One Option Down

If there is a need that the local NHL franchise has more than anything else in this writer's opinion, it's a better blue line. The Winnipeg Jets were absolutely atrocious in preventing high-danger scoring chances this year, and had it not been for Connor Hellebuyck it's likely this year's Winnipeg Jets team would have been a non-playoff team long before the shutdown happened. Yes, they still need a second-line centerman, but the Jets should be focusing their efforts on building a blue line that has less AHL talent than NHL talent. In saying that, the player I was hoping the Jets would pursue was traded yesterday from the Carolina Hurricanes as Joel Edmundson is headed to Canada, but not the Manitoba capital.

Montreal Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin picked up a second Stanley Cup winner from the St. Louis Blues in a deal yesterday that saw the Caandiens trade a fifth-round pick to the Hurricanes for the 27 year-old defenceman. While Edmundson isn't the biggest name on the UFA market, he appeared to be an affordable, effective option for the Jets if they were looking to upgrade.

With the trade yesterday, that option is now likely off the table.

There's now a backlog of defenders on the left side of the ice for the Montreal Canadiens, and it might be time for the Jets to look at a younger defender like Victor Mete, although his size doesn't add anything to a defence that already struggled to clear the front of the net.

If Mete doesn't fit the mold, who is left? Who can play a physical game while being defensively responsible while providing some semblance of offence?

In looking at players whose salaries won't break the bank so the Jets can re-sign Dylan DeMelo, I'd focus on Nikita Zadorov from the Colorado Avalanche, Derek Forbort from the Calgary Flames, or Erik Gustafsson from the Calgary Flames. While all three of these players bring different elements in their games, I'd prioritize these three players in reverse order based on what the Jets need: Gustafsson, Forbort, and Zadorov.

Gustafsson's play in these playoffs only reinforced the idea that he should rank high on the Jets' shopping list. He was aggressive, he was physical, he put pucks on net, and he defended well. His previous season shows he can play an offensive role if needed as he already has scored 119 points in 221 NHL games, but he's 28 and can play both sides of the ice in terms of being versatile while playing high minutes. He can play the power-play, he has a good shot, and he makes good first passes out of the zone on breakouts. All of these things would help the Jets.

Forbort brings more size but less offence than Gustafsson, but make no mistake that he's a tough player to push around as a 6'4", 220-pound boulder in front of the net. The dropoff in Forbort's offensive stats might make him more affordable for the Jets, and that can be a major positive if the Jets are doing a full makeover of the blue line. Forbort can play big minutes as well, and he's a solid penalty-killing defender who doesn't mind blocking shots. Again, this is what the Jets can use when it comes to improving on the back end.

Zadorov is a bit of a wild card in that the Jets may get a very good, physical player or they may get a second round of an apathetic Dmitry Kulikov. Zadorov led the NHL in hits in 2017-18 with 278, so we know he can be a physical force in his 6'6", 235-pound frame. Consistency has plagued Zadorov throughout his career as his goal and point totals have decreased over the last three seasons while with the Avalanche. The catch with Zadorov is that he's a restricted free agent, but the Avalanche are flush with good, young defenders so a deal to get him should cost a mere penny for the Jets as opposed to trying to outbid other teams for him.

Will any of these players solve the woees that the Jets had in their own end this season? No. There's a significant change needed in either the defensive strategy the Jets are using or the philosophy under which they play, but having more talent on the back end never hurts. Both Gustafsson and Forbort are immediate upgrades on players like Bitetto, Dahlstrom, and Sbisa, so the Jets should be better in theory. The jury would be out on Zadorov, but his value would be similar to that of a Sbisa or Bitetto based on his physical play alone.

The Jets are going to have to get creative in figuring out how to patch the holes in their ship. AHL options are fine, but the Jets need a physical presence on the back end to help the likes of Morrissey, Pionk, DeMelo, Niku, and Heinola. Tucker Poolman showed flashes and I'd let him continue that growth, but it can't be beside AHL talent. He's simply not ready to anchor a pairing at this time if the Jets need him to play as physical as he did in the playoffs.

While there is no one player in the free agent pool who will fix the Jets' blue line, the Jets might be able to "moneyball" a decent blue line by building a defence corps in the aggregate. If they were able to sign both Gustafsson and Forbort this season through some miracle, that would do wonders to help their blue line be significantly more defensive than they were this season.

Get at it, Chevy. You've got work to do.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!