The Jets season comes to an end

The 2021-2022 edition of the Winnipeg Jets’ season came to an unfortunate end in the Western Conference final last week as the Jets fell in game 7 to the Arizona Coyotes. It was a hard fought series with the teams trading blows back and forth. The Coyotes jumped out to a 2-0 series lead on the road, with the Jets following up with three straight victories to lead the series heading into game 6. The Coyotes took the final two games of the series to advance to the RHL Cup finals. 

During clean out day, GM rbk addressed the media. “I’d like to start off by wishing a very sleepy congrats to the Coyotes on a well earned victory in our series. Our season came to an end short of the ultimate goal, but this season was an enormous step forward for our organization. We got over the hump to enter the playoffs and made some noise. We will use this offseason to build on that. Our core is returning, and we have some decisions to make in regards to some spots on the roster.”

“Decisions” is an understatement regarding what’s to come. Let’s see what GM rbk has to deal with:

-The team has already resigned superstar Kyle Connor (8x$9.5M), John Marino (5x$4.4M), Dan Vladar (1x$1.5M), and Curtis Lazar (3x$1.5m) scratching off some of the biggest priorities of the offseason. 

-The team wishes the best retirements to goaltenders Tuukka Rask and Pekka Rinne. This leaves Vladar and Adin Hill (currently in a contract dispute) as the only capable NHL goaltenders on the roster. Rbk’s top priority will be adding a veteran goaltender either via trade or free agency to pair with the youngster Vladar.

-As the roster continues to take shape throughout the next few weeks, the looming Seattle Kraken expansion draft may complicate things. The rumblings out of Winnipeg project that the team will protect the following players in the upcoming expansion draft:

Forwards: Kyle Connor, Brayden Point, Elias Lindholm, Mikko Rantanen, David Pastrnak, Vincent Trocheck, Brandon Tanev (UFA, currently in negotiations to resign)

Defense: Brain Dumoulin, Seth Jones, Mattias Ekholm, John Marino (exempt)

Goalie: Dan Vladar

The state of the league will dictate how GM rbk approaches the offseason to fill out the Jets roster. As it sits currently, the team needs a starting goaltender (for reasons shown above), middle 6 forwards, and bottom 4 defensemen.  When asked if the expansion draft projected players are safe and in the plans next year, GM rbk said, “Most are, but as we shown over the course of tenure here, everyone has a price. Do not be surprised if one or two of the players listed are moved prior to October.”

Happy trading and good luck to the New Jersey Devils and Arizona Coyotes in the cup finals!