Kyle has spent the last couple of weeks going through various forward line combinations that have ran the gambit from logical and realistic to supposing if certain young players can make the jump to flat out stacking up talent over two lines.

What we haven’t looked at though are the defensive line combinations.

At this point – and this is of course assuming that GM Kevin Cheveldayoff is able to get ink on paper and sign him to a deal – Josh Morrissey and Jacob Trouba will be one of your top two pairs. Dustin Byfuglien for sure is in your top four as well, how could he not be?

But after that? Things are kind of wide open are they not?

Tyler Myers, Dmitry Kulikov, Ben Chiarot, Joe Morrow, Sami Niku and Tucker Poolman all factor in for the Jets final three spots (four if we’re counting a spot in the press box) and if we’re being completely honest with ourselves, the two guys who make more than four million each are on the inside track for two of those spots. The battles we’ll see at training camp next week could prove to be quite interesting as head coach Paul Maurice will have a tough call or two to make.

But in the meantime, in the spirit of Kyle’s 20 in 20 forward line series, I have four defensive pairing scenarios of my own that might be worth thinking about as we go into the 2018-19 season…

Josh Morrissey – Jacob Trouba
Joe Morrow – Dustin Byfuglien
Dmitry Kulikov – Tyler Myers
Extra: Ben Chiarot

Likelihood: 6/10
Fun Factor: 7/10

Joe Morrow was actually a slightly pleasant surprise for Jets fans in the playoffs. Chiarot is a more physical presence on the ice, but if you’re paired with Buff, that is a bit redundant is it not? Morrow is a better skater and puck handler than Chiarot is, although he does share Ben’s weakness in being prone to making bad decisions with the puck. Morrow and Buff seemed to do ok in the playoffs and that was with very limited practice time together. Perhaps a full training camp and more time together helps that pairing gel?

Ben Chiarot – Dustin Byfuglien
Josh Morrissey – Tyler Myers
Dmitry Kulikov – Jacob Trouba
Extra: Ben Chiarot

Likelihood: 3/10
Fun Factor: 3/10

If you were to have a nightmare about Jets defensive pairings, this might be one of the ones that causes you to wake up in a cold sweat. Morrissey and Myers were ok when they were together while Jacob was injured and the Jets aren’t about to let Buff drop down to third pairing minutes (more to the point, Buff isn’t going to let that happen), thus Trouba – who we’re not entirely sure if the Jets understand what kind of player they have in him to begin with – is the odd man out of the top four.

Yeah, this isn’t going to happen. Only, you know deep down inside there is a possibility it could because we are after all Winnipeg sports fans and head-scratching moves like this can be a way of life.

Josh Morrissey – Jacob Trouba
Sami Niku – Dustin Byfuglien
Tucker Poolman – Tyler Myers
Extra: Joe Morrow

Likelihood: 2/10
Fun Factor: 3/10

In this little dream scenario, Sami Niku impressed the hell out of everyone during camp, so much so that we’ve traded away Kulikov early in the season (sadly, we also had to send Marko Dano with him to sweeten the pot for an NHL team to take Kulikov, but we need some breathing room here) and we’re going to stick Niku with Big Buff who as we noted has improved his defensive game which should allow Niku to be more of an offensive minded D-man. Poolman and Myers both being right handed shots is a bit awkward, but they’re also the third pairing, so it’s fine, right? If not, Morrow can easily swap out on that third pair and probably be just as solid.

Ben Chiarot – Dustin Byfuglien
Josh Morrissey – Jacob Trouba
Dmitry Kulikov – Tyler Myers
Extra: Joe Morrow

Liklihood: 8/10
Fun Factor: 6/10

Morrissey and Trouba are locks together here of course but the Jets weren’t always exactly using them as the top pairing at times. Byfuglien is still the ice time king on the Jets blueline and he’s joined by Ben Chiarot who at least made some ok strides in his play last season, but is still more out of his depth playing top minute pair minutes with Buff. If Kulkov can stay healthy, he and Myers didn’t actually fare that badly together at the start of last season, but his health is the biggest issue.

Those are just a handful of potential defensive lineups we could see the Winnipeg Jets roll out this season. What are your ideal defensive pairs for the Jets? Do you dare to split up Trouba and Morrissey at all? Who do you put with Buff? Do you hang on to Myers and Kulikov or try to move them out for cap space and space on the roster for Niku, Poolman and Morrow?

Let us know who you expect to do just that in the comments below, or on either our Twitter feed or Facebook page!