Jets Nation Round Table: Mark 24, 2016
8 years ago
This week the Jets Nation crew tackles the topics of if there’s anything left to play for, the Moose call ups, the expansion draft and if Mark Scheifele will have a better season than Bryan Little.
Do these last games have any meaning for the Jets? Or are they looking to the offseason?
Garret: These games always have meaning. A lot of the Jets players will be fighting for jobs next season; this is their opportunity to prove themselves. Other players are looking at future contracts and raises. There is an old saying that players and coaches don’t tank, GMs do.
Cammers: They have a ton of meaning. If the goal is to ice a better team next year, than the Jets have to see who is willing to fight for roster spots. These games are also equally important for any call ups because they have a chance to try to prove they are ready to fill roster spots.
Art: Obviously the look at rookies and recalls is important with an eye to the offseason as was explained above, but these games themselves still have meaning as well as they still count in the standings and a move like shutting Toby Enstrom down for the season shows that management is well aware that wins aren’t the most optimal thing to be picking up.
Have any of the recent call ups impressed you? (JC Lipon, Scott Kosmachuk, Josh Morrissey, etc)
Garret: I think the most impressive call up was Nic Petan in his most recent game with Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler. Joel Armia is another one I think has shown moments of strength and being a bonafide NHL players. I’d probably give third place to Josh Morrissey, despite not having the greatest results with a then struggling Tyler Myers. I thought Morrissey distributed the puck well and made solid decisions in the defensive zone.
Cammers: Petan is the obvious one for me. He probably should have stayed with the Jets instead of being sent down to the Moose. Now he has a chance to show the coaching staff he belongs as a full time member of the Jets. I liked what I saw from Scott Kosmachuk, though this was a brief eye test, which included an enthusiastic goal celebration. If Joel Armia has a good offseason, I would think he could continue on his development this past season and be able to play meaningful minutes for the Jets.
Art: Does Marko Dano count as a call up? Since he had to be called up from the AHL right after the trade I’m gonna say yes. I’ve liked what he’s done so far and it sure looks like the Jets got very good value in exchange for Ladd. He’s a little on the smaller side but he doesn’t seem to mind going through opposing players to get to a puck rather than avoiding contact to make plays.
With a possible expansion draft in the next couple of years, which Jets do you protect? Right now it sounds like 8 skaters and 1 goalie as well, 1st and 2nd year pros may be exempt.
Garret: There are two options right now with either 8 skaters and 1 goalie versus 3 defenders and seven forwards. I indicated who the Jets should protect here: http://jetsnation.ca/2016/3/17/nhl-expansion-and-what-it-means-to-the-jets
Cammers: Forwards: Mark Scheifele, Bryan Little, Blake Wheeler, Matthieu Perreault, Adam Lowry, Marko Dano, and Alex Burmistrov. Defencemen: Dustin Byfuglien, Jacob Trouba, and Toby Enstrom. Goalie: Connor Hellebuyck. The Jets are fortunate to be able to have some of their good young players be exempt from the expansion draft, which makes protecting the important pieces a little easier.
Art: In a way I hate that we’re all kinda talking about this because it is a couple of years from now and we don’t know details and we don’t even know if the teams will be losing one player each or two players. That said the only three players that I am certain you protect is Scheifele, Byfuglien and Hellebuyck. Beyond that I’ll pass and save the full speculation for when we actually find out just what kind of draft rules we’re dealing with. But here is hoping that exemption rule is in effect or else the Jets are going to have some tough choices to make.
Who do you think is going to have a better season next year? Mark Scheifele or Bryan Little?
Garret: Really, I think it’ll be so close that it will matter more on usage and linemates than the individual. Scheifele’s on ice impact is starting to really resemble Little. Little is still good and extraordinarily underrated but Scheifele has been on quite the uptrend.
Cammers: I am going to say Little. Not because I think he’s better than Scheifele, but because teams are going to focus a little more on Scheifele after showing he can play the 1C. Teams are going to have to pick their poison and I think Little’s underratedness will allow him to get the better of the match ups. Of course, this will all depend on the role each player is given
Art: I’m going to lean towards Scheifele. He’s showing what he can do with the number one center spot and he’s had some tough matchups in that time where he has more than held his own. He’s just entering his prime and the confidence from how he finished this season will go a long way next season. The best part about all this of course is Little isn’t any slouch either and he’ll still be very effective himself so the Jets will have two capable #1 centers come October and opposing teams may have to pick their poison as to whom gets the tough matchup and who do they risk let beating them?
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