Set in net and along the blueline, the Winnipeg Jets should take a long, hard look at the list of available forwards on July 1.
In light of recent buyouts, the group of serviceable UFA wingers has grown this week, and it is a forgone conclusion that free agent Micheal Frolik will be taking his 19 goals elsewhere for 2015-16.
Seven Jets forwards — three centres and four right wings — are set to turn UFA on Wednesday. Whichever bodies aren’t retained must be replaced. Though diving into a bidding war for Matt Beleskey or Antoine Vermettte is not advised, here are five forwards general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff may wish to consider signing up.
Alexander Semin, RW
Bought out by Carolina, the high-risk sniper could be scooped up for a bargain-basement price. Semin has offers to play overseas, but wishes to remain in the NHL. Though he’s coming off a dismal campaign in which he only scored six goals and was a frequent healthy scratch, the 31-year-old could fill a top-six role on Winnipeg and return to his 20-goal form if not his 40-goal days.
Drew Stafford, RW
With Cheveldayoff letting Frolik walk, he would be wise to hang on to Stafford, who flourished after being traded out of Buffalo mid-season. As a Sabre, Stafford scored at a 0.48 points-per-game pace last season. In Winnipeg: 0.73. A good fit for all.
Brad Boyes, RW
A surprise last-chance buyout by the Florida Panthers, Boyes has become a bit of a shootout specialist — a commodity NHL teams should value more than they do. Sniping 44.8 per cent of his attempts, Boyes has 39 shootout goals, 12 of them game-deciders. With a bubble team like the Jets, every standings point counts.
P.A. Parenteau, RW
After an ugly Montreal homecoming — Parenteau failed to find a fit in the Canadiens lineup and was subsequently bought out. He is is looking for a short-term deal to prove himself all over again. Perhaps the winger could find a home on the right flank of fellow Quebecer Mathieu Perreault, the Jets’ sneaky-good steal from 2014’s free agent crop.
Blake Comeau, LW/RW A native of neighbouring Saskatchewan, the 29-year-old Comeau reasserted his status as a valuable role player last season in Pittsburgh, scoring 16 goals in 61 games. Comeau is versatile enough to play either wing and could fill a bottom-six role nicely, playing with the kind of sandpaper favoured by one of the league’s second-most penalized team.
