Jets Training Camp Preview: How will new pieces fit with existing core?

WINNIPEG – How will the pieces of this puzzle begin to take shape?

The Winnipeg Jets are just over a week away from opening training camp and the fun is about to begin.

After spending an off-season training, the players are ready to put their best foot forward and take the next steps in their journey.

And after a summer in the lab, the coaching staff is ready to dive right into the challenge of helping this group become more committed defensively.

This is a fresh start for a core group that saw substantial turnover, even if the changes weren’t quite as sweeping as predicted after exit interviews at the end of April.

Blake Wheeler spent 12 seasons with the Jets and his name is littered through the franchise record book, though that didn’t prevent the organization from buying out the final year of his contract.

Pierre-Luc Dubois was involved in a sign-and-trade deal with the Los Angeles Kings, meaning the top two lines will look quite a bit different when training camp opens.

There is still an element of uncertainty in the air, since goalies Connor Hellebuyck and Laurent Brossoit, defencemen Dylan DeMelo and Brenden Dillon, and forwards Mark Scheifele and Nino Niederreiter are all entering the new season on expiring contracts.

What we know for sure is that the Jets are planning to compete and not rebuild.

While there are some intriguing prospects in the pipeline – several of whom (such as 2023 first-rounder Colby Barlow and 2022 second-rounder Elias Solomonsson) will get their first taste of NHL training camp – the Jets are not about to embark on a youth movement.

That figures to only add to the intrigue as this edition of the Jets looks to qualify for the playoffs for a second consecutive spring and to erase the memory of a second-half swoon that ultimately led to a five-game exit against the Vegas Golden Knights.

Salary cap space: $2.54 million (according to Puck Pedia) for a 23-man roster

GM: Kevin Cheveldayoff (13th season)

Head coach: Rick Bowness (second season)

Assistant coaches: Scott Arniel (associate coach, second season), Brad Lauer (second season), Marty Johnston (second season), Wade Flaherty (goalie coach, 13th season), Matt Prefontaine (video coach, 10th season), James Cochrane (coordinator, hockey video, second season).

Unsigned players: D Declan Chisholm (RFA)

Key new additions: G Laurent Brossoit, C/RW Gabriel Vilardi, LW Alex Iafallo, C/RW Rasmus Kupari.

CAMP BATTLES

Who will be the 2C?

After the departure of Dubois, the biggest area of focus will be the second-line centre position.

Not only did Dubois provide an excellent one-two punch down the middle with Scheifele, he provided a level of physical engagement that will be difficult to replace. Not only did he produce offensively and threatened to be a 30-goal scorer for the first time in his NHL career, he frequently was involved in both drawing and taking minor penalties.

Having Niederreiter and Vladislav Namestnikov in the lineup for a full season and bringing in the likes of Iafallo and Kupari will help the Jets remain physical, and could even make them harder to play against.

Although Namestnikov could end up being involved in the battle for the 2C spot, his versatility and ability to play all three forward positions means he’s more likely to start the season on the checking line with Adam Lowry.

However, if the Jets are looking to spread out the offence over three lines, Namestnikov could enter the equation.

But the primary focus will surround 2020 first-rounder Cole Perfetti and Gabriel Vilardi, who was the centrepiece of the trade for Dubois.

Season-ending injuries in consecutive seasons have prevented Perfetti from piling up big numbers but it’s clear he has the ability to play a top-six role. The question now is going to surround whether Perfetti’s vision and hockey IQ are better suited in the middle or on the wing.

Vilardi has been used at both centre and the wing and is comfortable in both positions as well, though his size (six-foot-three, 215 pounds) might give him a leg up when it comes to handling the defensive responsibilities down low.

No matter who emerges, both Perfetti and Vilardi are going to be counted on to help offset the offence Dubois and Wheeler supplied for the top-six forward group.

This battle isn’t necessarily going to end when training camp is over and there could be plenty of moving parts as the season rolls along – especially with forward prospects Brad Lambert and Chaz Lucius trying to force themselves into the mix at some point.

How does the logjam on D get sorted out?

The Jets have eight blue-liners on one-way contracts and that number could reach nine depending on when RFA Declan Chisholm is signed.

That means the Jets have no shortage of depth on defence, but it also means they won’t have room on the roster for all of those players when the season begins. And that number doesn’t even include 2019 first-rounder Ville Heinola, who is going into the final year of his entry-level deal and is pushing to finally become an NHL regular.

The Jets also added Artemi Kniazev (who is also exempt from waivers) from the San Jose Sharks in the trade for Leon Gawanke, so there is competition on the back end – even with a number of veterans who are ahead of the prospects on the depth chart.

Josh Morrissey will be on the top pairing with DeMelo, but after that, all bets are off.

The Jets are banking on Neal Pionk returning to full health and being a minute-muncher on the second pairing. Dillon has been his regular partner and could be once again.

Nate Schmidt, who has two years remaining on his contract, figures to be on the third pair with Dylan Samberg, but all of Logan Stanley, Kyle Capobianco, Heinola, Chisholm and even Kniazev would like to disrupt the projected pairings and push for more playing time.

The Jets are expected to open the season with eight defencemen and 13 forwards, but one would suspect there could still be a trade in the works involving a blue-liner before the season begins.

ONE IMPORTANT QUESTION

Who will be the next captain?

With the departure of Wheeler, the Jets sought to spread out the leadership responsibility and provide a few more voices to step into a more prominent role.

As training camp approaches, the expectation is that the third captain in Jets 2.0 franchise history will be named before the new season begins.

Although there are plenty of individuals ready to deliver in supporting roles whether they wear a letter or not, there are two clear-cut candidates to wear the C: Morrissey and Lowry.

Both have a compelling case. They’re homegrown players who have spent their entire careers with the Jets and committed to the organization long term, with Morrissey under contract for five more seasons and Lowry for three.

They’ve been through good times and dealt with ample adversity. Both are heavily involved in the community and outstanding human beings to go along with their on-ice ability. There is no wrong choice here and the player who doesn’t get the C will continue to be an alternate captain who will lead and provide support.

PROJECTED LINEUP

Kyle Connor-Mark Scheifele-Nikolaj Ehlers

Cole Perfetti-Gabriel Vilardi-Nino Niederreiter

Alex Iafallo-Adam Lowry-Vladislav Namestnikov

Morgan Barron-Rasmus Kupari-Mason Appleton

Jeffrey Viel-David Gustafsson-Jansen Harkins

Josh Morrissey-Dylan DeMelo

Brenden Dillon-Neal Pionk

Dylan Samberg-Nate Schmidt

Logan Stanley-Declan Chisholm

Ville Heinola-Kyle Capobianco

Connor Hellebuyck

Laurent Brossoit