Jets Brass Turns Its Attention to the Draft and its Own Free Agents

Now that the Winnipeg Jets 2014-15 season has come to an end, the Jets brass will turn its attention to the two big responsibilities of summer – the NHL draft (June 25-26 in Sunrise, Fla.) and the re-signing of free-agent players already on the roster.

The Jets salute their fans (Photo by Jeff Miller).

The Jets have seven unrestricted free agents – forwards Drew Stafford, Michael Frolik, Jiri Tlusty, Jim Slater, TJ Galiardi, Lee Stempniak and Matt Halischuk and defenseman Adam Pardy. The team also had five restricted free agents – Eric O’Dell, Anthony Peluso, Paul Postma, Keaton Ellerby and Ben Chiarot.

The Jets also have four unrestricted free agents coming up in the summer of 2016 – Dustin Byfuglien, Andrew Ladd, Grant Clitsome and Jay Harrison. There are aso two restricted free agents – Jacob Trouba and Mark Scheifele. Will deals be made to get something in return for future free agents. These are all decisions the brass has to make between now and June 25.

Who do you sign? Who do you let go? I doubt much attention will be paid to Halischuk, Galiardi, Tlusty or Slater. O’Dell, Ellerby and Peluso are likely gone. I’m sure the Jets want to keep Stafford, Frolik, Pardy and Chiarot. Postma is a toss-up but for the right price he should remain. Same goes for Stempniak.

What is more intriguing is the 2016 group? Do you move Ladd and Byfuglien while you can still get something in return? That will be an extremely interesting discussion going forward. The Jets will certainly re-sign Scheifele and Trouba to their second NHL deals.

Meanwhile, there are still plenty of Manitoba teams and stars involved in post-season hockey at all kinds of levels. Here’s an update:

Manitobans in the Stanley Cup Playoffs

Colin Wilson, Nashville Predators.

In the Playoffs on Thursday night: Winnipeg’s Colin Wilson scored his fifth goal of the playoffs and it turned out to be the winner as the Nashville Predators went on to beat the Chicago Blackhawks 5-2. In 16 minutes and 43 seconds of ice time Wilson was plus one with one shot on goal and two blocked shots. Winnipeg’s Jonathan Toews logged 18 minutes and 42 seconds of ice time for Chicago and had two shots and four hits.

Manitobans and Jets Prospects in the AHL

The AHL playoffs began on Wednesday night. Oakbank’s Quinton Howden had an assist, was plus one and had three shots on goal but Howden’s San Antonio Rampage were whipped 5-2 by the Oklahoma City Barons.

Brandon Wheat Kings

The Scotty Munro Trophy-winning Brandon Wheat Kings will meet the Calgary Hitmen in the WHL’s Eastern Conference final. The final opens Friday night at 7:30 in Brandon. Game 2 goes Saturday night in Brandon.

Manitobans and Jets Prospects in the WHL

The WHL conference finals open Friday night.

Manitoba Junior Hockey League

Defenseman Tanner Jago (12) and goalie Justin Laforest bar the door for Portage (Photo by James Carey Lauder)

The Portage Terriers are the 2015 MJHL Champions. On Tuesday night, they raised the Turnbull Trophy, emblematic of MJHL supremacy as they went 12-0 in the playoffs.

The Terriers will now represent the MJHL at the Western Canada Cup from April 25-May 3 in Fort McMurray, Alta. The Terriers open the tournament against the Host team on Saturday, April 25 at 8:30 p.m. CDT. They’ll face Saskatchewan on Sunday, April 26 at 3:30 p.m. CDT and then meet B.C. on Tuesday, April 28 at 3:30 p.m. CDT. The Terriers will complete the round-robin portion of the tournament on Thursday, April 30 at 3:30 p.m. against Alberta. The semifinals will be held on Saturday, May 2.

We’ll continue with this update as the post-season unfolds.

Posted by: Scott Taylor for RiverCitySports.com