Instant Analysis: Jets recall Brandon Tanev

In preparation for the team’s two-game California road trip, the Winnipeg Jets have recalled forward Brandon Tanev from the Manitoba Moose on an emergency basis. This season, Tanev, 25, has notched four points in 42 contests with the Jets while logging just over 10 minutes of ice-time per game.

Tanev has evolved into the Jets go-to call-up option throughout the season. Tanev is an energy player with good foot-speed and penalty killing ability that bodes well on the team’s fourth line. But with the Jets out of playoff contention and little excitement surrounding the team, fans have suggested that it may be time to see Kyle Connor or Jack Roslovic get a chance with the Jets.

While it’s easy to get excited about the two young prospects leading the Moose in scoring, keeping the two in the AHL is the right move for the time being. Roslovic and Connor are key cogs in the Moose’s lineup with each playing top even strength minutes while playing on both the team’s power play and penalty kill. The two twenty-year-old forwards are young and have plenty of hockey ahead of them and there’s no point of bringing one of them up for a quick emergency recall.

Moose forward Brendan Lemieux, whose season was ended with a lower body injury on March 14th, would have been an interesting call-up option. Lemieux is a physical player that drives hard to the net and possesses a rifling shot. His tenacity and aggressiveness coupled with his offensive upside would have been an interesting addition to the team’s fourth line.

With Shawn Matthias out for the season, the Jets will likely keep Tanev around for the remainder of the season as an extra forward/fourth line player beyond this emergency recall.