Team: 2022-23 Winnipeg Jets

Initial Creation Date: Apr. 5, 2022

Published: Apr. 5, 2022

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Based on Dom's cup contender checklist there are 12 players that are key to being a true contender and most cup winners have at least 8 of the 12 players.

I saw a twitter thread on this that I wanted to run with to see how I could load this team up for next year without adding any pieces that may allow us to be considered "contenders" based on Dom's model.

1) Elite 1C - Hope PLD continues his progress and gets there

2) Elite W - KFC

3) 1C at 2C - Can Perfetti play C? if not this could be Scheif

4) 2 more top line Wingers - Ehlers + Scheif/Perfetti

5) 2 Top 6 W - Wheeler + ? but Svech has performed as a top 6 winger when played with PLD

6) Elite 1D - JMo is performing at this level this season, barely, but he is. can he do it again?

7) 2nd pair that is a 1D and a top pair guy - Heinola/Pionk pairing perform at this level

8) Top pair guy on the 3rd pair - We don't have that but a pairing of Samberg-DeMelo could have the same result

9) Tenders - Helle (we're good there)

So that would be 9 out of 12 which would make us contenders.

Move Stanley to gain a higher ceiling RHD prospect.

I went with Samberg-DeMelo but really Dillon-DeMelo would be the same thing if we didn't want that much youth on the back end.

The real question is will we have a coach that will want to run 4 lines and coach an up tempo attacking game with heavy pressure all over the ice?

I do think that moving 55 to the wing and letting him just focus on offense fixes the shortcomings in his defensive game as he can cheat for O without being such a detriment in our own zone. We're also not sunk if Perfetti doesn't stick at C as we can move 55 back to the middle and based on the model still be legitimate contenders.

Hinges on 1) a coach that deploys personel in an optimum manner 2) not trading 55 or getting and 3) JMo needs to continue his strong play again next season.

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