WINNIPEG - On a day that usually sees millions of dollars and numerous long-term deals flying around, Kevin Cheveldayoff and the Winnipeg Jets took a measured approach to the opening of Free Agency.
The key word there is "opening," as despite the hype surrounding the first day, many signings don't happen on that particular day.
That could be the case for the Jets.
"There's different things that we're looking at that is maybe hopefully addressed in free agency," said Cheveldayoff from Canada Life Centre. "We're still working on a few things on the free agent side of things. Hopefully some of those things come to fruition. It's one of those things where sometimes things happen fast, sometimes things happen slow on free agent day."
Cheveldayoff on start of free agency, and what's still on to-do list
"We're still working on a few things on the free agent side of things."
Cheveldayoff did get a key piece of business done on Wednesday, though.
The Jets signed goaltender David Rittich to a one-year contract with an average annual value of $900,000 to fill the back-up goaltender spot behind Connor Hellebuyck. That spot was vacated earlier in the day when Eric Comrie signed a two-year deal with the Buffalo Sabres.
"We're happy with the acquisition. It's a veteran backup netminder who's had some experience in a bigger role and is hungry to push and to prove," said Cheveldayoff. "But he also understands he's there to support as well and to work. Good veteran player."
The 29-year-old Rittich has played in 151 NHL games for a total of three teams - the Calgary Flames, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Nashville Predators.
He was with Nashville in the 2021-22 season, where he posted a 6-3-4 record and da 3.57 goals-against average.
The product of Jihlava, Czechia's most productive seasons came with the Flames between 2018 and 2020. He posted a 2.61 goals-against average and a 27-9-5 record in 2018-19, and followed that up the next season with his first NHL All-Star nod and a 24-17-16 record in 48 games.
Rittich has also represented Czechia on the international stage, posting a 2-1-0 record and a 1.98 goals-against average at the 2018 World Hockey Championship.
The Jets also made another move, inking forward Kevin Stenlund to a one-year, two-way contract.
"Kevin has been someone we've been looking at in the Columbus organization for a long period of time," said Cheveldayoff. "He had a knee injury, he's got that rectified now. He's someone that has always been scratching on the door, he made some good strides there."
The 25-year-old from Stockholm, Sweden has split the last four seasons between the NHL roster and Columbus' American Hockey League affiliate, the Cleveland Monsters.
The bulk of his games in 2021-22 were with Cleveland, where he had eight goals and 25 points in 42 games.
"He's a big body, a two-way type of centre that can be intriguing," Cheveldayoff said of the 2015 second-round pick. "He's got lots of skill. Hopefully now that the knee injury is hopefully behind him, he'll put on a good show."
Despite having ongoing discussions with various free agents - including Paul Stastny, who Cheveldayoff chatted with on Wednesday - the Jets general manager is comfortable with where the roster is at.
He knows there is still work to do with regards to restricted free agents like Pierre-Luc Dubois, Jansen Harkins, and Mason Appleton - just to name a few - but he's confident in those contracts getting done throughout the summer.
"Right after free agency you start to go into that," he said. "Obviously, qualifying offers are open for acceptance today. There are deadlines for filing for arbitration. There are different processes that are different summer processes with respect to RFAs."
In addition to those, there is still the matter of filling out Rick Bowness' coaching staff.
Bowness has been working on that, but as free agency moves along, Cheveldayoff has more time to work with Bowness and associate coach Scott Arniel on that.
Everything from free agency, to contract negotiations, to rounding out the coaching staff, is in an effort to get the Jets back in the playoffs.
A lot of progress can be made in one day, but as many in the game - including Cheveldayoff - will tell you, the game played on the ice means far more than what's done on one day in the NHL calendar.
"Last year, we're sitting here at this time and we made the trades for the two defencemen and everyone is already engraving the names on the Stanley Cup," said Cheveldayoff. "the year of 2017-18, I don't think I'm probably having somewhat similar conversations at free-agent time and everyone was kind of looking at us like, 'where are you?'
"So, there's a lot to prove. The players have a lot to prove to themselves and I know the coaching staff is excited about that."
