Jacob Billington: Jets Sign Morgan Barron, 2x$1.35 million, 3 contracts left

Like you say, a good signing by the Jets. Fair on both sides as it gives Barron a chance to establish himself, and the Jets a chance for further evaluation.

Vilardi is the interesting case. I would like the Jets to take a swing for the fences and sign him long term (I realize he has had injuries), like some of the other teams have done with their young players. But you are probably right, bridge deal.

Scheifele needs to go - now - so we can see where we're at IMO.

Back end? Feel that a guy like Schmidt or DeMelo may get dealt which would help with salary cap, if needed. But are the young d-men ready to step in? The jury is still out but guess only one way to find out.

Salary cap? Everyone seems to want to signing short term contracts because of expected salary cap increase. Well guess where any salary cap increase is going to go - to the Matthews, Marners, McDavids, etc of the world - not the 3rd or 4th liners, or 2nd/3rd pairing D-men.

Like you say, a good signing by the Jets. Fair on both sides as it gives Barron a chance to establish himself, and the Jets a chance for further evaluation.

Vilardi is the interesting case. I would like the Jets to take a swing for the fences and sign him long term (I realize he has had injuries), like some of the other teams have done with their young players. But you are probably right, bridge deal.

Scheifele needs to go - now - so we can see where we're at IMO.

Back end? Feel that a guy like Schmidt or DeMelo may get dealt which would help with salary cap, if needed. But are the young d-men ready to step in? The jury is still out but guess only one way to find out.

Salary cap? Everyone seems to want to signing short term contracts because of expected salary cap increase. Well guess where any salary cap increase is going to go - to the Matthews, Marners, McDavids, etc of the world - not the 3rd or 4th liners, or 2nd/3rd pairing D-men.
- grahamzky

Not sure if Schmidt and his contract are tradeable. DeMelo may be tradeable, but that leaves a hole on the right side, that Heinola cannot fill. RHD's are in short supply.

Like you say, a good signing by the Jets. Fair on both sides as it gives Barron a chance to establish himself, and the Jets a chance for further evaluation.

Vilardi is the interesting case. I would like the Jets to take a swing for the fences and sign him long term (I realize he has had injuries), like some of the other teams have done with their young players. But you are probably right, bridge deal.

Scheifele needs to go - now - so we can see where we're at IMO.

Back end? Feel that a guy like Schmidt or DeMelo may get dealt which would help with salary cap, if needed. But are the young d-men ready to step in? The jury is still out but guess only one way to find out.

Salary cap? Everyone seems to want to signing short term contracts because of expected salary cap increase. Well guess where any salary cap increase is going to go - to the Matthews, Marners, McDavids, etc of the world - not the 3rd or 4th liners, or 2nd/3rd pairing D-men.
- grahamzky

You’ll have to pay to move Schmidt. Given that we aren’t in a position to contend, and he’s a beloved locker room guy, I’d rather let him be an overpaid but solid 5/6 guy.

DeMelo is irreplaceable at that cap hit, and has no trade value because the NHL can’t evaluate defence. Keep him

Not sure if Schmidt and his contract are tradeable. DeMelo may be tradeable, but that leaves a hole on the right side, that Heinola cannot fill. RHD's are in short supply.
- bennythehat

see this is exactly what I'm talking about it!!! Heinola makes 900k, Scmidt makes over 5 million. We are not a good team!!! Pionk, Dillon and Scmidt are all around 30, are NOT good and all over paid!!! why, please why would anyone prefer to watch them make mistakes when at least Heinola still has a chance to develop and improve.

Why do you tear apart Heinola's mistakes and believe he cant play but turn a blind eye to the plethora of mistakes that the three I mentioned all make every single game, all while being too old, and far over paid????? we suck because of these D. I'd rather suck with a kid playing who still has a chance to develop then over pay crap older D who suck just as bad, probably worse!!!!

Not sure if Schmidt and his contract are tradeable. DeMelo may be tradeable, but that leaves a hole on the right side, that Heinola cannot fill. RHD's are in short supply.
- bennythehat

As you say, RHD are in short supply. I know NS is a lefty but he usually plays the right side, which I think will catch the eyes of other NHL teams, come trade deadline, if not before.

Fans keep wanting our "kids" to play, well need to make room. Still hoping a Scheifele or Hellebuyck trade brings us in a up-grade on the right side.

You’ll have to pay to move Schmidt. Given that we aren’t in a position to contend, and he’s a beloved locker room guy, I’d rather let him be an overpaid but solid 5/6 guy.

DeMelo is irreplaceable at that cap hit, and has no trade value because the NHL can’t evaluate defence. Keep him
- Rexypoo

With both DeMelo and Dillon UFA's next year, got to believe they will be moved out, a la Scheif and Helle, before the trade deadline, if they don't resign. They both should have decent value.

Maybe it's not our defencemen that suck so badly.
We have a few forwards who don't really backcheck well, or at all.
We lose more faceoffs than we win.
We have a goalie who has issues handling the puck.

I don't dislike Heinola......he is just not the right guy at this time, on this team. We just cannot have 4 smallish defencemen. (Pionk/DeMelo/Morrissey + Heinola)

Maybe it's not our defencemen that suck so badly.
We have a few forwards who don't really backcheck well, or at all.
We lose more faceoffs than we win.
We have a goalie who has issues handling the puck.

I don't dislike Heinola......he is just not the right guy at this time, on this team. We just cannot have 4 smallish defencemen. (Pionk/DeMelo/Morrissey + Heinola)
- bennythehat

do you see how often Dillon and Stanleyt get beat in front of our net?

Pionk
Stanley
Smidt
Dillon

are all not the right D for this team right now

do you see how often Dillon and Stanleyt get beat in front of our net?

Pionk
Stanley
Smidt
Dillon

are all not the right D for this team right now
- Ross77

Yes..... but no other team wants Schmidt or Pionks contract. Rexy is right in that you would have to pay to get rid of Schmidt.

Teams would claim Stanley on a waiver claim so all they have to do is wait for Chevy to expose him....like Kovecevic

Dillon might be tradeable closer to the trade deadline..... you would think....

Pionk and DeMelo are the only two right handed dmen on the jets current roster. Neither of them are going anywhere this year for that reason alone.

Schmidt’s contract is untradeable. He’s only got two years left on his deal and is liked in the locker room. For that reason, it may be best to let him finish the last two years of his contract.

Samberg has clearly asserted himself in the starting six dmen. For that reason, I think it may be best to move one or more of Heinola, Stanley and Chisholm, all 3 of which are left handed dmen.

Lastly, it may take another month or two but I still believe both Scheifele and hellebuyck get moved for young players that can join the starting line up sooner rather than later.

Pionk and DeMelo are the only two right handed dmen on the jets current roster. Neither of them are going anywhere this year for that reason alone.

Schmidt’s contract is untradeable. He’s only got two years left on his deal and is liked in the locker room. For that reason, it may be best to let him finish the last two years of his contract.

Samberg has clearly asserted himself in the starting six dmen. For that reason, I think it may be best to move one or more of Heinola, Stanley and Chisholm, all 3 of which are left handed dmen.

Lastly, it may take another month or two but I still believe both Scheifele and hellebuyck get moved for young players that can join the starting line up sooner rather than later.
- knagra

Your assessment of our d-men is bang-on !

With both DeMelo and Dillon UFA's next year, got to believe they will be moved out, a la Scheif and Helle, before the trade deadline, if they don't resign. They both should have decent value.
- grahamzky

Dillon I would agree with. We have a lot of lefties, and he is creeping towards a sharp decline.

DeMelo is less likely to decline any time soon, or as rapidly, and will be cheaper. He’s also the better player.

Maybe it's not our defencemen that suck so badly.
We have a few forwards who don't really backcheck well, or at all.
We lose more faceoffs than we win.
We have a goalie who has issues handling the puck.

I don't dislike Heinola......he is just not the right guy at this time, on this team. We just cannot have 4 smallish defencemen. (Pionk/DeMelo/Morrissey + Heinola)
- bennythehat

Colorado won with their top 4 guys being Makar, Toews, Girard, and Byram

Colorado won with their top 4 guys being Makar, Toews, Girard, and Byram
- Rexypoo

Girard broke his sternum in the 3rd round, didn't return. Manson played the closing minutes of every close game.

Colorado with those 4 D averaging just around 6’ is like Hayley’s Comet.

This year was now the 21st out of 23 years where the D is 6’2” average

It still comes down to will to win, being competent or even nasty in front of our net….we don’t have that.

You can have 5’10” Dmen but if they can’t dominate offensively or up the grit in the playoffs you don’t have a hope

Colorado with those 4 D averaging just around 6’ is like Hayley’s Comet.

This year was now the 21st out of 23 years where the D is 6’2” average

It still comes down to will to win, being competent or even nasty in front of our net….we don’t have that.

You can have 5’10” Dmen but if they can’t dominate offensively or up the grit in the playoffs you don’t have a hope
- jjonah

Believe they said when the Knights beat the Jets in the first playoff round that the Knights avg size top-6 d-men were 6'2, 197. And with some snarl!

Girard broke his sternum in the 3rd round, didn't return. Manson played the closing minutes of every close game.
- 2.0

Manson is on the same tier of capability as Schmidt. Fine to have, but overpaid, and not a real difference maker

Colorado with those 4 D averaging just around 6’ is like Hayley’s Comet.

This year was now the 21st out of 23 years where the D is 6’2” average

It still comes down to will to win, being competent or even nasty in front of our net….we don’t have that.

You can have 5’10” Dmen but if they can’t dominate offensively or up the grit in the playoffs you don’t have a hope
- jjonah

Other than Victor Hedman, all of the top 30 defenceman in the league are either 6’ or under, or under 200lbs

Believe they said when the Knights beat the Jets in the first playoff round that the Knights avg size top-6 d-men were 6'2, 197. And with some snarl!
- grahamzky

How many goals have been scored from right in front of our own net in the last 2 seasons ? Lots !
Forwards are not afraid to camp out there.

If we are bringing Colorado and Vegas into the discussion, I note that neither had a "Franchise Goalie" when they won their cups.

Believe they said when the Knights beat the Jets in the first playoff round that the Knights avg size top-6 d-men were 6'2, 197. And with some snarl!
- grahamzky

They won via being more talented, with a smaller forward group worth noting.
Same with Colorado, and Tampa before them. Talent over everything

How many goals have been scored from right in front of our own net in the last 2 seasons ? Lots !
Forwards are not afraid to camp out there.

If we are bringing Colorado and Vegas into the discussion, I note that neither had a "Franchise Goalie" when they won their cups.
- bennythehat

The worst offenders on our team when it comes to leaving the net front open, and letting players get chances in close are the bigger defencemen. To be clear.

DeMelo is the best at net front protection, followed by Samberg. Why is Samberg so effective? He isn’t overly physical, he just uses his size to keep position.

Stanley is the worst. Because he’s hitty and makes bad reads in his end, much like Morrissey and Pionk, but without the benefit of being faster than his peers.

And yes, Morrissey was horrific defensively last year. He was bad, it’s true, and it also doesn’t matter. He was so utterly dominant offensively that we outscored the problems by a clear margin.

Other than Victor Hedman, all of the top 30 defenceman in the league are either 6’ or under, or under 200lbs
- Rexypoo

Rexy, Rexy, I think we could argue that statement.

What about Alex Pietrangelo and Drew Doughty just to start? You're probably going to say Doughty is not top 30, but the guy can still play. Certainly was top-30.

But just two off the top of my head. Trouba top 30, or close to it? Sergachev? Rielly? Slavin? Bouchard (he's added a couple of lbs)? Others?

Other than Victor Hedman, all of the top 30 defenceman in the league are either 6’ or under, or under 200lbs
- Rexypoo

6'4" to 6'7" : Hedman, Power, Burns, Seider, Nurse, K.Miller, Dobson, Parayko
6' 3" : Dahlin, Bouchard, Trouba, Pesce, Slavin, Pietrangelo, Carlson
6' 2" : Pulock, Guhle, Fowler, Werenski, Theodore
6' 1" : McAvoy, Heiskanen, Reilly, Sergachev
I am sure I have missed a few....
All 195 lbs and over.

How many goals have been scored from right in front of our own net in the last 2 seasons ? Lots !
Forwards are not afraid to camp out there.

If we are bringing Colorado and Vegas into the discussion, I note that neither had a "Franchise Goalie" when they won their cups.
- bennythehat

Hopefully both Colorado and Vegas had a power ball ticket this past week.

Actually I believe Colorado "thought" they had their franchise goalie in net, but that didn't pan out as Grubaur had other ideas.

Vegas? Even a blind squirrel finds an acorn on some days, right?