Jacob Billington: Jets take on Golden Knights; Big game in playoff push

where the Jets should focus should they move closer and closer to the playoffs:

so much still depends on the games this week. If we are still within 4 points at TDL we can't sell and need to hang on to Copp, Dillon and Stasny as 'own rentals'. Trading them when a playoff spot is within reach is the wrong message to both the players and fans. A playoff spot also means millions of dollars to True North.

gained from holding on to the UFAs at TDL:
- cap space to sign/extend Dubois and a few others
- roster space for Perfetti, Gustafson and a few others to compete for
- meaningful games down the stretch and hopefully playoffs with higher end lineup

lost from holding on to the UFAs at TDL:
- a package of picks/prospects (in a draft year that is not as strong?)
- 2022/23 loses a strong middle six player and an aging vet

Alternative scenarios
- if Copp concussion is substantial enough to be shut down until playoffs then his cap space can be used to pick up a player/leveraged to gain an asset

As much as the Connor/Dubois/Ehlers line is fun to watch the lines also work well with Svechnikov/Dubois and Ehlers/Lowry. Ehlers creates a similar amount of offence regardless of where he plays and can be moved 'up' when we need a goal.

A scoring winger would be nice but the next biggest need for this team - and much more attainable - is improving the fourth line. I am a Harkins fan and his speed and hustle makes the line work somewhat but Vesalainen/Toninato can be improved on. I don't see either as shut down defensive guys and they dont score, hit or fight.

Please beat them, I would love nothing more then to see Jack Eichel not make the playoffs and our pick get better that we got from them.

The Jets have to be sellers at the deadline. They just are to up and down to do any damage if they sneak into a wild card position.

I’d like to see a play on chychrun. I don’t see them willing to part with enough, but cap restraints are going to limit them from truly being able to be a contender.

Morrissey
Harkins
2023 1st (top-3 protected)

Morrissey is not a bad D man. But he eats too much cap for what he brings to the ice.

Harkins is a good depth guy, but replaceable.

2023 pick is likely second half of the draft if we can create some cap space for an impact player to fill the Copp hole which should be vacant (and give more wiggle room after resigning PLD).

I’d like to see a play on chychrun. I don’t see them willing to part with enough, but cap restraints are going to limit them from truly being able to be a contender.

Morrissey
Harkins
2023 1st (top-3 protected)

Morrissey is not a bad D man. But he eats too much cap for what he brings to the ice.

Harkins is a good depth guy, but replaceable.

2023 pick is likely second half of the draft if we can create some cap space for an impact player to fill the Copp hole which should be vacant (and give more wiggle room after resigning PLD).
- Burnt_juice

Trade Morrissey in a deal for Chychrun.......Blasphemy ! I might not do that deal straight up let alone for the rest of your packaged suggestion. Definitely, no way the Jets should ever give up a draft pick in the first two rounds of 2023.

The Jets have to be sellers at the deadline. They just are to up and down to do any damage if they sneak into a wild card position.
- islansjet

I agree because I don't think they can win the Cup without some scoring from the third and fourth lines. That all being said, if the Jets were to win the next three into the deadline then it does indeed change the type of deal that Chevy is going to try and make.

While the Jets need to beat Vegas tonight, the focus in my eyes is clearly on Dallas and Edmonton. Those two OT losses to Dallas are still clear in my mind and that distant loss early in the year with two seconds left is still in my memory banks.

I’d like to see a play on chychrun. I don’t see them willing to part with enough, but cap restraints are going to limit them from truly being able to be a contender.

Morrissey
Harkins
2023 1st (top-3 protected)

Morrissey is not a bad D man. But he eats too much cap for what he brings to the ice.

Harkins is a good depth guy, but replaceable.

2023 pick is likely second half of the draft if we can create some cap space for an impact player to fill the Copp hole which should be vacant (and give more wiggle room after resigning PLD).
- Burnt_juice

Arizona would never do that though, Morrissey doesn't fit the Yotes timeline at all.

I just can't see the Jets trading Morrissey anyway, they drafted him, he's an assistant captain and extended here long term, doesn't seem like a guy they'd trade.

Rumor is for Chycrun the Coyotes wanted something similar to what Eichel went for.

So say a 1st, 2nd, Heinola, and another piece, what that other piece would be though who knows, I'm thinking it'd have to be something good.

I'm getting the feeling that the Jets might climb back into a playoff position over the next 10 games or so and then they hit a wall when they play Florida, Tampa, NYR, Carolina, and then the Avalanche. Basically the best five teams in the NHL and all in a row. A betting man would not be taking the Jets to make the playoffs.

If the Jets do sneak in then they are rewarded by playing the Avs who rarely lose on home ice . Chevy needs to do what he needs to do .

Trade Morrissey in a deal for Chychrun.......Blasphemy ! I might not do that deal straight up let alone for the rest of your packaged suggestion. Definitely, no way the Jets should ever give up a draft pick in the first two rounds of 2023.
- jetsnation

Agreed, i think Chychrun is a bit over rated. he has had one decent year and is very injury prone throughout his career

I'm getting the feeling that the Jets might climb back into a playoff position over the next 10 games or so and then they hit a wall when they play Florida, Tampa, NYR, Carolina, and then the Avalanche. Basically the best five teams in the NHL and all in a row. A betting man would not be taking the Jets to make the playoffs.

If the Jets do sneak in then they are rewarded by playing the Avs who rarely lose on home ice . Chevy needs to do what he needs to do .
- jetsnation

yes, sell sell sell

we dont seem to be missing copp tonight.

Agree to disagree on chychrun. Understood many think he’s overrated. However he’s playing in Arizona. Jets need a PP quarterback and cap room. My proposal gives both, and the 2023 could be 20+ Picks deep. We’ll never know, since it won’t happen. But don’t be surprised if chychrun becomes a stud in the right setting.

Agree to disagree on chychrun. Understood many think he’s overrated. However he’s playing in Arizona. Jets need a PP quarterback and cap room. My proposal gives both, and the 2023 could be 20+ Picks deep. We’ll never know, since it won’t happen. But don’t be surprised if chychrun becomes a stud in the right setting.
- Burnt_juice

I will agree that the Jets need a true PP quarterback. The Jets don't have a Dman who is in the top 35 in NHL defensive scoring. Good PP quarterbacks generally have almost twice the points of the Jet's top-scoring Dman in Nate Schmidt. The problem is that upcoming UFA's like Letang , Klingberg, and Giordiano come at a severe price which the Jets likely cannot afford with the Dubios contract looming. The only way is to grow from within and hope that Heinola might be the guy to play that role down the road. I don't think the answer though is Chychrun. Morrissey is the better player.

Agree to disagree on chychrun. Understood many think he’s overrated. However he’s playing in Arizona. Jets need a PP quarterback and cap room. My proposal gives both, and the 2023 could be 20+ Picks deep. We’ll never know, since it won’t happen. But don’t be surprised if chychrun becomes a stud in the right setting.
- Burnt_juice

i wont be surprised if his career goes either way, but im happy with Morrisey, and his personality off the ice and the way he is viewed by team mates and management is a bonus

i wont be surprised if his career goes either way, but im happy with Morrisey, and his personality off the ice and the way he is viewed by team mates and management is a bonus
- Ross77

I think Morrisey has stepped it up this year and is looking more like that minute munching consistent Dman identity the Jets were banking on. Maturity perhaps?

Adam Lowry....... lots of -ve posts on this board and I will agree that his offence or lack of was one of the blackholes that was identified and discussed.

I had a tendency to overlook the -ve discussion as his FO stats, hits, D zone FO starts showed that he was very valuable despite the lack of prod'n.

Now, not to jump on the prod'n bandwagon as obviously he has "picked" it up lately, but one thing I have noticed particularly this year is that he is faster or quicker then he ever use to be. This is only eye test but he can outskate opposition now where he never did that before.

He must have been consistently working on his skating quickness as he is just plain simply faster or quicker today then he was in the past. Just mop.

i wont be surprised if his career goes either way, but im happy with Morrisey, and his personality off the ice and the way he is viewed by team mates and management is a bonus
- Ross77

“Locker room guys” are definitely part of what has handicapped the Jets 2.0. You can’t avoid moving players (if the opportunity is there to improve the team) simply because they are well-liked. I’m sorry, but hockey is a business… friendships cloud judgement and limit opportunities.

Wheeler, Ladd before him, Morrissey now. It took Maurice resigning after management wouldn’t cut him loose because they liked him, even though it was clear we needed a new voice and direction years ago (2019’s brutal second half with no line-up or strategic changes was where this became evident he’d run his course). Loyalties may have also allowed a locker room divide leading to the dissatisfaction and ultimate departure of what should have been an elite sniping winger. However, the last point is pure speculation.

Chevy is the next guy on the list of Jets’ employees who have received more patience/trust from ownership than warranted (maybe… maybe not). The moves for Dillon/Schmidt were needed sooner, but this looked like an obvious “I’m running outta time, gotta do something before it’s too late” effort. I think you’ll see him be aggressive as a buyer OR seller, because I think he’s at the end of his rope. Gotta strike when the iron is hot in terms of “going for it”.

Last point of contention: move Wheeler OFF the top PP. Ehlers needs to swap in. Understood that Ehlers has always been 2nd PP due to his ability to gain the zone with control by himself. But it’s more important to have your top PP and most talented players in the zone for the first minute+ of PP rather than save your best entry forward for later. It’s like conserving mcdavid’s energy for the shootout by sitting him for overtime… (a bit of an exaggeration, but point made). Wheeler can pass around with 2nd PP.

Anyhow, jets need change. Loyalties seem to be a common trend in the problem areas. Keep doing the same thing expecting different results? There’s a word for that…