"We're hopeful," Winnipeg general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff said this week. "We're going to look long and hard at it here. There's got to be the fit. There's got to be opportunity. You've got to have the NHL salary
agreed to have his contract terminated April 17, 2020 after he asked to take a leave of absence prior to the start of the 2019-20 season.
Winnipeg (30-23-3) finished third in the seven-team Scotia North Division this season. The Jets were 10th in the NHL in goals-against per game (2.71) even though they gave up the 12th-most shots per game (30.6). They swept the Edmonton Oilers in the Stanley Cup First Round but were then swept by the Canadiens in the second round.
Cheveldayoff said a draft-and-develop strategy will continue to be important, whch has been the case with defensemen prospects Ville Heinola, a first-round pick (No. 20) in the 2019 NHL Draft, and Dylan Samberg, a second-round selection (No. 43) in the 2017 NHL Draft.
Winnipeg has four picks in the 2021 NHL Draft, including the No. 18 selection in the first round Friday (8 p.m. ET; ESPN2, SN, SN NOW, TVAS). Rounds 2-7 will be held Saturday (11 a.m. ET; NHLN, SN, SN NOW).
Although the Jets hope another prospect will have a breakthrough like Stanley, Cheveldayoff said they are always looking for help and it could also come via free agency, which begins July 28.
"We're going to look to be active," Cheveldayoff said. "I think everybody is in that mode right now."
