Report: ‘Nothing more than preliminary discussions’ between Jets, Byfuglien

By Mike HalfordJul 21, 2015, 9:00 AM EDT
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Here’s the latest from the Free Press on talks between Winnipeg and d-man Dustin Byfuglien, who’s set to become an unrestricted free agent next July:

Byfuglien, like [Andrew] Ladd, is also a pending UFA at the send of next season. According to the player’s agent, nothing more than preliminary discussions regarding the big defenseman have taken place.

Ladd is the No. 1 priority and must be the first domino to fall.

It’s expected that Ladd, the team’s captain, will likely get his desired extension (the Free Press figures it’ll be “north of $6 million” annually, and “in the range of $40 million” overall.) At 29 and coming off a career-high 62 points, he’s vitally important to the Jets and looks to be paid accordingly.

Which brings us to Byfuglien.

Though he’s coming off a stellar campaign of his own — 45 points in 69 games, an All-Star nod — Byfuglien plays on one of the NHL’s deepest bluelines. Tyler Myers (25 years old) and Jacob Trouba (21) represent the future, while Tobias Enstrom and Mark Stuart are locked in through 2018. All told, the Jets currently have 10 blueliners on NHL deals — Byfuglien, Myers, Trouba, Enstrom, Stuart, Grant Clitsome, Adam Pardy, Paul Postma and Ben Chiarot — and a pair of bright young prospects in Josh Morrissey and Jan Kostalek on the horizon.

So it’s fair to suggest something has to give.

Byfuglien’s heading into the last of a five-year, $26 million deal that pays $5.2M annually. Though he’s now officially on the wrong side of 30 — he’ll be 31 next March — Byfuglien likely still has high value across the league, and scored a handful of Norris votes this season.

So, the big question: If the Jets can’t afford to pay Byfuglien, especially after the Ladd extension, can they afford to let him hit free agency and lose an asset for nothing? GM Kevin Cheveldayoff already did that this summer with Michael Frolik, who flew the coop to sign in Calgary.

Can’t imagine Chevy wants that to happen again.

Crowded blueline: Jets ink Postma to two-year, $1.775M deal

By Mike HalfordJul 10, 2015, 2:48 PM EDT
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Having already re-upped with Adam Pardy and Ben Chiarot this summer, the Jets retained another depth defenseman on Friday by giving Paul Postma a two-year, $1.775 million extension.

The deal, which carries an $887,500 cap hit, comes after Postma appeared in a career-high 42 games last year, averaging 14:08 TOI per night. The 26-year-old was a lineup regular for the first three months of the season, but phased out in the second half of the campaign due to healthy scratches and a lower-body injury.

This extension puts Postma firmly back in the mix, however, and it’s a crowded mix…

Right now, there are 10 blueliners in the fold: Pardy, Chiarot, Postma, Trouba, Tobias Enstrom, Dustin Byfuglien, Tyler Myers, Mark Stuart, Jay Harrison and Grant Clitsome, who is coming off back surgery. While it’s not surprising to see Winnipeg stockpile bodies — injuries ravaged the defense last year — it’ll be interesting to see if the Jets can carry this many contracts, or if a trade will eventually be orchestrated.

Worth mentioning the Jets also have touted prospect Josh Morrissey, the 13th overall pick in 2013, on the horizon.

Jets re-sign enforcer Anthony Peluso

By Ryan DadounJun 17, 2015, 10:20 AM EDT

The Winnipeg Jets announced that Anthony Peluso has agreed to a two-year, $1.35 million contract extension.

The 26-year-old forward had two points and 86 penalty minutes in 49 games with Winnipeg in 2014-15. He was also credited with 100 hits.

He was originally taken by the St. Louis Blues in the sixth round of 2007 NHL Entry Draft, but he was placed on waivers in January 2013 before making his NHL debut. He was claimed by Winnipeg and has gone on to participate in 107 contests with the Jets.

Peluso was scheduled to become a restricted free agent this summer after completing his old two-year deal worth roughly $1.1 million.

Winnipeg still has a number of restricted free agents left, including defensemen Paul Postma, Keaton Ellerby, and Ben Chiarot.

Postma returns, Myers out as Jets visit Lightning

By Dhiren MahibanMar 14, 2015, 1:15 PM EDT

With defenseman Tyler Myers expected to miss his first game due to an upper body injury, Paul Postma is will return to the Winnipeg Jets’ lineup against the Tampa May Lightning.

Myers was injured in Thursday’s loss to the Florida Panthers.

Jets’ coach Paul Maurice said the club expects to know more about Myers’ injury by Tuesday when he is checked out in Winnipeg.

“Some injuries take a few days before they settle down and before you can get a real good handle on where he’ll be going forward,” said Maurice per the Winnipeg Sun’s Ken Wiebe.

Postma has been a healthy scratch in 27 consecutive games dating back to Jan. 8.

“Obviously it’s a tough one to go through, not only physically but mentally,” said Postma of being a scratch. “Getting that opportunity to be back in the lineup is awesome and I’m excited to be part of it.

“A big part of this game is confidence. Some days you have it, some you don’t. I have to have confidence in myself, know I’m here for a reason.”

The 26-year-old has two goals and six points to go along with a plus-2 rating while averaging 13:55 in ice time in 41 games this season.

He is expected to begin Saturday’s game paired with Mark Stuart.

Keaton Ellerby, who was recalled from the AHL on Friday, is expected to be a healthy scratch.

Winnipeg is 3-4-2 in its last nine and lost the only other meeting with Tampa Bay 4-2 on Oct. 24.

The recent slide has the Jets one point back of L.A. for the second wild card spot in the Western Conference.

With Myers hurt, slumping Jets recall Ellerby

By Mike HalfordMar 13, 2015, 1:05 PM EDT
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For the second time this season, Winnipeg is suffering through a rash of injuries on defense.

Already without the services of Dustin Byfuglien (upper body), Ben Chiarot (hand) and Grant Clitsome (back), the Jets saw Tyler Myers go down to injury in last night’s loss to Florida and, today, were forced to recall Keaton Ellerby from AHL St. John’s.

Ellerby, 26, has yet to appear in a game for the Jets this season after playing 51 a year ago. The former Panther and King has dressed for 41 games with the IceCaps this season, scoring three goals and 16 points.

The Jets are reeling at the moment, having lost three of their last four, and it’s fair to suggest their disjointed blueline has played factor. With Myers now possibly out for Saturday’s game against Tampa Bay, the club could be dressing a defense comprised of Tobias Enstrom, Jacob Trouba, Jay Harrison, Adam Pardy, Mark Stuart and Paul Postma — hardly the idea unit for a team desperate to make the playoffs.