Enstrom Signs Long-Term Deal

Kevin Cheveldayoff continues his plan to wrap up the young and talented core of the Winnipeg Jets into long-term deals as he signed defenseman Tobias Enstrom to a five-year, 28.75 million extension.
Cheveldayoff said it was his plan all along to extend the contract of Enstrom.

Buff Wins

Well, mostly anyway.  Winnipeg Jets defenseman Dustin Bufuglien avoided jail time that would have been his fate had he been convicted on seemingly trumped up charges by the Minnesota State police.  Instead he pleaded guilty to lesser charges in a plea-bargain that saw the original charges dismissed in exchange for a 28-day suspended sentence and community service.

The Winnipeg Sun also has the story.

Kane Mulls Over Offer

The Winnipeg Jets have offered Evander Kane a six-year, $29 million deal as the two sides are reportedly close to finalizing a contract.

Flood Off to Russia?

Jets free agent defenseman Mark Flood will not be a part of theWinnipeg Jets next season as he as opted not to resign.  Instead he has reportedly chosedn to sign with the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl of the KHL.

Bufuglien Fights Impaired Boating Charge

Winnipeg Jets defenseman Dustin Bufuglien is fighting the impaired boating charge against him with a motion to dimiss, claiming his rights were violated.

True North Further Comment on Pavelec DUI, Pavelec Appologizes to Fans

Jets goaltender Ondrej Pavelec has released a statement to the public regarding his DUI conviction in the Czech Republic.

Kane Working Out Long-Term Deal

Contrary to popular beleif, including mine when I stated I didn't believe Evander Kane wanted to remain a Winnipeg Jet heading inyto the 2012-13 NHL season due to his non-commital responses when asked by the Winnipeg media if he indeed wanted to sign a long-term contract, as other future free agents on the Jets roster said they did; Kane and his agent are apparently in negotiations with Jets General Manager Kevin Cheveldayoff to work out a long-term deal reportedly for six years at a price allegedly dictated by signings such as the Islanders' John Tavares and the Maple Leafs' Phil Kessel in the range of between $27 million and $33 million.

Pavelec Charged with DUI in Czech Republic

While back in his native Czech Republic before he signed a five-year,$19.5 million contract, Winnipeg Jets goaltender Ondrej Pavelec allegedly was in a car acciddent when he rear-ended another driver and has since been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol.  The report is unconfirmed and apparently happened months ago, making some in the media wonder how it was kept under wraps for so long.  Jets General Manager Kevin Cheveldayoff issued a statement stating no comment will be made on the matter until all the details are in.

Postma Signs Extension Deal

The Winnipeg Jets have signed prospect and St. John`s Ice Cap Paul Postma to an extension contract for the 2012-13 season.

Wellwood Signs; Teemu Back with Ducks; Sabres Say No to Hasek

After reports of interest from Swiss club teams, unrestricted free agent Kyle Wellwood signed a one-year deal worth $1.6 million to stay with the Winnipeg Jets and try to build on the career-high numbers he produced with the club last season.

Teemu Selanne has resigned with the Anaheim Ducks for what will probably be the last season in the NHL for the sure-fire first ballot Hall of Famer.  Like last year when the Finnish Flash didn't sign right away with Anaheim after becoming a free agent, many fans in Winnipeg thought the pipe-dream may be possible that Selanne would sign with the Winnipeg Jets and end his career where it started.

Former Detroit Red Wings and Buffalo Sabres goaltender Dominic Hasek has already been rejected by the Sabres in an attempt fo a comeback to the NHL with his former club.  The 47-year old Stanley Cup champion netminder feels he still has what it takes to play a regular role in theNHL despite his advanced age.  Fans of the Detroit Red Wings don't seem to think so.

Stapleton Off to KHL, Will Cheer for Jets from Afar

With no offer by the Winnipeg Jets to free agent Tim Stapleton due to the clubs wish to sign physically bigger talent, the diminutive forward has accepted an offer to play in Russia's Kontinental Hockey League for Dinamo-Minsk.  As much as Stapleton wanted to stay with the Jets, the NHL club did not contact the UFA with an extension contract offer.  He says he will still cheer for his former club from Russia.

Jets Development Camp Opens

This morning, the Winnipeg Jets opened their 2012 Development Camp that saw Jets prospects of the future, including 2011 first-round draft pick Mark Scheifele, show their wares for fans of the Winnipeg Jets and more importantly Jets brass.  Other attendees include Jason Gregoire, Ivan Telegan and Carl Klingberg.  2012 first and second round picks Jacob Trouba and Lucas Sutter are scheduled to appear as well.

Jets fans, as they did last year, filled the MTS Iceplex to see their future heroes.

Jets Ink Maxwell and Dekanich

The Winnipeg Jets have re-signed forward Ben Maxwell to an extension contract as well as picking up free agent goaltender Mark Dekanich from the Columbus Blue Jackets system.

Jets Sign Goaltender Al Montoya from Islanders

The Winnipeg Jets have their back up goaltender to Ondrej Pavelec after Chris Mason decided to sign with the Nasville Predators, as they have signed free agent Al Montoya, to a one year, $600, 000 deal.

Jets Sign Jokinen

The Winnipeg Jets have found the number one center they were looking for by signing free agent Olli Jokinen.  With the signing, the Jets pick up size, experience anda consistent goal-scorer in the big Finish forward.  Joki says the city was the best fit for hiom and his family who apprantly not only don't mind the cold, but actually love the snow.  That will come in handy.

Glass Bolts for Pittsburgh, Mason Back with Nashville, Gustavsson Goes to Red Wings; Ponikarovsky Signs with Jets

The GST line has lost it's "G" as Tanner Glass has accepted a two-year, $2.2 million deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins as his taste for the Stanley Cup finals got the better of him.

Meanwhile goaltender Chris Mason, the first Jet to land in the city when the team was transfered from Atlanta last season, accepted a deal with his former team, the Nashville Predators, worth $1.25 million for the upcoming season.

Also on the move is goalie Jonas Gustavsson, picked up from Toronto in last week's draft for a seventh-round conditional draft pick in 2013, who signed a two year, $3 million deal with Detroit.  Since Gustavsson didn't sign with Winnipeg, that pick reverts back to the Jets.

On the incoming side, the Jets dipped a little into the free agent pool by signing Devils forward Alexei Ponikarovsky.   Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Pavy Staying Put

Whew!
Winnipeg Jets General Manager Kevin Cheveldayoff signed young goaltender Ondrej Pavelec to a five-year contract worth $19.5 million.
In Pavelec's own words he never wanted to leave Winnipeg even though he was offered "really good money" to play in the KHL in Russia.
“Everybody knows I had an offer from the KHL, it’s not a secret, but I always wanted to stay in Winnipeg,” Pavelec said in a conference call from the Czech Republic. “It’s a process and another side of the business, it’s never easy to make a deal but this is a really good feeling. It was easy to sign a five-year deal. You always want to stay as long as you can in a city you like. As long as I can stay in Winnipeg, it’s better for me.”

If the Jets had let Pavy go (and it seems as more is revealed about the negotiations with him, that never was a reality) they would have been screwed.  Although they do have Gustavsson (who had pretty much the same numbers as Pavelec last year-although in 20 less games played) who does have his rights owned by the Jets since Saturday and may have had to battle with Chris Mason for the starter spot since the Jets have no other NHL calibre goalies going.  They do have Peter Mannino but he may be a few years beore he's a regular in the show.  However I'm sure Mannino would have had a crack at the big time to battle against Monster and Mase for the number one spot.

Now the spotlight turns on trying to ink 30-goal scorer Evander Kane as he and up and comer Spencer Machacek were offered qualifying contracts to ensure the Jets could retain their rights and be able to match any offer from other teams. 

In other (sort of) news, although the Jets didn't offer Eric Fehr a qulifying contract due to his very poor year last season which makes him a unrestricted free agent on July 1, they may still have use for him, but at a much lesser price. 

Fehr Out with the Jets

As expected, Winnipeg Jets General Manager Kevin Cheveldayoff has decided  not to offer forward and Winkler native Eric Fehr an extension contract after Fehr's disasterous season in 2011-2012 wherein he only managed five points in 35 games with the Jets.

Fehr came to the Jets last summer in a trade with the Washington Capitals for ECHL winger Danick Paquette and a fouth-round pick in this years draft, in which the Caps used to select center Thomas Dipauli from United States national developmental system.

Scheifele to Play for Canada Versus Russia

Winnipeg Jets forward and 2001 first round draft pick Mark Scheifele has been selected to play in the four-game challenge series against Russia in August.

NHL Entry Draft: Day Two

In the second through seventh rounds that comprised day two of the NHL Entry Draft for the Winnipeg Jets, the team selected five more youngsters , including a potential prodigy from the famous Canadian Sutter clan in Lucas Sutter, that they hope will help build the team into a contender for Lord Stanley's mug.

Also on the afternoon, General Manager Kevin Cheveldayoff obtained the rights to goaltender Jonas Gustavsson from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for a conditional seventh round pick in the 2013 draft.  The Winnipeg Free Press's Gary Lawless sees this move as a bargaining chip in the Onjdre Pavelec contract negotiations., although Cheveldayoff denied it.  "[That's] totally separate from this," Cheveldayoff said. "We're going to sign two guys and get that done."
"This is more an opportunity to be able to talk to a UFA person before the July 1 deadline."


2012 draft picks

1 (9) Jacob Trouba, D, 18, US NDT
2 (39) Lukas Sutter, C, 18, Saskatoon (WHL)
3 (70) Scott Kosmachuk, RW, 18, Guelph (OHL)
5 (130) Connor Hellebuyck, G, 19, Odessa (NAHL)
6 (160) Scott Olsen, C, 18, Saskatoon (WHL)
7 (190) Jamie Phillips, G, 19, Toronto (OJHL)

Draft Day

For their first pick of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, the Winnipeg Jets selected Jacob Touba, a six-foot-two, 196 pound bruising defenseman from Rochester, MI.
The Jets are slated to select ninth again with their first pick in the second round tomorrow.

Cheveldayoff Talking with Agents for Pavelec, Kane

Winnipeg Jets General Manager Kevin Cheveldayoff is in contract extension discussions with agents representing two key players for the Jets, Ondrej Pavalec and Evander Kane.

Pearn Returns to Jets After 16 Years

Perry Pearn, who started his NHL coaching career with the Winnipeg Jets 1.0 on former Head Coach
Terry Simpson's staff as an assistant for the Winnipeg Jets in 1995-96, has returned to Winnipeg after 16 years after being fired early last season by the Montreal Canadiens.

NHL Entry Draft: Up the Middle

Part four of what the Winnipeg Jets need at this years NHL Entry Draft in Pittsburgh.

Jets Re-Sign Slater

The Winnipeg Jets have signed GST line member Jim Slater and longest serving Atlanta Thrasher/Winnipeg Jet to a three-year $4.4 million extension

2012 NHL Entry Draft: Defensemen

Part three of what the Winnipeg Jets need in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft in Pittsburgh.

2012 NHL Entry Draft: What the Jets Have and What They Need-Part 2

The Winnipeg Free Press's Ed Tait continues this week's series of the Jets and the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

2012 NHL Entry Draft: What the Jets Have and What They Need-Part 1

The NHL Entry Draft is right around the corner and the Winnipeg Free Press disects what the Jets need in comaprison to what they have in terms of needed positional players on June 22 and 23.

One Year Ago Today

It was year ago today that the NHL returned to Winnipeg and hockey fans of the Manitoba capital, and especially Jets fans of the past, have had their own to watch once again. Sometimes it was joyful, sometimes it was frustrating, but it was always awesome just to cheer on a team in Winnipeg playing in the NHL named the Jets again.

I'm still reeling from the news and am still in party mode about the return.  I can't tell you how happy it made me.  Really.  Even after a full season back in which I threw my hat across the room whenever they took a stupid penalty, got scored on or just generally played bad.
May 31, 2011 will forever be a day in Winnipeg sports history that will remain in infamy.  I say that with no sensationalism intended.  You may have seen the pictures on television of rowdy, passionate Jets fans lining the Portage and Main where it all started 40 years ago with the signing of Bobby Hull and then later, Dale Hawerchuck, breaking into impromptu street hockey games.  That spontaneous reaction was just the beginning of the passion the rest of the hockey world would bare witness to during the 2011/12 NHL season.  This a club of class, talent and yes, again, passion.  That word cannot be reiterated enough.
When True North Sports and Entertainment CEO Mark Chipman stepped up to that podium on that wonderful Tuesday morning and uttered those words that would be remembered in Winnipeg for years to come, "I am excited beyond words to announce our purchase of the Atlanta Thrashers," I teared up.  And again at the draft when he announced the team was indeed going to called the Jets, and yet again when October 9 rolled around and the sold out crowd at the MTS Centre broke the decibel meter before during and after the puck dropped at center ice to make it official.

When the original incarnation of the Winnipeg Jets left for Phoenix in 1996 to become the Coyotes, the reasons were many (a perfect storm of finances, lack of ownership, no self-sustaining arena and a weak Canadian dollar is a term a couple of sports writers accurately chose to describe the awful tragedy that was the Jets 1.0 departure) but with solid ownership, a state-of-the-art arena and a rabid fan base, this team will be here for the long-term and I predict within seven years, a Stanley Cup parade will be planned for Portage Avenue.

The return in pictures:


You see that last guy who smiled tearfully and proudly as he closed his eyes and took it all in?  That was me when my Jets officially returned against the Montreal Canadiens.  Not physically me.  But I mean I knew exactly how that guy felt and what he was thinking, as I suspect so were thousands of other Winnipeg hockey fans did.

Thank you to Mark Chipman and David Thompson for making Winnipeg Jets fans' dreams come true.

Go Jets Go!

Canada Falls to Slovakia in IIHF Semi-Finals

For the third straight year, Canada has failed to medal at the IIHF World Hockey Championship.  This time falling to Slovakia in the quarter-final round, thus making the tournament trip all for not for our supposed Kings of Hockey nation.

Ryan  Getzlaf took a undiciplined and stupid five-minute major and a game misconduct with two minutes left in regulation to allow Slovakia to score for a 4-3 win.  Winnipeg Jets teammates Evander Kane and Andrew Ladd finished the tournament with  four goals, three assists for seven points and one goal, four assists for five points, respectively.

Jim Slater's team USA also lost to Finland in another semi-final, 3-2.  He finished with two goals and one assist for three points.