ANALYSIS: Breaking down the competition for the final 4 forward spots on the Jets roster – Winnipeg

As Paul Maurice identified on Wednesday morning, coaching camp can imply various things for various folks.

For those who’re a veteran with job safety, it’s about shaking off the rust and making an attempt to make sure you get via the train with full well being and able to assault the common season.

For those who’ve received restricted expertise — or are a first-time attendee — it’s about doing what you do greatest and making an attempt to construct the belief of the teaching employees — whether or not your alternative will come proper out of the gate or someplace down the street.

In the case of the Winnipeg Jets, the arrival of Nate Schmidt and Brenden Dillon in a pair of trades, the return of Paul Stastny in free company and raises for Neal Pionk and Andrew Copp answered lots of the questions when it got here to roster building.

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However even when a lot of the roster spots are spoken for, that doesn’t imply there aren’t any attention-grabbing battles left to be gained.

And thru two exhibition video games, following the Jets’ 5-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday, the method of making an attempt to create some separation within the competitors is starting to take form.

In aim, it’s Connor Hellebuyck and Eric Comrie till additional discover.

Hellebuyck is slated to play the ultimate two exhibition video games towards the Calgary Flames, leaving Comrie and Mikhail Berdin to doubtless break up the weekend tilts.

On defence, there are 5 incumbents (Josh Morrissey, Pionk, Dylan DeMelo, Logan Stanley and Nathan Beaulieu, supplied there’s sufficient cap area accessible after some LTIR gymnastics) together with the newcomers (Schmidt and Dillon).

Though Johnathan Kovacevic is doing a pleasant job endearing himself to the Jets teaching employees via two regular video games, he’s mainly working to slip up the depth chart on the proper aspect and solidify his standing.

Ville Heinola is the opposite candidate and he confirmed effectively in Sport 2, chipping in an help whereas making a number of different good performs.

The following step for him is to boost his stage additional as the standard of competitors will increase.

That brings us to the forwards, the place the primary eight spots are simple to determine.

Mark Scheifele finds himself with acquainted linemates Blake Wheeler and Kyle Connor, whereas Pierre-Luc Dubois has been between Nikolaj Ehlers and Andrew Copp.

Adam Lowry is the person within the center on the third line and he’s been paired with Stastny, whereas 2017 Kristian Vesalainen is being groomed to be the substitute for Mason Appleton.

With Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff saying the group is probably going going to wish to run a 22-man roster, that mainly leaves 4 jobs up for grabs with the large membership.

Nevertheless, it’s vital to keep in mind that that is solely the start of the competitors and there’s a block of gamers who’re laying the groundwork for future remembers from the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League — even when they’re unable to safe a spot following the remaining 4 exhibition video games.

“There may be additionally a bunch of men which are going to get into the NHL throughout the 12 months greater than they’re throughout coaching camp due to waivers, due to all of the issues now we have to do — for us particularly, it’s going to be cap concerns — getting as much as opening evening,” stated Maurice.

“Their probability is available in November. However even when they don’t, a few of these guys that don’t make the group out of camp, their job is to be outlined once they go away. So we will say, ‘I do know what that man does, I do know what he seems like,’ not ‘I’m undecided what he’s making an attempt to deliver to the desk.’

“That’s the coaching camp job, even should you don’t get a job out of camp, guarantee that the teaching employees and administration know what you’re promoting so if we deliver you up we all know what we’re getting.”

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Previous to Wednesday’s sport, Maurice was requested if something has stood out to him within the competitors among the many forwards.

“We haven’t been overly stunned, essentially. The gamers which have are available have been (performing relative) to what we thought they’d be,” stated Maurice.

“The query goes to be, how do the items match? Not essentially an evaluation of the person items. Any of them most likely might make the group, however how they perform collectively goes to be the important thing. It could take us a short time till we discover it.”

With that in thoughts, right here’s a breakdown of the sector of forwards on the bubble going into this weekend’s street video games towards the Oilers and Vancouver Canucks.

The lock

C/RW Riley Nash: Barring an sudden change, Maurice has hinted he’s constructing the fourth line across the 32-year-old with 578 video games of NHL expertise. Though he’s additionally snug on the wing, Nash is a pure centre and goes to be leaned on for his skill to defend and he’ll even be a staple on the penalty kill.

The front-runners

C/LW Jansen Harkins: He’s off to a improbable begin, chipping in two objectives and 4 factors via two exhibition video games. He’s exuding confidence with and with out the puck and making good reads at each ends of the ice as he seems to bounce again from a irritating 2020-21 season.

RW Evgeny Svechnikov: Though he stays on an AHL deal in the intervening time, there have been ample indicators that the Nineteenth-overall decide within the 2015 NHL draft by the Detroit Purple Wings has been adjusting properly to his new environment. He’s been in a position to make use of his dimension and offensive skills thus far. Though it’s his shot that has stood out, he delivered a deft redirection on Wednesday as a part of a three-point sport. He’s snug taking part in on his off aspect and it’s clear he’s a participant with one thing to show.

C/LW Dominic Toninato: Restricted to solely eight complete video games final season after coping with a bout of COVID-19, the 27-year-old from Duluth, Minn., is working to safe common work on the fourth line. He was the Sport 1 hero within the opening spherical towards the Edmonton Oilers, producing the game-winning aim on a nifty redirection. He’s received 87 NHL video games on his resume and is seeking to set up himself in a checking function and is a candidate to fill a job on the penalty kill as effectively.

C David Gustafsson: Coming off a season the place he was named MVP of the Moose, the 2018 second-rounder is decided to make the bounce. His defensive acumen and penalty-killing skill are apparent belongings in his quest for full-time obligation and he spent the low season engaged on enhancing his skating and shot. His offensive sport took an vital step final season as he recorded seven objectives and 19 factors in 22 video games within the AHL. Gustafsson, who has appeared in 26 video games with the Jets, is thought for making the gamers round him higher and he’s been doing that thus far.

The wild card

Cole Perfetti: The tenth total decide of the 2020 NHL draft has been showcasing his expertise and instincts all through coaching camp and the primary two exhibition video games. He’s mature effectively past his years and the advantages of getting his first professional season within the AHL beneath his belt throughout the pandemic are fairly obvious. He might be one of many beneficiaries of Scheifele having to take a seat out the season opener to serve the ultimate sport of his suspension for his hit on Montreal Canadiens ahead Jake Evans.

The depth guys

C/LW C.J. Suess: The fifth-round decide of the Jets is well-known to the group, prepared for his fourth full professional season after ending his collegiate profession with the College of Minnesota-Mankato Mavericks program. A diligent two-way participant, Suess scored a pleasant aim with a fast shot towards the Senators on Sunday.

C/RW Luke Johnson: The Grand Forks product performed for the College of North Dakota and produced a pair of 18-goal seasons within the AHL. He’s additionally suited up for 32 NHL video games with the Minnesota Wild and Chicago Blackhawks. He’s some extent producer within the minors and has been used principally in a fourth-line function within the NHL. Being a right-handed shooter who can play a number of positions will improve his worth to the group.

C/LW Mikey Eyssimont: He’s received three full seasons within the AHL beneath his belt and was monitoring for a 3rd consecutive 10-plus aim marketing campaign, have been it not for the restricted variety of video games performed because of the pandemic. He’s received some puck expertise and did a pleasant job of driving to the web to assist create a aim on Wednesday.

RW Austin Poganski: Within the minors, he performs an influence ahead sport and there’s a bodily edge to him. He’s received one double-digit goal-scoring season within the AHL and has six NHL video games on his resume with the St. Louis Blues. He was additionally a teammate of Johnson’s throughout the NCAA Frozen 4 championship season and delivered a rebound aim in his Jets exhibition debut.

C/RW Kristian Reichel: He was a favorite of former Moose head coach Pascal Vincent for his hockey intelligence and skill to leap up and down the lineup on the minor league stage. A pleasant mix of talent and defensive consciousness as a prototypical late bloomer.

LW Jeff Mallott: The 25-year-old led the Moose in objectives final season and was third in factors, displaying an offensive aspect of his sport that wasn’t all the time evident throughout his 4 seasons with Cornell of the NCAA. He’s anticipated to play a outstanding function within the minors, however earned a two-way contract throughout the low season and is making an attempt to plant a couple of seeds for afterward.

Ken Wiebe covers the Winnipeg Jets for Sportsnet.ca and is a daily contributor to CJOB.