Free agency is only in its third day and some Jets fans are already up in arms as to why we haven’t signed any “big names” yet. I’m here to tell you to sit back, crack open a beer, and CHILL! Those that boycotted the AHL should need to understand how TNSE runs their hockey team. Bringing in just anybody will not happen! In the past, they have turned down NHL players such as Sean Avery, Nathan Paetsch, and Andrew Peters due to character issues. There was once an old story that goes back to the old IHL days when Keith Tkachuk was in a contract holdout with the Phoenix Coyotes. He showed up to the old Winnipeg Arena during Moose training camp and asked to join the team while he was holding out and was told no! Now while I don’t know the exact details, it is apparent and has been from the beginning on how Mark Chipman runs his business.
One can only look at the overpaid deals signed this weekend and can tell why we didn’t bring anybody in. Ask yourself; is Joel Ward really worth $12 million over 4 years? Does Maxime Talbot deserve a 5 year contract? Are these players any better than Rick Rypien in playing the 3rd/fourth line grinder role TNSE would ask them to play? These questions can be disputed but the fact is players will not be overpaid by this management! Guys who just want to collect a pay check and spend their time partying are not the type Jets management want. As evidence to this look no further than the Jets first draft pick Mark Schiefele. From the TSN interview alone, you can tell this kid has great character, is willing to work hard, and is well educated on the city itself.
Great character, hard working, and leadership is what will mould this team in the present and the future. The casual fan will look at these and ask what the plan is or if there is even a plan. Its not that hard to look at this and realize what the plan is, build right from the bottom up. A competitive AHL team and depth will only lead to wins. Our prospects learning to win at the AHL level will bring that experience to the big club and in turn later mentor the new crop of players. Need more evidence? Well look no further than the Vancouver Canucks. Their Stanley Cup roster featured many former Moose (Schneider, Bieksa, Edler, Rome, Tanev, Kesler, Burrows, Raymond, Hanson, Hodgson, Tambellini, and Bolduc) and that’s not counting the few others who were called up during the season. Still need more evidence? Well Burrows wasn’t on any NHL team’s radar and twice tried to make the Moose before finally getting on fulltime and then earning his AHL deal. Alex Bolduc was a late round draft of the Blues who wasn’t signed, not re-drafted, and went all the way back to the ECHL before netting himself a deal with the Moose and then Canucks.
So people CHILL!!!! This team has done very well to develop NHL ready players, develop a winning environment, and surround the younger players with the right leaders and character guys to be successful. Be patient because mark my words in time all will see just how great a job the Jets have done on team development and using cap management to keep or bring in the right pieces to build a winner.
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