I would give him a B- or C+. The important thing for him is playing time and patience. He will be an NHL player one day although it's a long shot to expect him to be a top 2. To also put things into perspective, Tucker Poolman is 27 and didn't make the team full time until he was 26. Logan Stanley is 22. When Dustin Byfuglien was 22, he played 9 games with the Blackhawks splitting time in the AHL. Big guys need time.
- Napolean-Mennonite

these are good points

Can you explain why Connor sees such a steep drop off in production away from Scheifele if he’s such a high end player?
Or how he is invariably destroyed in defensive situations, but somehow remains a top two-way winger?

You would think a player of that caliber with those skill sets would eventually start to show evidence of any of it.
- Rexypoo

wouldn't it be nice if everyone in here and on Twitter made a conscious effort to stop comparing and subsequently building up or tearing down some of our best young players. Connor vrs Laine vrs ehlers is the dumbest, waste of time, ridiculous, petty, embarrassing thing done by Jets fans.

wouldn't it be nice if everyone in here and on Twitter made a conscious effort to stop comparing and subsequently building up or tearing down some of our best young players. Connor vrs Laine vrs ehlers is the dumbest, waste of time, ridiculous, petty, embarrassing thing done by Jets fans.
- Ross77

Connor has a lot of uses. But acting like he’s anywhere near a finished, top end product is a mistake that can sink a franchise.

Use him like Phil Kessel. Not like Sidney Crosby.

Connor has a lot of uses. But acting like he’s anywhere near a finished, top end product is a mistake that can sink a franchise.

Use him like Phil Kessel. Not like Sidney Crosby.
- Rexypoo

So you are not yet ready to stop ripping a great young player, got it.

So you are not yet ready to stop ripping a great young player, got it.
- Ross77

Would you like me to rip the coach instead? Management maybe? How bout ownership?
I’ll make a PowerPoint presentation.

Haven't seen the kid play.

So is that the consensus feeling by all?
- grahamzky

I've watched quite a bit of Stanley with the Moose and I can't see him making it, as others have said his skating/pivoting is his downfall.
He was compared to Tyler Myers by some but idk how anyone could've ever saw any similarities between the two other then that they're both tall, Myers is a strong smooth skater, Stanley has a weak awkward stride.

For his size he's not physical enough imo and he gets the puck stripped away easily, was very much a defensive zone liability in any game I watched, his D partners looked like they were under constant pressure to make up for Stanley.

If he does ever make it he's a 3rd pair guy, bigger guys do take longer sometimes but still I doubt he makes it, hopefully he fills out his frame and is a late bloomer, if he could turn into a mean and physical third pair guy that could kill penalties that'd be great.
Was a bad trade to move up at the draft and an even worse selection, there's a few dmen taken after Stanley that are already pretty solid NHL dmen.

Hopefully he makes it but the Jets are full with LHD prospects, he's pretty far down the depth chart now, best of luck to big Logan, hope he proves me wrong!

wouldn't it be nice if everyone in here and on Twitter made a conscious effort to stop comparing and subsequently building up or tearing down some of our best young players. Connor vrs Laine vrs ehlers is the dumbest, waste of time, ridiculous, petty, embarrassing thing done by Jets fans.
- Ross77

Absolutely agree.

Absolutely agree.
- jetsnation

and I wrote that knowing I am guilty as well. I am guilty of defending whoever seems to be getting picked on, if its connor then I defend him, if its laine, same thing. I'll now be focusing all my rage to the Leafs, a team we had one more win than last year, has not improved this offseason but somehow ends up the darling of the media that they loves every off season.

Connor has a lot of uses. But acting like he’s anywhere near a finished, top end product is a mistake that can sink a franchise.

Use him like Phil Kessel. Not like Sidney Crosby.
- Rexypoo

Kyle Connor is a top end product, the closest thing we have to elite besides Hellebuyck.

Why can't you just enjoy him? Is it because you don't like the excitement of him flying down the wing, with a scoring play a very distinct possibility?

Or is it that you just like to rip a Jet, the Jets or Jets management? Continually!

You wouldn't be happy if we had McDavid, MacKinnon and Pastrnak would you? And Seth Jones on defence? You would find holes in their game. Why do you pretend to be a Jets fan?

On another note, see Marko Dano is injured, not sure if the injury required surgery or not, nut maybe "yes." The guy needs a break, but not in that way.

Perfetti got a break with Lafreniere not going to WJC

and I wrote that knowing I am guilty as well. I am guilty of defending whoever seems to be getting picked on, if its connor then I defend him, if its laine, same thing. I'll now be focusing all my rage to the Leafs, a team we had one more win than last year, has not improved this offseason but somehow ends up the darling of the media that they loves every off season.
- Ross77

This is a good post. In my opinion you have really grown Ross. You take responsibility for your words and hold others accountable for how they conduct themselves.

I am really proud of you. Perhaps when things open up, we can go for a beverage or something?

Kyle Connor is a top end product, the closest thing we have to elite besides Hellebuyck.

Why can't you just enjoy him? Is it because you don't like the excitement of him flying down the wing, with a scoring play a very distinct possibility?

Or is it that you just like to rip a Jet, the Jets or Jets management? Continually!

You wouldn't be happy if we had McDavid, MacKinnon and Pastrnak would you? And Seth Jones on defence? You would find holes in their game. Why do you pretend to be a Jets fan?

On another note, see Marko Dano is injured, not sure if the injury required surgery or not, nut maybe "yes." The guy needs a break, but not in that way.
- grahamzky

I do enjoy Kyle Connor. I would have said he was my favourite player in 2017-18 not named “Tobias”.
I am not exaggerating when I say my Kyle Connor fandom defined my entire social media presence, and a solid portion of my hockey enjoyment, between 2017 and 2019. I created a nickname to show my love for the man that the Jets ended up using (spelled incorrectly) in the time since. I have tweeted out some variation of “Isyaboi” for almost every single goal he has scored since he made the team just to show my support, and how mad I was that he got sent down after his first 21 games there.

Ross is almost certainly right in suggesting that I’m going after the wrong target in Connor, and that I’m tearing down a great young forward for nothing. I’m pissed off at this organization, and even more so at the people determined to hate on Laine. So, it would seem I target everyone’s golden boy. Even though the only two jerseys on my wall, flanking my TV, say “Laine” and “Connor”.

But to address the first part, Connor is not elite. He likely never will be. But he can be, and probably is under a different coach, a top line player right now. He needs support that he isn’t getting to maximize on his talent and cover his weaknesses. He’s a liability a lot of the time because of the line he plays on and the system he plays in. This can be fixed. Carolina gets a 50/50 season out of him next year if you put him on that roster.

I do enjoy Kyle Connor. I would have said he was my favourite player in 2017-18 not named “Tobias”.
I am not exaggerating when I say my Kyle Connor fandom defined my entire social media presence, and a solid portion of my hockey enjoyment, between 2017 and 2019. I created a nickname to show my love for the man that the Jets ended up using (spelled incorrectly) in the time since. I have tweeted out some variation of “Isyaboi” for almost every single goal he has scored since he made the team just to show my support, and how mad I was that he got sent down after his first 21 games there.

Ross is almost certainly right in suggesting that I’m going after the wrong target in Connor, and that I’m tearing down a great young forward for nothing. I’m pissed off at this organization, and even more so at the people determined to hate on Laine. So, it would seem I target everyone’s golden boy. Even though the only two jerseys on my wall, flanking my TV, say “Laine” and “Connor”.

But to address the first part, Connor is not elite. He likely never will be. But he can be, and probably is under a different coach, a top line player right now. He needs support that he isn’t getting to maximize on his talent and cover his weaknesses. He’s a liability a lot of the time because of the line he plays on and the system he plays in. This can be fixed. Carolina gets a 50/50 season out of him next year if you put him on that roster.
- Rexypoo

Great reply Rexy! You took a fair bit of time and obviously quite a bit of effort. Always appreciate that. Strangely most makes sense to me.

You have Connor and Laine - I have Connor, Ehlers, Scheifele, Wheeler and an old Byfuglien one. All were gifts, but the ones that I love the most are the Connor and Ehlers ones, the two most exciting Jets IMO.

Also pretty proud of the Wheeler jersey, he's been the heart and soul of the Winnipeg Jets since 2011.

Were we disagree here is that you don't consider Connor an elite player, whereas I do. He is definitely one of the top w12 wingers in the league - not sure if that makes elite or not, but think it might. Besides, he brings it every night!

You're right that Connor might be a 50/50 player in Carolina (or Colorado, or TB, etc) but let's not forget that the Canaes have Dougie Hamilton blasting from the point, QB'ing the PP. But that's what we miss - that stud of a PP d-man.

Insert a Heiskanen, Makar, Hughes, Sergachev, etc into our line-up and that Connor-Scheifele, Wheeler-Laine combo would fill the net. But, alas, not many stud d-men available for sale. Need that big trade if we have any chance of going to next level.

Unless someone like Heinola surprises us, we are currently in limbo.

Breaking Jets news!

Mason Appleton is now going to be wearing #22!

As I read more and more projections and opinions on the upcoming NHL season let me weigh in with what is just my opinion.

Top 5 Over rated NHL teams heading into next season.

1.Toronto
2.Carolina
3.Vancouver
4.Boston
5.Calgary

Top 5 under rated teams

1.Winnipeg
2.Dallas (yes, even though they went to cup final, no one is talking about them)
3.NYI
4.Montreal
5.Philly

* I’m more so just listing 5 each, don’t get caught up on the order

Breaking Jets news!

Mason Appleton is now going to be wearing #22!
- JetFuel

In my opinion, this move will be the definitive move of the offseason for the Jets. Total game changer!

Great reply Rexy! You took a fair bit of time and obviously quite a bit of effort. Always appreciate that. Strangely most makes sense to me.

You have Connor and Laine - I have Connor, Ehlers, Scheifele, Wheeler and an old Byfuglien one. All were gifts, but the ones that I love the most are the Connor and Ehlers ones, the two most exciting Jets IMO.

Also pretty proud of the Wheeler jersey, he's been the heart and soul of the Winnipeg Jets since 2011.

Were we disagree here is that you don't consider Connor an elite player, whereas I do. He is definitely one of the top w12 wingers in the league - not sure if that makes elite or not, but think it might. Besides, he brings it every night!

You're right that Connor might be a 50/50 player in Carolina (or Colorado, or TB, etc) but let's not forget that the Canaes have Dougie Hamilton blasting from the point, QB'ing the PP. But that's what we miss - that stud of a PP d-man.

Insert a Heiskanen, Makar, Hughes, Sergachev, etc into our line-up and that Connor-Scheifele, Wheeler-Laine combo would fill the net. But, alas, not many stud d-men available for sale. Need that big trade if we have any chance of going to next level.

Unless someone like Heinola surprises us, we are currently in limbo.
- grahamzky

A powerplay quarterback on or above Buff’s level, and a season next to either a rebounding Stastny or an emerging Andrew Copp would fix both Connor and Laine almost instantly. Connor would get a play driver and defensive cover, while Laine would get a proper playmaker.
The smart move for the Jets would be to roll 3 lines like they’re all the #1, and only have 2 of Scheifele, Connor, Laine, and Ehlers together at one time.

Try:
Perreault-Scheifele-Laine
Connor-Copp-Wheeler
Ehlers-Stastny-Roslovic
Harkins-Lowry-Appleton

If Matty P is still flatlined after a dozen games or so, promote one of Lowry’s guys.

OR

Copp-Scheifele-Laine
Connor-Stastny-Wheeler
Ehlers-Perfetti-Roslovic
Harkins-Lowry-Appleton

In my opinion, this move will be the definitive move of the offseason for the Jets. Total game changer!
- TheUltimateJet

My thinking exactly, who needs top 4 dmen when you can just change jersey numbers on some guys!?!!..

As I read more and more projections and opinions on the upcoming NHL season let me weigh in with what is just my opinion.

Top 5 Over rated NHL teams heading into next season.

1.Toronto
2.Carolina
3.Vancouver
4.Boston
5.Calgary

Top 5 under rated teams

1.Winnipeg
2.Dallas (yes, even though they went to cup final, no one is talking about them)
3.NYI
4.Montreal
5.Philly

* I’m more so just listing 5 each, don’t get caught up on the order
- Ross77

Showing you our difference of opinion:

Over-rated:
1. Dallas
2. Calgary
3. Pittsburgh
4. St. L.
5. Philly

Under-rated:
1. Montreal
2. Wash
3. NYI
4. Buff
5. Tor (1967 all over again?)

Watch out for the Sens - but not this year!

A powerplay quarterback on or above Buff’s level, and a season next to either a rebounding Stastny or an emerging Andrew Copp would fix both Connor and Laine almost instantly. Connor would get a play driver and defensive cover, while Laine would get a proper playmaker.
The smart move for the Jets would be to roll 3 lines like they’re all the #1, and only have 2 of Scheifele, Connor, Laine, and Ehlers together at one time.

Try:
Perreault-Scheifele-Laine
Connor-Copp-Wheeler
Ehlers-Stastny-Roslovic
Harkins-Lowry-Appleton

If Matty P is still flatlined after a dozen games or so, promote one of Lowry’s guys.

OR

Copp-Scheifele-Laine
Connor-Stastny-Wheeler
Ehlers-Perfetti-Roslovic
Harkins-Lowry-Appleton
- Rexypoo

Rexy, I think you grossly over-rate Copp and Perreault.

Let's be pro-active, and go out on the limb here. Maybe not a popular one!

Jets trade, due to needs and cap space in the future, Laine and Pionk to Philly for Sanheim, Konecny and a 1st (or Farabee).

So looking ahead we have:
Connor-Scheif-Wheeler
Konecny-Stastny-Ehlers
Copp-Lowry-Roslovic
Harkins-Thompson-Appleton
- Trade Perreault
- Tominato
- Gustafsson
- Vesalainen

Morrissey-Sanheim
Beaulieu-Poolman
Forbort-DeMelo
- Niku
- Sbisa
- Samberg
- Heinola stays in Finland for one more year
- Leave Perfetti in Jr for one more year

Not a bad line-up, and still have all our draft choices plus Phil 1st or Farabee. If healthy, Poolman will surprise.

Jets get a great young 6'3" d-man, soon to be a RFA to run their power play plus a forward who may score more goals than they are giving up. Plus a potential 1st or 2nd line fwd/or draft choice, and cap space.
Philly gets their generational sniper they have always coveted (who, from all reports, wants out of The Peg) plus a d-man to take Sanheim's place. May have problem with next year's cap but have options.

Its nuts how you and so many others undervalue and simply hate Laine.

Connor was having his most productive season playing with Laine who's a great passer, his glaring issues aren't really glaring, that's overblown nonsense.

Heard an interesting stat yesterday, Connor, Scheifele and Laine were all on pace for their most productive seasons of their careers before they were split up.
- JetFuel

I think my assessment of Laine is fair. Top 3 shooter in this league (probably the best from 20'+ out). That being said, he's a bottom 5 player in the NHL when not possessing the puck. I'm a fan of the Jets and really wish I could be a fan of this guy, but I am not. He doesn't generate chances, he doesn't make his line-mates more dangerous, he simply has an unreal shot. His salary this year is fine with me, but if he thinks he is getting a long term deal at 9M AAV, I'd happily see him pack his bags in exchange for another proven player in this league.

And it's no surprise that Connor Schiefele and Lainer were on pace for their best seasons. Two outstanding playmakers and a sniper. Nothing wrong with that balance.

I don't hate Laine. But if he inks a big deal, he'd better make massive improvements to his game beyond shooting.

Can you explain why Connor sees such a steep drop off in production away from Scheifele if he’s such a high end player?
Or how he is invariably destroyed in defensive situations, but somehow remains a top two-way winger?

You would think a player of that caliber with those skill sets would eventually start to show evidence of any of it.
- Rexypoo

It's because they never had a 2C..... If Schiefs gets injured, Wheels become 1C out of nowhere. That's why they gave up 2 of their past 3 1st round picks for rentals at 2C. You know this Rex. Who's stats increase when not playing with Schiefs? Stop badgering with the analytics and watch the game. Connor can play at a very high level.

Rexy, I think you grossly over-rate Copp and Perreault.

Let's be pro-active, and go out on the limb here. Maybe not a popular one!

Jets trade, due to needs and cap space in the future, Laine and Pionk to Philly for Sanheim, Konecny and a 1st (or Farabee).

So looking ahead we have:
Connor-Scheif-Wheeler
Konecny-Stastny-Ehlers
Copp-Lowry-Roslovic
Harkins-Thompson-Appleton
- Trade Perreault
- Tominato
- Gustafsson
- Vesalainen

Morrissey-Sanheim
Beaulieu-Poolman
Forbort-DeMelo
- Niku
- Sbisa
- Samberg
- Heinola stays in Finland for one more year
- Leave Perfetti in Jr for one more year

Not a bad line-up, and still have all our draft choices plus Phil 1st or Farabee. If healthy, Poolman will surprise.

Jets get a great young 6'3" d-man, soon to be a RFA to run their power play plus a forward who may score more goals than they are giving up. Plus a potential 1st or 2nd line fwd/or draft choice, and cap space.
Philly gets their generational sniper they have always coveted (who, from all reports, wants out of The Peg) plus a d-man to take Sanheim's place. May have problem with next year's cap but have options.
- grahamzky

I’m not overrating Perreault, I’m giving him a chance to rebound to his former capabilities. He was a top line forward up until 18-19, so I’m willing to give him some leash. If he’s done, he moves down.

As for one Andrew Copp, I do believe you are severely underrating him.
Not only was he the league’s best penalty killer last season, he was also the 3rd best forward on the Jets in terms of his impact. Only Ehlers and Scheifele offered more to the team last season than Copp up front.
Even counting Hellebuyck’s Hart level performance, and the likelihood of DeMelo being in the top ranks as well due to him having the second highest WAR on our blueline even though he only played 10 games for us, that still makes Andrew Copp comfortably a top 5 player for the team heading in to this next season.

As for the lineup, you’ve got:
- A top line that has been destroyed on a nightly basis for two years.
- A third line that will continue to not score due to the absence of a shooter. This is a lesson Maurice continues to ignore.
- A 4th line where you ask a rookie Harkins and Mason Appleton to carry an AHL caliber centre
- A top pairing with Sanheim playing his off-side, which almost always comes with a fall off in performance.
- A second pairing that would get absolutely obliterated due to both Beaulieu and Poolman only being #6 defenceman at 100% health.
- A third pairing that, while likely extremely good, is a total waste of your current #1 defenceman’s talent. With the possible bonus of pissing off your newest signee in a time where the Jets’ reputation among players is very, very much in jeopardy. Not to mention now paying 3mil for a guy in a position where 800k would do.

I think my assessment of Laine is fair. Top 3 shooter in this league (probably the best from 20'+ out). That being said, he's a bottom 5 player in the NHL when not possessing the puck. I'm a fan of the Jets and really wish I could be a fan of this guy, but I am not. He doesn't generate chances, he doesn't make his line-mates more dangerous, he simply has an unreal shot. His salary this year is fine with me, but if he thinks he is getting a long term deal at 9M AAV, I'd happily see him pack his bags in exchange for another proven player in this league.

And it's no surprise that Connor Schiefele and Lainer were on pace for their best seasons. Two outstanding playmakers and a sniper. Nothing wrong with that balance.

I don't hate Laine. But if he inks a big deal, he'd better make massive improvements to his game beyond shooting.
- bikeguy99

Bottom 5 player in the NHL when he doesn't have the puck', my gawd what overblown nonsense that statement is.

Ummm he just has an unreal shot but he had more assists then goals and Connor was on pace for a career high in goals but that's totally unrelated.
Laine haters just want to ignore all of his contributions and stick to the very tired 'one trick pony' narrative, he'd be worth every bit of $9M on a long term deal, hopefully Chevy realizes he's gonna have to pay the biggest star he has.

You clearly just don't like Laine and have a hard on for Scheifele and Connor.

Rexy, I think you grossly over-rate Copp and Perreault.

Let's be pro-active, and go out on the limb here. Maybe not a popular one!

Jets trade, due to needs and cap space in the future, Laine and Pionk to Philly for Sanheim, Konecny and a 1st (or Farabee).

So looking ahead we have:
Connor-Scheif-Wheeler
Konecny-Stastny-Ehlers
Copp-Lowry-Roslovic
Harkins-Thompson-Appleton
- Trade Perreault
- Tominato
- Gustafsson
- Vesalainen

Morrissey-Sanheim
Beaulieu-Poolman
Forbort-DeMelo
- Niku
- Sbisa
- Samberg
- Heinola stays in Finland for one more year
- Leave Perfetti in Jr for one more year

Not a bad line-up, and still have all our draft choices plus Phil 1st or Farabee. If healthy, Poolman will surprise.

Jets get a great young 6'3" d-man, soon to be a RFA to run their power play plus a forward who may score more goals than they are giving up. Plus a potential 1st or 2nd line fwd/or draft choice, and cap space.
Philly gets their generational sniper they have always coveted (who, from all reports, wants out of The Peg) plus a d-man to take Sanheim's place. May have problem with next year's cap but have options.
- grahamzky

Laine and Pionk for Koneckny, Sanheim and 1st or Farabee is pretty bad for the Jets and does absolutely nothing to improve them, at best it's a lateral move but realistically it makes them much worse.

Chevy should've made the D.Toews or R.Murray trade or both even, acquiring both of those guys would of drastically improved this mediocre D core.

Rexy does overrate Copp but Copp is much better then Lowry, nothing changes with this team until the 3C position is improved.