Jacob Billington: Jets Prospect Rankings: 20-11, Ft. Spinorama Hockey

It's time the Jets make room for at least 3 d-men and 3 bottom 6 forwards. Enough of these retreads like Toinato, Schmidt and any of their free agent signings. Play the draft and develop kids and help them learn the NHL game. Stop going into the season with 4th line players playing in top 6 positions and hanging on to mistake prone d-men.

It's time the Jets make room for at least 3 d-men and 3 bottom 6 forwards. Enough of these retreads like Toinato, Schmidt and any of their free agent signings. Play the draft and develop kids and help them learn the NHL game. Stop going into the season with 4th line players playing in top 6 positions and hanging on to mistake prone d-men.
- islansjet

I agree. Kovacevic, Chisholm, Gawanke and Heinola are all ready for the NHL, or at least ready for a chance. Obviously all 4 is too much, but if you can move Stanley, Schmidt and Dillon, and rotate the 3 of them during a re-tool phase, that's not terrible.

I don't agree as much up front, sure there are also a lot of guys close there, too, but a bottom 6 including Barron, Appleton, Lowry, Toninato, Harkins and maybe Gustafsson isn't horrible. Changes in the top 6 are where its at.

I agree. Kovacevic, Chisholm, Gawanke and Heinola are all ready for the NHL, or at least ready for a chance. Obviously all 4 is too much, but if you can move Stanley, Schmidt and Dillon, and rotate the 3 of them during a re-tool phase, that's not terrible.

I don't agree as much up front, sure there are also a lot of guys close there, too, but a bottom 6 including Barron, Appleton, Lowry, Toninato, Harkins and maybe Gustafsson isn't horrible. Changes in the top 6 are where its at.
- Jacob Billington

Toninato is a small non physical waste of a roster space that could easily be replaced by several prospects in the minors. I would also prefer to keep Stanley with Heinola, Samberg and one other prospect and keep only Morrissey and maybe Pionk. This defense needs to get bigger and more physical. Last years defense never played the body, surrendered endless shots and were often hemmed in their own zone. What is the point keeping poor defenders under the guise of having young players learn from them. What will they learn, how to play soft and make endless mistakes?

I agree. Kovacevic, Chisholm, Gawanke and Heinola are all ready for the NHL, or at least ready for a chance. Obviously all 4 is too much, but if you can move Stanley, Schmidt and Dillon, and rotate the 3 of them during a re-tool phase, that's not terrible.

I don't agree as much up front, sure there are also a lot of guys close there, too, but a bottom 6 including Barron, Appleton, Lowry, Toninato, Harkins and maybe Gustafsson isn't horrible. Changes in the top 6 are where its at.
- Jacob Billington

If Chevy was going to move dmen or anybody for that matter it would have happened all ready.
I hope Samberg, Heinola, and Chisholm enjoy the Moose and Kovacevic and Gawanke enjoy the press box.

If Chevy was going to move dmen or anybody for that matter it would have happened all ready.
I hope Samberg, Heinola, and Chisholm enjoy the Moose and Kovacevic and Gawanke enjoy the press box.
- BWJumper

Thats what it is looking like. Gawanke and Kovacevic need to pass waivers to play in Manitoba, I would be fine if Chisholm, Samberg and Heinola start in the AHL, but can't have those two on waivers and/or in the press-box. I would agree on the fact that Chevy would have moved some D by now, but the Kadri situation for many teams may be preventing that, same with how long it took Klingberg to sign. A team like the NYI are in on Kadri, but if that falls through, they have cap they need to spend and may look for D. Anything can happen

Toninato is a small non physical waste of a roster space that could easily be replaced by several prospects in the minors. I would also prefer to keep Stanley with Heinola, Samberg and one other prospect and keep only Morrissey and maybe Pionk. This defense needs to get bigger and more physical. Last years defense never played the body, surrendered endless shots and were often hemmed in their own zone. What is the point keeping poor defenders under the guise of having young players learn from them. What will they learn, how to play soft and make endless mistakes?
- islansjet

The Jets don't have any forward depth. Right now Barron, Perfetti and Gustafsson are on the roster, whose their first call up Lucius. Then who? career ahlers.

Granted I'm sure Chevy will pick up a couple of junk veterans to send Barron down

The Jets don't have any forward depth. Right now Barron, Perfetti and Gustafsson are on the roster, whose their first call up Lucius. Then who? career ahlers.

Granted I'm sure Chevy will pick up a couple of junk veterans to send Barron down
- BWJumper

Some of the top call-ups would be Malott and Reichel. I have no problem with them being the next guys up. Poganski and Suess provided some other depth that is serviceable. Your call-ups aren't necessarily supposed to be elite players, but Lucius, Gustafsson, Reichel and Malott can be serviceable. If Chevy adds one of Ennis, Aston-Reese, Milano, etc than the depth actually looks quite good on paper. Like I said above, it's the top six that needs more love than the depth.

Some of the top call-ups would be Malott and Reichel. I have no problem with them being the next guys up. Poganski and Suess provided some other depth that is serviceable. Your call-ups aren't necessarily supposed to be elite players, but Lucius, Gustafsson, Reichel and Malott can be serviceable. If Chevy adds one of Ennis, Aston-Reese, Milano, etc than the depth actually looks quite good on paper. Like I said above, it's the top six that needs more love than the depth.
- Jacob Billington

The current top 6 doesn't have a hole in it.

People crap on Scheifele. He was on a 100 point pace from december on, Wheeler was still almost a point per game. Ehlers, Conner are fantastic. PLD was good and Perfetti a rookie with promise.

Now if you are planning 2 years in the future where PLD is gone Wheeler contract up and probably done for. Along with Scheifele contract up and probably shouldn't be signed to a mega deal then yeah it needs work.

The current top 6 doesn't have a hole in it.

People crap on Scheifele. He was on a 100 point pace from december on, Wheeler was still almost a point per game. Ehlers, Conner are fantastic. PLD was good and Perfetti a rookie with promise.

Now if you are planning 2 years in the future where PLD is gone Wheeler contract up and probably done for. Along with Scheifele contract up and probably shouldn't be signed to a mega deal then yeah it needs work.
- BWJumper

Sure, you make a lot of great points. I just don't think there is a good balance in the top-six. A line of Ehlers-Scheifele-Wheeler will not defend at all, and with Connor-Dubois-Perfetti, I have a lot of faith in this being a very effective line, but who knows how Dubois will be playing with so much weight on his name right now. Perfetti, provided he stays healthy, should have a fantastic season as well. I like Scheifele, I like Wheeler, but not together. I think if you swap Wheeler and Perfetti, we may have something better, but it's a tricky spot to be in

**Edit: I also am sort of thinking in that 2 year range as well. Not just for what October looks like

Sure, you make a lot of great points. I just don't think there is a good balance in the top-six. A line of Ehlers-Scheifele-Wheeler will not defend at all, and with Connor-Dubois-Perfetti, I have a lot of faith in this being a very effective line, but who knows how Dubois will be playing with so much weight on his name right now. Perfetti, provided he stays healthy, should have a fantastic season as well. I like Scheifele, I like Wheeler, but not together. I think if you swap Wheeler and Perfetti, we may have something better, but it's a tricky spot to be in

**Edit: I also am sort of thinking in that 2 year range as well. Not just for what October looks like
- Jacob Billington

I'll only add that if the master plan was to make Perfetti a center, then he should be doing that as the 3c and the Jets should add another top 6 player.

And to help Chevy out he should look to Florida who are 3m over the cap and if they can't dump Hornqvist that means Verhaeghe or Duclair has to go.

If I’m the Jets, I see no reason not to sell off the entire blueline (not including the top pairing).

Get whatever you can.
Sell Schmidt, Dillon, and Stanley to the highest bidder. Try and get Garland out of Vancouver for Pionk.

You know Morrissey and DeMelo can win the majority of the matchups as your top pairing, so say “f*ck it” and let Samberg, Heinola, Kovacevic, Gawanke, and Chisholm rotate the other 4 spots.
As is, our blueline isn’t playoff quality. Take a chance on maybe bad instead of known bad.

Garland let’s you finally demote Wheeler. He’s a perfect 3rd for Connor and Dubois.
Throw Perfetti up with Ehlers and Scheifele.

Try:
Perfetti-Scheifele-Ehlers
Connor-Dubois-Garland
Appleton-Gustafsson-Wheeler
Barron-Lowry-Reichel
Harkins

Morrissey-DeMelo
Heinola-Kovacevic
Samberg-Chisholm
Gawanke

Sure, you make a lot of great points. I just don't think there is a good balance in the top-six. A line of Ehlers-Scheifele-Wheeler will not defend at all, and with Connor-Dubois-Perfetti, I have a lot of faith in this being a very effective line, but who knows how Dubois will be playing with so much weight on his name right now. Perfetti, provided he stays healthy, should have a fantastic season as well. I like Scheifele, I like Wheeler, but not together. I think if you swap Wheeler and Perfetti, we may have something better, but it's a tricky spot to be in

**Edit: I also am sort of thinking in that 2 year range as well. Not just for what October looks like
- Jacob Billington

Wheeler doesn’t have the speed to play at 81/80 pace. They also need defensive help and puck support more than anything, and Wheeler does not provide either at this stage. Hell of a playmaker, but bad fit for those two.

They had a guy who did that, on the absolute cheap, and they didn’t qualify him

I agree. Kovacevic, Chisholm, Gawanke and Heinola are all ready for the NHL, or at least ready for a chance. Obviously all 4 is too much, but if you can move Stanley, Schmidt and Dillon, and rotate the 3 of them during a re-tool phase, that's not terrible.

I don't agree as much up front, sure there are also a lot of guys close there, too, but a bottom 6 including Barron, Appleton, Lowry, Toninato, Harkins and maybe Gustafsson isn't horrible. Changes in the top 6 are where its at.
- Jacob Billington

If they make no other changes the top 6 will be fine, has some warts sure but it'll be fine.

That bottom six is weak and has been weak for a long time, unless Lowry and Appleton can repeat their 20-21 performance or Harkins has a massive breakout season (which all seems very unlikely) it'll be just more of the same from the Jets bottom six which has been their biggest downfall.

I'll only add that if the master plan was to make Perfetti a center, then he should be doing that as the 3c and the Jets should add another top 6 player.

And to help Chevy out he should look to Florida who are 3m over the cap and if they can't dump Hornqvist that means Verhaeghe or Duclair has to go.
- BWJumper

Florida is very likely to take a step back this season, they probably overachieved last season anyway but now have lost some key guys including their #2 dman, have no cap space, spent a lot of futures and have hired a coach who's probably not a good fit for the team they have, would be good to get their 2023 1st round pick(with some other pieces) that Montreal has for Dubois.

Florida is very likely to take a step back this season, they probably overachieved last season anyway but now have lost some key guys including their #2 dman, have no cap space, spent a lot of futures and have hired a coach who's probably not a good fit for the team they have, would be good to get their 2023 1st round pick(with some other pieces) that Montreal has for Dubois.
- JetFuel

Uncle Paul typically has one great season with a team before they fall off. I think this year Florida will do amazing and next year will be the giant fall-off.

Great summary of the prospects. The only one I disagree with is Berdin. He seems to be a bust. I'll admit his save percentage and GAA could easily improve if he had better judgement with his high danger plays. He however seems to give up a bad goal every second game and in case of the playoffs, was the primary reason the Moose were bumped from the Calder Cup Playoffs giving up a free one every game.
At this point in his career, it just seems coaching and experience can't get him to stop stick handling attempts around forechecking forwards, using the body behind the net to create a turnover or even icing the puck going for an empty net goal instead of just letting the team clear the zone.