Jets pride in his ride
If you have been to any of the Winnipeg Jets' Whiteout parties held this spring at True North Square, chances are you've come across a two-door Chevrolet Vega station wagon fully decked out with Jets decals, flags, goalie masks… even a life-size replica of the National Hockey League's championship trophy.
The vehicle in question belongs to Dan Nolin, a grandfather of two who, ahead of every Jets home playoff game, has been making the 25-kilometre trip downtown from his home in Grande Pointe to show off his set of wheels to Jets fans, sure, but also to some of Winnipeg's finest.
BROOK JONES/FREE PRESS
Jets fan Dan Nolin , 66, displays his two replica flight helmets on his 1971 Chevy Vega wagon.
BROOK JONES/FREE PRESS
Jets fan Dan Nolin , 66, displays his two replica flight helmets on his 1971 Chevy Vega wagon.
A few hours before Game 1 of the Jets' first-round series versus the St. Louis Blues, Nolin was driving west along Portage Avenue. As he approached Canada Life Centre, he was pulled over by a police cruiser that had been tailing the Jets-centric Vega for a couple of blocks.
'The cop who stopped me had a few questions about my siren, which I installed on the roof before the 2023 playoffs,' Nolin says, seated in a Southdale coffee shop the morning after the Jets eliminated the Blues in a Game 7 nail-biter that just so happened to coincide with his 66th birthday. ('All I want for my b-day is a Jets win,' declared a homemade sign Nolin, the owner of an insulation company, brought along to the festivities.)
'Mainly he wanted to warn me about firing up the siren in traffic, which could obviously cause confusion for other drivers. I told him I was very aware of that to which he said 'great.' Then he smiled and said on the other hand, any time I wanted to park and let 'er rip, that was perfectly fine with him and his fellow officers.'
Nolin didn't have the Jets in mind 12 years ago when he spotted an ad on Kijiji for a 1971 Chevy Vega, the exact type of automobile he had as an 18-year-old, before it was totalled in an accident. He contacted the owner, only to be informed the car likely wouldn't start, as it had been sitting in a garage for 14 years.
No worries, Nolin responded. If he couldn't get the engine to turn over, he knew 'a guy' who would.
BROOK JONES/FREE PRESS
Nolin purchased the 1971 Chevrolet Vega 12 years ago for $6,500, and has since put another $5,000 into the classic car.
BROOK JONES/FREE PRESS
Nolin purchased the 1971 Chevrolet Vega 12 years ago for $6,500, and has since put another $5,000 into the classic car.
'It didn't have a speck of rust on it and I ended up getting it for $6,500,' says Nolin, who has since sunk another $5,000 into the vehicle, including having a hole expertly cut into the hood to display a pair of shiny four-barrel carburetors.
'Not that I'm selling it, but there is a Vega on the market right now that's not even close to mine condition-wise that's commanding 30 grand.'
For the first couple of years he had it, Nolin, who also tools around in a 1957 Ford Thames and a vintage Pontiac Astre, drove the Vega in the summer months only. However in the spring of 2015, the first year the current iteration of the Jets qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs, he brought it out earlier than usual, hoping it might prove to be a good-luck charm for the club.
BROOK JONES/FREE PRESS
Nolin's ride clearly displays the ultimate goal for the Jets' playoff run this year.
BROOK JONES/FREE PRESS
Nolin's ride clearly displays the ultimate goal for the Jets' playoff run this year.
'What happened was a buddy of mine had given me a Jets licence plate and because the car is blue — though some people argue it's turquoise — like the Jets (home) jerseys, I thought why not throw a few Jets things on it and parade around in it on game days, honking my horn,' says Nolin, who, in his younger days, patrolled the blue line for the St. Boniface Saints.
So what if the Jets were swept by the Anaheim Ducks four games to zip that April? That didn't dissuade Nolin from rolling what some had started to call the Jets-mobile out again three years later, when the team made the playoffs for the second time, after finishing second overall in the league, three points behind the Nashville Predators.
The Jets advanced all the way to the Western Conference final that year. As the victories piled up, so did the number of decorations adorning Nolin's ride. (To be clear, all of the crests, placards and so forth are held in place with magnets, so as not to ruin the car's finish.)
'It was getting kind of dicey there for a while, as I added more and more stuff. I remember driving down (Highway) 59, doing 90 clicks, watching in the rearview mirror to see if anything was blowing off or not.'
In late March, a representative from True North Sports + Entertainment reached out to Nolin to see if he was interested in becoming an official part of this year's game-day goings-on at True North Square. He was even invited to a press conference to announce the return of the Whiteout parties, a get-together he almost missed entirely owing to an oversight on his part.
The press conference was scheduled for 10 a.m. on April 8. Except as he was preparing to hit the hay the night before, he suddenly realized he had neglected to change the MPI coverage on his car from storage to active. He raced to an insurance agent first thing in the morning, and explained the urgency of the situation. The agent, an admitted Jets fan, completed the necessary paperwork in a matter of minutes, fast enough that Nolin was able to make it to Hargrave Street in time to drive behind a limo carrying the press conference's guests of honour, Jets mascots Mick E. Moose and Benny.
TREVOR HAGAN / FREE PRESS FILES
Nolin first decked out his Vega in Jets paraphernalia in spring 2015 as a good-luck charm for the returned team's first-ever NHL playoff series.
TREVOR HAGAN / FREE PRESS FILES
Nolin first decked out his Vega in Jets paraphernalia in spring 2015 as a good-luck charm for the returned team's first-ever NHL playoff series.
Nolin, who has been arriving at Whiteout soirées sporting white trousers paired with a Jets blazer and white crash helmet, can't count the number of people who've begged him to take them for a spin before puck drop. One of those requests came from Rob Psaila, a resident of Melbourne, Australia who travelled 15,000 kilometres to cheer on the Jets in games 1 and 2 of the Blues series.
BROOK JONES / FREE PRESS FILES
Nolin usually attends Whiteout soirées sporting white trousers paired with a Jets blazer and white crash helmet.
BROOK JONES / FREE PRESS FILES
Nolin usually attends Whiteout soirées sporting white trousers paired with a Jets blazer and white crash helmet.
'I also ran into two guys from Minnesota who told me I absolutely had to bring my car to St. Paul one day, maybe during the regular season,' says Nolin, mentioning he does have a 40-foot tri-axle trailer that attaches to his work truck, which means there's no reason he can't haul the Vega to an away game, perhaps in Edmonton, if the Jets continue to advance through the playoffs.
'I'm not currently travelling to the States because of you-know-who, but yeah, an all-Canadian western final would be something else, right?' he says.
One more thing: if you're thinking Nolin is watching Jets games downtown with one eye on the big screen and another on his car, to make sure nobody's snatching a Mick E. Moose stuffie or mini hockey stick-as-windshield wiper, think again.
Nolin is pleased to report that everybody who stops to admire the car — a combination of people headed into the rink as well as those attending the street parties or on their way home to catch the action on TV — have had the utmost respect for his ongoing project.
'The folks at True North told me they'd give me a special place to park, but I was like, 'no, I'm not going to need that,'' he says, polishing off the last of his coffee.
'Seriously, from the reactions I've received — all 100 per cent positive — I get the feeling I could leave it overnight in any part of town and nothing's going to happen to it, what with everybody currently pulling for the Jets so hard.'
BROOK JONES/FREE PRESS
Nolin can't count the number of people who've begged him to take them for a spin before puck drop.
BROOK JONES/FREE PRESS
Nolin can't count the number of people who've begged him to take them for a spin before puck drop.
david.sanderson@freepress.mb.ca
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Dave Sanderson was born in Regina but please, don't hold that against him.
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- Winnipeg Free Press
Jets mailbag: Dog days of summer edition
The draft is done. So is development camp. Free agency — never much of a frenzy to begin with — has mostly wrapped up, too. Now? We've officially entered the NHL's dog days of summer. But that doesn't mean interest in the Winnipeg Jets is drying up. Quite the opposite, in fact. Our monthly mailbag is overflowing with questions about the state of the roster — and what the reigning Presidents' Trophy winners might do for an encore. Let's dig in: Karl DeBlaker / The Associated Press Files Nikolaj Ehlers informed the Winnipeg Jets he wasn't coming back on July 2, the day before he officially agreed to terms with the Carolina Hurricanes. Karl DeBlaker / The Associated Press Files Nikolaj Ehlers informed the Winnipeg Jets he wasn't coming back on July 2, the day before he officially agreed to terms with the Carolina Hurricanes. 1. If Mark Chipman and Kevin Cheveldayoff knew that Nikolaj Ehlers wasn't coming back, why didn't they go after some UFAs on Day 1? By the time he dawdled about not coming back, it was too late. Was that his revenge on the team that didn't utilize him properly for years? @raber48837441 Senior WIEBE: During the press conference, Cheveldayoff said that Ehlers informed the team he wasn't coming back on July 2, the day before he officially agreed to terms with the Carolina Hurricanes. That didn't prevent the Jets from taking a big swing on Day 1 at bringing in right-winger Brock Boeser, but he never really wanted to leave the Vancouver Canucks, so he stayed. The Jets also made an offer to middle-six winger Andrew Mangiapane, but he took a bit less money for the opportunity to potentially ride shotgun with one of Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl. Mikael Granlund got a three-year deal with an AAV of $7 million and that was probably too steep a price for the Jets at this stage of his career, even with his versatility of being able to play centre or wing. The Jets are rarely big players on July 1, so it had nothing to do with Ehlers' delay in his decision and revenge wasn't a factor, no. The Jets took care of defenceman Haydn Fleury before free agency opened, agreed to terms with Jonathan Toews before July 1, then added three NHL forwards and a bunch of important depth pieces – some of whom will compete for jobs on opening night – in the first two days of free agency. A good chunk of Cheveldayoff's work revolves around getting three restricted free agents – Dylan Samberg, Gabe Vilardi and Morgan Barron – inked to new deals and nailing down extensions for Kyle Connor and Adam Lowry. Outside of landing a big fish like Boeser, the Jets were always going to have to replace most of Ehlers' production by committee. 2. Is this team acting with the due aggression of a Presidents' Trophy winner? What urgency have they shown towards bettering their playoff outcomes? Or are they just accepting big free agents don't come to Winnipeg and not exploring trades for young or offer sheets? @mennoknight427 MCINTYRE: No doubt folks hoping for some summer 'shock and awe' have been disappointed so far. But it's important to remember the roster of mid-July is far from a finished product for a team that not only hopes to be playing hockey into next June, but now expects that to be the case. John Locher / The Associated Press Files Nashville Predators general manager, Barry Trotz. John Locher / The Associated Press Files Nashville Predators general manager, Barry Trotz. In other words, there's plenty of time. And money, with the Jets not backing themselves into a financial corner by handing out any big-ticket, big-term deals in free agency. I recently saw an interview with Nashville GM Barry Trotz who poked plenty of fun at himself when he reminded reporters that he allegedly 'won July 1 last year.' 'How did that turn out?' Trotz said in his follow-up. I'm not ready to declare this a disaster — or anything close to that — until they start to play the games next fall, we see what holes might exist and then how quickly they might get filled. If there's anything to be learned from the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers, it really is all about playing the long game. 3. In the future, do you think the Jets will be more aggressive with players well early of UFA opening on July 1. Obviously with no Cup this year, hindsight is 20/20 and trading Nikolaj Ehlers at the deadline would have been advantageous, but they were still deep in the fight and had a good chance to go along with camaraderie and belief. Do you think the Jets in the future will be more aggressive to sign early – and trade if not done in time to maximize their returns, especially since they need to rely on draft-and-develop generally more than other teams? Losing Ehlers for nothing is brutal. PATRICK WIEBE: Recency bias is also a major factor in this question. In October of 2023, the Jets signed Mark Scheifele and Connor Hellebuyck to extensions to ensure both players would be sticking around, essentially ensuring the window of opportunity would remain open – or widen – depending on your point of view. Nino Niederreiter got a three-year extension in December of 2023 to avoid letting him hit the open market. After the trade deadline, but during the season, the Jets signed defenceman Neal Pionk, centre Vladislav Namestnikov and Alex Iafallo to extensions well before they could hit the market on July 1. Matt Slocum / The Associated Press Files The Winnipeg Jets signed Nino Niederreiter to a three-year contract extension in December of 2023 to avoid letting him hit the open market at the end of that season. Matt Slocum / The Associated Press Files The Winnipeg Jets signed Nino Niederreiter to a three-year contract extension in December of 2023 to avoid letting him hit the open market at the end of that season. Fleury inking a two-year extension makes it seven players the Jets were aggressive with in the last two seasons alone and that number could hit nine once Connor and Lowry extend. As to your point about trading Ehlers being advantageous, a team in win-now mode doesn't often consider moving on from one of its most productive forwards. Even after missing 13 games due to injury, Ehlers was third in scoring with 63 points in 69 games – and 22 of those points came on the league-leading power play. So trading Ehlers for futures would have been problematic, not advantageous. Unless there was a deal that brought in present value and futures – like the Hurricanes did in the Mikko Rantanen-Logan Stankoven swap that also brought a pair of first-round draft picks to Carolina – this would not have even been a consideration. And the reason the return was that big was that an extension for Rantanen was looking likely because playing in Dallas was a priority after his tumultuous departure from the Colorado Avalanche. The Jets couldn't afford to trade Ehlers for futures because they didn't have an internal option that would have softened the blow of him leaving – and there weren't a lot of players available at the deadline that would have been a reasonable replacement. Asset management has become a popular area for folks to weigh in on, but getting 10 productive seasons – including eight 20-goal campaigns – is not losing a player for nothing. It's a long run and another example of the draft, development and retention model that was mentioned earlier. Most of the teams that move out assets like Ehlers at the deadline aren't teams that consider themselves to be true Stanley Cup contenders. The Avalanche are a notable exception this season, but they also rolled the dice with Martin Necas only having one more year on his contract than Rantanen had, but it wasn't necessarily a sign of the times that teams are going to start moving in this direction. As I've said before, sometimes keeping pending UFAs is the cost of doing business when you're trying to win. Panthers fans certainly weren't calling for Bill Zito to trade Sam Bennett before the deadline and that move worked out okay for them. Only one team out of 32 wins, so it's easy to lean on that 20/20 hindsight. 4. With Nikolaj Ehlers leaving does the team have any interest whatsoever in starting a rebuild next year? Or are they going to run it back for the next six years until Connor Hellebuyck and Mark Scheifele retire? @WPGJ0CUPS MCINTYRE: There will be no rebuild. Or anything resembling one. Let's not forget the Jets were the No. 1 team in the regular season just last year and will be returning the vast majority of the same players. Why would any organization in that situation want to even consider pulling the proverbial plug at this point? Re-tool or re-load? Absolutely, especially after losing someone like Ehlers. But when you have the reigning Hart (and Vezina) Trophy winner in net, a true top centre like Scheifele, a true No. 1 defenceman like Josh Morrissey, a true sniper like Connor and plenty of other depth and character and talent on the roster, you remain very much in 'win now' mode. The Canadian Press Files The Toronto Maple Leafs traded forward Mitch Marner to the Vegas Golden Knights before the UFA hit the open market in NHL free agency. The Canadian Press Files The Toronto Maple Leafs traded forward Mitch Marner to the Vegas Golden Knights before the UFA hit the open market in NHL free agency. 5. The Toronto Maple Leafs did a sign and trade with Mitch Marner and got Nicolas Roy back. Why did the Jets not do this with Nikolaj Ehlers to get something back? Would it be something they tried to do but perhaps the Carolina Hurricanes weren't interested in? Or would it be up to Ehlers, maybe not knowing exactly what he wanted prior to July 1? RYAN WIEBE: Trading a players' pending UFA rights can be a complicated scenario. You have to give credit to Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving for getting a versatile forward like Roy back in this situation. But the Golden Knights were also going to need to shed salary with Marner coming in, so this is one of those times where it was a favourable situation for both teams. But when you zoom out, the value is often tough to determine – and in few cases is the player set on one situation. Marner was clearly locked in on joining the Golden Knights, even though he was going to attract interest from a number of teams if he hit the open market. For Ehlers, the situation was more cloudy. While the Hurricanes probably made the most sense from the beginning, part of the appeal for Ehlers becoming a UFA for the first time was finding out what offers were out there but also how teams viewed his role. That's why he needed to go through the process of essentially interviewing those teams making serious offers. Cheveldayoff was asked about potentially moving his rights, but you've got to remember he said previously that his intention was to make Ehlers a 'lifelong Jet' so that was the priority. 'Maybe you could have,' he said. 'My focus was always on the shorter term side of things, not necessarily on the longer term side.' As for the last part of the question, conversations between the teams and the players' representatives would play a role in moving a players rights. But the only benefit it truly provides is to give the team acquiring that player's rights a little extra time to negotiate before other teams have an opportunity to do so. With so many players coming off the market before July 1, things also were a bit more complex as well. Since the Hurricanes had so much cap space available to them, they probably felt comfortable that they could win a bidding war if they needed to – so it would reduce the need to give up an asset to get a head start on the negotiation process. 6. Will Scott Arniel play all of the random guys the Jets picked up with hopes one or two might fit or stick with the Jets and send all of the younger guys directly to the American Hockey League or junior or will they try the young guys during the pre-season and see if some of them stick? My thinking is to give the young guys a chance and see if one or two can make it. STUART John Locher / The Associated Press Files Forward Gustav Nyquist is the most likely candidate to play on the wing beside Jonathan Toews when the season starts. John Locher / The Associated Press Files Forward Gustav Nyquist is the most likely candidate to play on the wing beside Jonathan Toews when the season starts. MCINTYRE: I'm breaking this answer into two parts, because I view the four players Winnipeg has signed to NHL deals with a slightly different lens. Jonathan Toews and Gustav Nyquist are almost certain to at least start the year in the top six, especially with Lowry sidelined with injury and not expected back until late October at the earliest and late November at the latest. Cole Koepke and Tanner Pearson are bottom-six type adds, although I imagine Arniel will give them opportunities to crack the opening-night roster. But there should be plenty of stiff competition, especially with plenty of young players knocking on the door. Don't forget, there are at least three forward spots up for grabs with the departures of Ehlers, Mason Appleton and Brandon Tanev, and four if you include Lowry – at least off the hop. I don't expect all the answers will come by the end of training camp and the six-game preseason slate, so the actual shape of the roster — especially given Lowry's absence — likely will be a work-in-progress through the opening weeks of the year. 7. Do you think the Jets tried for a two-year contract with Jonathan Toews? If his comeback is successful, do you see him leaving after a year? BARRY WIEBE: Since there's really no playbook for athletes to come back to what Toews went through on the health front, a one-year deal is what both sides wanted in this situation and it's why bonuses were so prevalent in the contract. However, if things go well, it wouldn't be a surprise for Toews to want to play another season in the NHL. When you've had the game taken away from you the way that he has, there will be an appetite to keep going. Given how passionate Toews was in talking about the opportunity to play for his hometown team, signing another deal with the Jets would seem to be the most likely outcome. While it's true that Father Time is undefeated, the play of fellow 37-year-old Brad Marchand (who just signed a six-year extension with the Florida Panthers) and 40-year-old Corey Perry are two examples of players still playing at a high level late into their Hall of Fame careers. Given the interest in Toews' services this summer, you can be sure that other teams would be interested again. But, the Jets should be the front-runner to keep him in the fold. Ruth Bonneville / Free Press Files Jonathan Toews and General Manager Kevin Cheveldayoff at the July 4th press conference announcing Toews' signing with the Winnipeg Jets. Ruth Bonneville / Free Press Files Jonathan Toews and General Manager Kevin Cheveldayoff at the July 4th press conference announcing Toews' signing with the Winnipeg Jets. 8. Do you think the Jets will consider a load management approach with Jonathan Toews? The goal should be to have him at his best and healthiest come May, with less focus on October. DARREN MCINTYRE: No question less might be more with Toews, especially as he gets his feet under him following a two-year hiatus. And I suspect the Jets, like all NHL teams, are going to face quite a compacted schedule when it's released next Wednesday due to the lengthy Olympics break. Plenty of back-to-backs and three games in four nights along the way. For those reasons, it wouldn't surprise me to see a cautious approach taken by Toews and the team with perhaps a few nights off in the early stages. Ultimately it's going to come down to how he feels and that's something I'd expect to be monitored extremely closely all season long. As you rightfully point out, a healthy and productive Toews next spring will be a lot more important than one during the fall and winter. 9. In your opinion, what's left for the Jets to accomplish this offseason? ED WIEBE: My story on Thursday was about taking stock of what's happened so far and what could be on the horizon, but there's always a chance that something else might pop up. Contract talks for five prominent players remains the priority for Cheveldayoff, though those deals shouldn't end up being acrimonious. Those thinking the Jets have an abundance of cap space to fill should be reminded that the bulk of that $18 million and change will be used on Samberg, Vilardi and Barron. Even with a rising cap, the new deals for Connor and Lowry are also part of the equation. Eliminating the logjam on defence is also something that could occur at any point, though the Jets could see some value in entering training camp with a surplus and then moving a player from a position of strength if another team needs an injury replacement. Ville Heinola appears to be the most likely candidate to be moved out, but determining his value has been complicated by his limited playing time and ankle issues during the past several seasons. 10. Do you see any scenario to improve that slot beside Jonathan Toews and Cole Perfetti? Or is the writing on the wall until trade deadline that it will be Gustav Nyquist? JAMEON MCINTYRE: While I expect Nyquist to get the first look in that spot, I wouldn't say it's etched in stone. Whether it's someone like Niederreiter, Iafallo or even Namestnikov or Barron getting a look on the wing or a young player like Brad Lambert or Nikita Chibrikov forcing some tough decisions, I think there will be plenty of options in play. I do have some concerns about the overall speed of a Nyquist-Toews-Perfetti trio but am intrigued to see what two veterans can do beside a rising star. And, as you mentioned, the trade deadline is where holes in the roster will need to be addressed. It's certainly looking like the Jets will have plenty of financial flexibility which they could weaponize barring any other moves this summer. 11. Where has the draft and development strategy gone for the Jets? Who/when will the next prospect be able to successfully crack this roster to build the team for the future? @DugFill WIEBE: Given where they are in their winning window, there is a bit of give and take when it comes to the draft and development model, as the Jets have been willing in recent years to move out draft capital for players that can help them win now. To your point, not many of the incoming players have decided to stick around since Dylan DeMelo. However, recency bias is also a factor here. Perfetti, co-author of the Manitoba Miracle in Game 7, is the most recent drafted player to earn regular playing time and he's coming off a breakout season. The 10th overall pick in 2020 is poised for an even bigger role with the departure of Ehlers. John Woods / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Forward Brad Lambert has the best chance to make the Jets out of training camp. John Woods / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Forward Brad Lambert has the best chance to make the Jets out of training camp. There's still plenty of homegrown talent playing significant minutes – including Scheifele, Connor, Lowry, Morrissey, Samberg and Hellebuyck. Other drafted and developed players on the current roster include Eric Comrie, David Gustafsson, Logan Stanley and Heinola – though a trade might send out one of the two D-men. Back to the original question, Lambert has the best chance to make the Jets out of training camp and could be looking at shifting back to the wing, while Chibrikov has shown well in a small sample size and is still on the mend after an ankle injury ended his season. Brayden Yager is ready to start his pro hockey journey and could push for his first NHL action before the season is over, while Elias Salomonsson is hoping to make it difficult on the coaching staff when it comes to snatching a spot on the opening-night roster. While it's possible there's at least one player in this category by October, it's likely to happen early in 2026. By next season, Salomonsson, Lambert and Yager should all be there – with Colby Barlow pushing not far behind and 2025 first-rounder Sascha Boumedienne starting to work his way into the discussion. The prospect pool is getting deeper and that's something the Jets needed when you look at the bulk of the core group. 12. I have a prediction, Jonathan Toews is solely a PR move to attract season ticket holders. This said, he will attend training camp and pre-season but he will not play one regular season game. Time away, plus medical will be the reason. K BROWN MCINTYRE: I don't see a question here, but I wanted to include this anyways because it is, in a word, hogwash. While the addition of Toews is certainly looking like a solid off-ice move, there's less than zero per cent chance that this is all some elaborate stunt. Toews, a truly proud athlete, would want no part of something like that. Nor would the Jets want to end up with egg on their face. Could this ultimately not work out? Of course. There's a degree of risk here, although I'd say it's mostly mitigated by the way Toews' contract has been structured. But the potential reward outweighs any of that, which is why plenty of other teams in addition to Winnipeg were in the mix for his services. Gareth Patterson / The Associated Press Files Left wing Kyle Connor is in need of a third contract with the Winnipeg Jets. Gareth Patterson / The Associated Press Files Left wing Kyle Connor is in need of a third contract with the Winnipeg Jets. 13. What is the likelihood of a Kyle Connor extension before opening night? CRAIG WIEBE: This one is a bit difficult to navigate – and not because there isn't an impetus for both sides to get one done. Connor is in need of a third contract with the Jets and the last one took a bit of time to sort through, with the smooth-skating sniper missing all of training camp – along with Patrik Laine – before inking the seven-year contract that expires on July 1 of 2026. There's no doubt Connor has lived up to his end of the current deal (AAV of $7.142 million), with goal totals of 38, 26 (in 56 games during the shortened season), 47, 31, 34 (in 61 games) and 41 during that stretch of time. Connor is set for another raise and is in position to ink the biggest contract in franchise history, with some projections suggesting his AAV could be north of $10 million – given his production and the rising salary cap. Connor holds ample leverage in the negotiation, especially after Ehlers moved on in free agency. The Jets would be thrilled to have the deal completed before opening night, but if they don't, it doesn't mean that the negotiation has gone sour – it merely raises the urgency level. For Connor, he rarely lets things bother him, so it's highly unlikely his play would be impacted if the deal isn't done – but having the contract taken care of prior to the season is probably in the best interest of both parties. On the flip side, David Pastrnak signed his eight-year extension with the Boston Bruins in early March of 2023, just a few months before he was eligible to hit the open market, so there's a chance this could drag on into the season – and not be a sign of imminent danger. 14. With the majority of the NHL looking for a second-line centerman, why can't Gabe Vilardi slide down to 2C, and have internal auditions for 1st RW duties? MARTIN MCINTYRE: It's a good question, and one I've wondered about myself at times. Bottom line? It comes down to comfort and fit, both in how Vilardi plays on the top line wing beside Scheifele and Connor, but also about how he'd work over the long-term as a centre. Vilardi hasn't looked out of place at all during brief fill-in stints, but you also have to keep in mind there are additional physical responsibilities at that position which may ultimately be a detriment to someone like Vilardi who has battled plenty of injuries over his young career. I think the Jets feel that keeping him on the wing is the best way to keep him in the lineup over the long-term. Otherwise, I agree, it would be a solid move given he seems to have the attributes you'd want for someone to play that position. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. 15. One of the biggest moves of the offseason seemed to me to be the investment in the AHL team. Why do you think the Jets were so willing to invest in the Moose this year compared to last? Is it to boost the trade value of their prospects, or do they feel player development suffered due to losing so many games? Or is it more of a financial move? Did poor performance last year hurt their bottom line? COLE WIEBE: That the Moose had such a poor season didn't sit well with the organization, but it wasn't merely a matter of the Jets simply throwing some additional money at veteran depth players. They had several high wage earners – either on one-way deals or big tickets on the AHL salary portion last season, including Kappo Kahkonen (until he was traded), Jaret Anderson-Dolan, Dominic Toninato, Mason Shaw, Axel Jonsson-Fjallby and Dylan Coghlan to name a few. The Moose didn't score a lot of goals last season, so there was an emphasis on bringing in players with a bit more offensive ability – with Samuel Fagemo a great example, coming off seasons of 29 and 43 goals with the Ontario Reign of the AHL. There's definitely some more insulation for the top young prospects in the system, both up front and on the back end. Clague should fill the role played by Coghlan when he wasn't in the NHL, as someone that can run the power play, provide two-way play and be a minute-muncher. Even between the pipes, Winnipegger Isaac Poulter was added as someone that can be a prime callup candidate while shepherding the development of Dom DiVincentiis and Thomas Milic. These moves weren't made to boost the stock of those prospects for a potential trade, they were made to help the development process and make the Moose a more competitive team. They were also made to boost the organizational depth at all positions. 16. What do you think of these rumours of Kevin Cheveldayoff talking to the Ducks on a trade for Mason McTavish? This would be amazing, even if it would cost the Jets an arm and leg to make it happen. KENNY MCINTYRE: There's been a lot of chatter about McTavish potentially being on the move, especially with Anaheim being so heavy on young forwards and maybe wanting to change their mix. McTavish, a restricted free agent who is due for a huge pay raise after setting career highs last year in goals (22), assists (30) and points (52), would check off plenty of boxes for a team like the Jets. He's young, talented, big, gritty and, most importantly, a centre. He seems like the kind of player you'd want to build around, which is why the Ducks would likely be seeking a huge return should they decide to move him. Yes, Winnipeg would be wise to see what it takes, but I'd caution you against putting too much stock in the rumour mill. I don't believe there's a whole lot of smoke there at the present time, but perhaps that could change. X and Bluesky: @WiebesWorld X and Bluesky: @mikemcintyrewpg Ken WiebeReporter Ken Wiebe is a sports reporter for the Free Press, with an emphasis on the Winnipeg Jets. He has covered hockey and provided analysis in this market since 2000 for the Winnipeg Sun, The Athletic, and TSN. Ken was a summer intern at the Free Press in 1999 and returned to the Free Press in a full-time capacity in September of 2023. Read more about Ken. Every piece of reporting Ken produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Winnipeg Free Press
3 days ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Jets sign defenceman Isaak Phillips
The Winnipeg Jets have agreed to terms with depth defenceman Isaak Phillips on a two-year, two-way contract, the team announced on Friday afternoon. Phillips, 23, was a restricted free agent and recorded two goals and 10 points in 56 career games with the Chicago Blackhawks and has 26 goals and 87 points in 239 American Hockey League games with the Manitoba Moose and Rockford IceHogs. Phillips plays a physical game and will be counted on by the Moose and could work himself into a call-up situation because of his robust style of play. The deal for Phillips carries an AAV of US$812,5000 in the NHL — US$775,000 in the first season and US$850,000 in the second. The minor league portion of the salary in the first season is US$375,000, with a guarantee of US$425,000 and US$400,000 in the second season, with a guarantee of US$450,000. Ken WiebeReporter Ken Wiebe is a sports reporter for the Free Press, with an emphasis on the Winnipeg Jets. He has covered hockey and provided analysis in this market since 2000 for the Winnipeg Sun, The Athletic, and TSN. Ken was a summer intern at the Free Press in 1999 and returned to the Free Press in a full-time capacity in September of 2023. Read more about Ken. Every piece of reporting Ken produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
CTV News
3 days ago
- CTV News
Former Oiler Jeff Skinner signs with Sharks
Seattle Kraken's Michael Eyssimont (21) skates past as Edmonton Oilers' Jeff Skinner (53) celebrates a goal during second period NHL action in Edmonton on Saturday, March 22, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson Former Edmonton Oiler forward Jeff Skinner is joining the San Jose Sharks. Skinner is signing a one-year, $3 million contract with San Jose. The 33-year-old spent one season in Edmonton and recorded 16 goals and 29 points in the regular season, and one goal and two points during the Stanley Cup Playoffs run.
