t give up much.

Last season Copp got the majority of his points playing with Ehlers and Stastny.

The Canadian division sucked, not sure Appleton and Lowry have the same kind of season under normal circumstances.

It’s sad that two defensively imcompetent players are better on the PK than two “PK Specialists”.

Jets need to realize that Copp is a top 6 two way forward at this point. Not a PK specialist.

Did you know I came up with an interesting way to Trade for Boeser and Hamonic too, but we'd have to Trade Schmidt and premiums (for Boeser), Hamonic would take his spot on the Right side too. Like we could fit this into this year, even with 23 roster spots. I know Jets love getting Minnesota players, and Boeser would not be far from home. Hamonic is from Manitoba too.

Just imagine this Top 9
Connor-Dubois-Ehlers
Copp-Schiefele-Boeser
Stastny-Lowry-Wheeler

I think it is like @MisstheWhalers says, speed. Lots of teams seem to be switching to speed guys on the PK. Marner and McDavid don't PK because they're good defensively. Just like the rest of the game speed is taking over.

Too bad we have a dinosaur behind the bench.

I’d be all for the jets being in on Boeser. But I like Schmidt a lot, if there’s a way to keep both I would. Maybe someway to do Heinola with DeMelo and a pick and other pieces for Boeser and Hamonic during the off-season.

Most of the points Copp got with Stastny and Copp were on the PP, besides a small stretch of about two weeks and maybe around 7 games with about 8-9 points. That's all Copp really played with the Top 6, outside of the PP. He got majority of his points on 5on5, and he played around 40 games with Lowry and Appleton. He got majority of his points with Lowry and Appleton, so you are wrong. They also played against the other teams best and shut them down, while scoring 5on5 with a significantly weaker D.

You know, I've never been a "blame the coach" kind of guy, I always lay it more on the players. But after 8 years (or whatever it is) of the same meh PP and PK numbers, except for the Conference Finals run, with plenty of player turnover, there really is only one person left to look at, as you say.

Fully agree.

No you're wrong, Copp spent the vast majority of the 2020-21 season in the Jets top 6.

And again the Canadian division sucked, many teams were defensively challenged and Calgary had checked out by the end, Vancouver played lots with depleted talent due to Covid, Ottawa wasn't good, it was a weird year and idk if Appleton and Lowry have that year otherwise.