Despite Wheeler buyout, Jets’ Cheveldayoff still facing unknowns in free agency

WINNIPEG — It’s hard to precisely pin down which aisle Kevin Cheveldayoff will be shopping in when you’re not exactly sure which holes the general manager of the Winnipeg Jets is actually going to need to fill.

Free agency has rarely been a place where the Jets have been overly active when it comes to big-ticket items — and that figures to be the case once again, though that expectation includes an important caveat this time around.

It’s still unknown whether Cheveldayoff is going to be in the market for a top-line centre to plug into his top six or a starting goalie, though we know for sure that he’s going to be searching for a new backup via trade or free agency.

Although Cheveldayoff got the attention of the hockey world earlier this week by making a smart deal sending centre Pierre-Luc Dubois to the Los Angeles Kings for four pieces that include forwards Gabe Vilardi, Alex Iafallo and Rasmus Kupari and a 2024 second-rounder that could be in the first 10 picks (since it originally belonged to the Montreal Canadiens), the expected flurry of activity that was expected to follow did not transpire.

At least not yet.

Though the Jets put the wheels in motion to buyout longtime right-winger and former captain Blake Wheeler on Friday by placing him on unconditional waivers, things have been relatively quiet as it pertains to goalie Connor Hellebuyck and centre Mark Scheifele.

While it’s been easy to identify potential suitors, to this point those prospective teams haven’t been able to entice Cheveldayoff with an offer that has tempted him.

Now that Tyler Bertuzzi is planning to test free agency, does that mean the Boston Bruins might step up their potential pursuit of Scheifele, who posted a career-high 42 goals last season after producing six consecutive campaigns of point-per-game or better?

And now that New Jersey Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald has locked down a long-term deal with forward Timo Meier and made a trade to bring in two-time Stanley Cup winner Tyler Toffoli, might that mean he’s ready to turn his attention to upgrading the goalie position by taking a run at Hellebuyck?

It’s entirely possible, on both fronts.

As for the Wheeler departure, it’s a significant development, even if it was highly anticipated.

After searching for a trade partner, the Jets ultimately determined to go with the buyout route, which spreads $5.5 million over two seasons and brings a $2.75 million cap hit for him to not play for the team and was the best way for both sides to move on.

Once he clears waivers, Wheeler will become an unrestricted free agent and you can expect him to look for an opportunity with a contender.

Wheeler spent the past 12 seasons with the Jets after joining the Atlanta Thrashers in a trade with the Boston Bruins and leaves the organization as the franchise leader in games played (897), points (812), assists (550) and his 262 goals leave him third on the list.

In a video released by the Jets, Wheeler expressed his gratitude, while Cheveldayoff thanked the entire family for their contributions to the community at large, along with pointing out the impact the Minnesota product had on the organization.

It’s unclear whether the Jets will look for an internal candidate to slide into Wheeler’s role in the top-six or if someone will be pursued in a trade or on the open market.

Now that the 2023 NHL Draft is in the rearview mirror, free agency is the next item on the docket and with just one day in between — though it’s important to note that there aren’t as many high-profile names on the list as in prior years.

Several players are expected to enhance that list as the deadline to disperse qualifying offers passes on Friday, but trade talks are also expected to heat up for the Jets and many other teams around the NHL.

Getting a resolution to the Dubois situation was a big relief for Cheveldayoff and he’s received plenty of praise for his ability to extract a significant return.

But he still needs to change the mix and upgrade the defence corps that is a bit crowded, while also looking for some additional complementary scoring up front, even if he’s comfortable moving deeper into the summer or even starting the season with Hellebuyck and Scheifele on the roster.

The Jets pending unrestricted free agents include forwards Vladislav Namestnikov, Sam Gagner, Saku Maenalanen, Karson Kuhlman, Axel Jonsson-Fjallby and backup goalie David Rittich.

Namestnikov is a candidate to return and conceded during the opening round of the series with the Vegas Golden Knights that he is someone who is looking for a bit more stability after bouncing around the past several seasons as a popular trade-deadline pickup.

Retaining his services would give the Jets an additional option at centre, along with someone who has shown nice chemistry with Nikolaj Ehlers, who is ready for additional ice time and responsibility.

The list of restricted free agents includes Vilardi, Kupari, fellow forward Morgan Barron and defencemen Logan Stanley and Dylan Samberg, who represented the United States at the 2023 IIHF men’s world hockey championship.

Looking ahead to next summer, the list of pending UFAs includes defencemen Brenden Dillon and Dylan DeMelo and winger Nino Niederreiter — all of whom would be candidates for an extension on July 1.

“You’ve got your own RFA situations where you sometimes have to bridge a player, but is that always the best thing or go long-term? That’s where I think the free agency situation, it ebbs and flows,” Cheveldayoff told reporters in Nashville at the NHL Draft. “A lot of teams (are) trying to lock up players as long as they can. Some players want to get locked up and some players don’t.”

One of Cheveldayoff’s best free agent signings came back in 2014, when he inked versatile forward Mathieu Perreault to a three-year deal worth $9 million after he did not receive a qualifying offer from the Anaheim Ducks.

Perreault ended up spending seven mostly productive seasons and became the human jumper cables for his ability to provide a boost to any line that he played on.

With Ivan Barbashev deciding to re-up with the Golden Knights on Wednesday on a five-year deal worth $25 million ($5 million AAV), let’s take a look at a few players who might be on the Jets’ radar when signing season opens.

G Joonas Korpisalo — His stock is on the rise after a strong showing with the Kings following a trade deadline deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Although he encountered some rocky moments in the playoff series against the Edmonton Oilers, Korpisalo is a candidate to be the Jets’ next starter if Hellebuyck is eventually moved before he can become a UFA in the summer of 2024. Perhaps a three-or-four year deal could entice Korpisalo to be the highest profile goalie addition since Steve Mason joined the Jets from the Philadelphia Flyers on a two-year pact in the summer of 2017.

G Alex Lyon — The 30 year old helped save the Florida Panthers season, stealing the starting job from Sergei Bobrovsky during the stretch run, suiting up 15 games before starting the first two games of the opening round series against the Boston Bruins. A .914 save percentage last season was the highest of his NHL career, which includes a 3.02 goals-against average and .904 save percentage in 39 games. He would be a candidate for the backup job.

D Matt Dumba — After spending his entire career with the Minnesota Wild after being chosen seventh overall in the 2012 NHL Draft, he’s about to become a salary-cap casualty. Adding Dumba to the Jets would spice up what is already a fun geographical rivalry, not to mention his skill set and character to a blue line that could use an additional right-handed shooter that plays with an edge and can produce some offence.

D Scott Mayfield — Speaking of providing some stiffness on the back end, Mayfield was a glue guy on those New York Islanders that pushed the Tampa Bay Lightning. The right-handed shooting blue-liner will be 31 years old in October but picked a perfect time for his best offensive season (six goals, 24 points while appearing in all 82 games). He’s appeared in 56 playoff games with the Islanders and is going to get a raise from the five-year $7.25 million deal he signed in 2018 that carried an AAV of $1.45 million.

D Carson Soucy — Although the Jets need to alleviate the logjam on the left side, this physical blue-liner could fit well after what was a strong season with the Seattle Kraken. The Jets are also familiar with him from his time with the Wild. It will be interesting to see the price tag. Although he doesn’t produce much offence, he’s likely to get a bump after finishing a deal that had an AAV of $2.75 million, but a $3.5 million salary.

C J.T. Compher — Would immediately bring Stanley Cup pedigree after helping the Colorado Avalanche capture the title in 2022. The 28 year old produced a career-high 51 points after being elevated into a second-line role and is used in all situations. He was a linemate of Kyle Connor at the University of Michigan and is due for a significant raise after finishing a four-year, $14 million contract that carried an AAV of $3.5 million.

RW/LW Connor Brown — The energetic winger is coming off a knee injury that limited him to just four games last season with the Washington Capitals. Plenty of projections have him being reunited with Erie Otters teammate Connor McDavid with the Oilers — especially after a deal with the Detroit Red Wings cleared some valuable cap space. Brown is a responsible, two-way player that has a pair of 20-goal seasons on his resume, one with the Ottawa Senators and another with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He can kill penalties and excel up and down the lineup.

C/LW Max Domi — Coming off a strong season that was split between the Dallas Stars and Chicago Blackhawks, the 28 year old is looking for a multiyear deal after bouncing around a bit. Domi has recorded two 20-goal seasons in his career and also has the ability to get under the skin of his opponent. The Jets interest in Domi dates back to the 2013 NHL Draft, when he was chosen 12th overall by the Arizona Coyotes, right before Winnipeg got defenceman Josh Morrissey.

F Evan Rodgrigues — The ability to play wing or centre is an obvious bonus for the 29 year old who boosted his stock after betting on himself on a one-year deal with the Avalanche late last summer, delivering 16 goals and 39 points while playing a middle-six role.

LW Max Comtois — The Anaheim Ducks second-rounder in 2018 is itching for a fresh start after two tough seasons. He did manage to record a career-best 16 goals and 33 points in 55 games during the 2021 season, but hasn’t been close to those numbers since. Comtois would bring some speed and size and could provide some secondary scoring in the right situation.

F Oskar Sundqvist — A hard-nosed player with three double-digit goal-scoring seasons during his career, he won a Stanley Cup with the St. Louis Blues in 2019. A bottom-six guy who can play either centre or wing and is right-handed. Should fall into the cost-efficient category