Jacob Billington: 4 Jets' Storylines Headed Into Training Camp

Jacob Billington: 4 Jets' Storylines Headed Into Training Camp
- Jacob Billington

Lambert is not likely to make an NHL roster anytime soon. His 4G 6A season through 49 games in the Finnish league leaves lots to desire, but he is still just a kid. I don't know if it is better for his development to join the Moose, or play a larger role this year back overseas while retaining his 3 years ELC.

As for the D. This is the Jets biggest problem. Schmidt and DeMelo combining for over 9M are the biggest issue facing this squad. That is the going rate for an Elite #1D which this team desperately needs. The D core is most in need of a shakeup, and I would not mind seeing both of those guys healthy scratched to open up space for Heinola and Samberg. Something has to change and there are guys who appear up for the task. Piok, JoMo, Dillon are the 3 best D on this squad, and Stanley or Heinola can battle out for that 4th spot.

Lambert is not likely to make an NHL roster anytime soon. His 4G 6A season through 49 games in the Finnish league leaves lots to desire, but he is still just a kid. I don't know if it is better for his development to join the Moose, or play a larger role this year back overseas while retaining his 3 years ELC.

As for the D. This is the Jets biggest problem. Schmidt and DeMelo combining for over 9M are the biggest issue facing this squad. That is the going rate for an Elite #1D which this team desperately needs. The D core is most in need of a shakeup, and I would not mind seeing both of those guys healthy scratched to open up space for Heinola and Samberg. Something has to change and there are guys who appear up for the task. Piok, JoMo, Dillon are the 3 best D on this squad, and Stanley or Heinola can battle out for that 4th spot.
- bikeguy99

Personally, I don't see Europe as an option for this season. He doesn't have a contract, so it is either NHL, AHL or WHL. Sure, he could sign one, play little to no minutes, struggle again, or stay here where his development is a priority.

DeMelo is fine, and shouldn't be classified with Schmidt because they make too much money. That is like saying Roope Hintz's contract is a problem because him and Seguin combine for $13m which could just get you MacKinnon instead. I don't understand that logic.

I hope the Jets surprise me and give the back-up job to Berdin to start the season. It would be so ridiculous if the Jets lost him on waivers because they went with the veteran who had a 3.57 GAA and .886 SV% last year.

Personally, I don't see Europe as an option for this season. He doesn't have a contract, so it is either NHL, AHL or WHL. Sure, he could sign one, play little to no minutes, struggle again, or stay here where his development is a priority.

DeMelo is fine, and shouldn't be classified with Schmidt because they make too much money. That is like saying Roope Hintz's contract is a problem because him and Seguin combine for $13m which could just get you MacKinnon instead. I don't understand that logic.
- Jacob Billington

Personally I think of Schmidt and Demelo as guys who would be closer to league minimums if they were UFA's today. Seguin would be sought after by 32 teams if they were UFA's today. I know Seguin's contract looks bad, but he did score 24 goals and he was coming off some serious injuries. If he were a UFA today, any team would scoop him up for a short term deal at 5M AAV.

Lambert should spend majority of the season playing in the WHL with the Seattle Thunderbirds. This kid needs to start from scratch in North America and regain his confidence. Dominating in the WHL would be a great start.

Lambert dominating in the WHL is not a sure thing by any means, that said, I hope that’s where he plays

Jets bottom 6 forwards will tell the tale of our season. Top 5-6 set and good/great

Lambert is not likely to make an NHL roster anytime soon. His 4G 6A season through 49 games in the Finnish league leaves lots to desire, but he is still just a kid. I don't know if it is better for his development to join the Moose, or play a larger role this year back overseas while retaining his 3 years ELC.

As for the D. This is the Jets biggest problem. Schmidt and DeMelo combining for over 9M are the biggest issue facing this squad. That is the going rate for an Elite #1D which this team desperately needs. The D core is most in need of a shakeup, and I would not mind seeing both of those guys healthy scratched to open up space for Heinola and Samberg. Something has to change and there are guys who appear up for the task. Piok, JoMo, Dillon are the 3 best D on this squad, and Stanley or Heinola can battle out for that 4th spot.
- bikeguy99

DeMelo is easily the best defensive player on the team, and the only partner Morrissey has looked good with since Trouba left.

He’s a 5mil defenceman, easily worth the money for top-10 shutdown performances. Think Lindell deal, but if Lindell was good.

Trade Dillon to the sabres for joker

DeMelo is easily the best defensive player on the team, and the only partner Morrissey has looked good with since Trouba left.

He’s a 5mil defenceman, easily worth the money for top-10 shutdown performances. Think Lindell deal, but if Lindell was good.
- Rexypoo

Morrissey-Demelo is a good pairing on stanley cup contender. On the Jets there is no need to keep Demelo around at the expense of prospect development.
Better off giving Gawanke or Kovacevic a shot, if Samberg could play the right side I'd say he would be a good fit for Morrissey.
And if none of them pan out the Jets can draft Cam Allen next year.

Morrissey-Demelo is a good pairing on stanley cup contender. On the Jets there is no need to keep Demelo around at the expense of prospect development.
Better off giving Gawanke or Kovacevic a shot, if Samberg could play the right side I'd say he would be a good fit for Morrissey.
And if none of them pan out the Jets can draft Cam Allen next year.
- BWJumper

Did you mean to put Morrissey-DeMelo would be a good 3rd pairing on a Stanley Cup contender?

They're a top pair on a bad to middling team and even then there's plenty of middling teams with a much better top D pairing.

Did you mean to put Morrissey-DeMelo would be a good 3rd pairing on a Stanley Cup contender?

They're a top pair on a bad to middling team and even then there's plenty of middling teams with a much better top D pairing.
- JetFuel

They performed together as one would expect of a strong top pairing 🤷‍♀️

The Jets defense needs bigger, stronger and tougher d-men so having Samberg and Stanley on the roster is a must. This team can't keep getting pushed around in their own zone anymore.

DeMelo is easily the best defensive player on the team, and the only partner Morrissey has looked good with since Trouba left.

He’s a 5mil defenceman, easily worth the money for top-10 shutdown performances. Think Lindell deal, but if Lindell was good.
- Rexypoo

While I couldn't disagree more with you, I appreciate the passion Rexy. From Enstrom to DeMelo, you sure like your undersized defensive D-men. I liked Demelo....5 years ago. He was unreal defensively, but had a pretty bad year last season in terms of turnovers, and he doesn't bring anything else to his game that benefits the team. He plays a slow, soft, timid game. It worked for his career up until last season. Now I think he is on the fringe of almost any NHL roster.

Personally I think of Schmidt and Demelo as guys who would be closer to league minimums if they were UFA's today. Seguin would be sought after by 32 teams if they were UFA's today. I know Seguin's contract looks bad, but he did score 24 goals and he was coming off some serious injuries. If he were a UFA today, any team would scoop him up for a short term deal at 5M

sorry bike guy, i disagree 100%

Demelo is on an excellent contract is arguably our best D. Also, Seguin has the worst contract in the league and i have it on good authority Dallas offered him to us straight up for Wheeler and the Jets said no, as they should cause his deal is worse than Wheelers. true story, Dallas players all joke with Seguin how he miraculously is 2nd to every puck lol, the guy has no desire and is known a locker room cancer.

While I couldn't disagree more with you, I appreciate the passion Rexy. From Enstrom to DeMelo, you sure like your undersized defensive D-men. I liked Demelo....5 years ago. He was unreal defensively, but had a pretty bad year last season in terms of turnovers, and he doesn't bring anything else to his game that benefits the team. He plays a slow, soft, timid game. It worked for his career up until last season. Now I think he is on the fringe of almost any NHL roster.
- bikeguy99

Morrisey and Demelo are the only 2 we can put together who grade out close to a top pair/ Morrisey with anyone else is no where near. demelo even made Stanley look presentable which no other D partner came close to. who makes whoever he is partnered with better so much more than any other D we have. your Demelo takes are like Neptune, they are that far off

Did you mean to put Morrissey-DeMelo would be a good 3rd pairing on a Stanley Cup contender?

They're a top pair on a bad to middling team and even then there's plenty of middling teams with a much better top D pairing.
- JetFuel

Morrisey and Demelo are why we swept the oilers two years ago

Trade Dillon to the sabres for joker
- Rsh

Jets shouldve traded Dillon at last years deadline when prices were ridiculous

Morrisey and Demelo are the only 2 we can put together who grade out close to a top pair/ Morrisey with anyone else is no where near. demelo even made Stanley look presentable which no other D partner came close to. who makes whoever he is partnered with better so much more than any other D we have. your Demelo takes are like Neptune, they are that far off
- Ross77

Ya 86 points through 419 games screams top pairing. Especially when you factor in his physicality...... He was traded twice, 2 years ago most recently for a 3rd rd pick. I like the Neptune joke, and I will steal that one, but I am not sure you are on the right orbiting rock either. All is good, and when he is traded for a solid return, or eventually inks another monster deal, I will happily eat crow on this one.

Morrisey and Demelo are the only 2 we can put together who grade out close to a top pair/ Morrisey with anyone else is no where near. demelo even made Stanley look presentable which no other D partner came close to. who makes whoever he is partnered with better so much more than any other D we have. your Demelo takes are like Neptune, they are that far off
- Ross77

Morrissey/DeMelo is probably the worst top D pair in the league, maybe the Coyotes is worse.

Morrisey and Demelo are why we swept the oilers two years ago
- Ross77

The Oilers are a much deeper team now, they'll eat that pair alive.

Morrissey/DeMelo is probably the worst top D pair in the league, maybe the Coyotes is worse.
- JetFuel

They consistently outperform their competition every time they are together. Last year was borderline elite. I don’t expect them to rival Toews-Makar again, obviously, but they have never been close to negative in any aspect of the game as a pairing

Ya 86 points through 419 games screams top pairing. Especially when you factor in his physicality...... He was traded twice, 2 years ago most recently for a 3rd rd pick. I like the Neptune joke, and I will steal that one, but I am not sure you are on the right orbiting rock either. All is good, and when he is traded for a solid return, or eventually inks another monster deal, I will happily eat crow on this one.
- bikeguy99

Shutdown defencemen don’t make bank. Siegenthaler is the normal price point for a top pair shutdown guy.
Guys like Pelech and Brodin got paid for size and loyalty. Toews and Weegar are now expensive because they broke out offensively.

If you aren’t an all around elite defencemen, offensively overpowered, or huge… you don’t get paid. DeMelo is pure shutdown.

They consistently outperform their competition every time they are together. Last year was borderline elite. I don’t expect them to rival Toews-Makar again, obviously, but they have never been close to negative in any aspect of the game as a pairing
- Rexypoo

Oh yeah, 33 even strength points from the both of them, that's some elite stuff there.

Oh yeah, 33 even strength points from the both of them, that's some elite stuff there.
- JetFuel

And? They consistently out-shot, out-chanced, and out-scored the competition.
I’ll take winning 2-1 over losing 7-4