Jets stockpile talent with signings

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This article was published 18/07/2011 (5276 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Many of them may end up wearing the colours of their AHL affiliate in St. John’s, but the Winnipeg Jets continue to stockpile talent to bolster their depth.

The Jets are expected to confirm later today they have signed six restricted free agents – Ben Maxwell, Arturs Kulda, Brett Festerling, Spencer Machacek, Riley Holzapfel and Kenndal McArdle – and have also brought back a familiar face in Manitoba Moose forward Jason Jaffray.

All six of their restricted free agents had to agree to the Jets qualifying offer by a July 15th deadline. Forward Blake Wheeler, meanwhile, has an arbitration hearing next month – the team is still trying to sign him beforehand – while negotiations continue with Zach Bogosian, a restricted free agent without arbitration rights.

Here’s the background on the six who have signed:

Ben Maxwell: A 23-year-old 6-1, 195-pound centre who spent time with the Atlanta Thrashers, Chicago Wolves and Hamilton Bulldogs last season. Originally drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the second round (49th overall) of the 2006 NHL entry draft, Maxwell was traded along with a fourth-round pick in 2011 to Atlanta for Brent Sopel and Nigel Dawes.

He has appeared in 32 NHL games with Montreal and Atlanta and scored his first goal on March 27th of this year against Ottawa.

Arturs Kulda: Latvian-born defenceman who turns 23 this month has spent most of his pro career in the AHL with the Chicago Wolves. The former Peterborough Pete has appeared in just six NHL games and had five goals and 12 assists in 69 games with the Wolves last year.

Brett Festerling: A 25-year-old defenceman from Prince George, Festerling dressed for four different pro teams last year: playing one game with the Anaheim Ducks, 32 with the Syracuse Crunch, 16 with the Hamilton Bulldogs and five with the Chicago Wolves.

Spencer Machacek: Right winger who appeared in 10 games with the Thrashers last year, but has been a very productive AHL player after scoring 23, 20 and 21 goals with the Wolves over the past three seasons.

Riley Holzapfel: Atlanta’s second-round pick in the 2006 NHL entry draft, the 22-year-old Regina product has yet to suit up for an NHL game. He had 27 points (12 goals, 15 assists) in 68 games with the Wolves a year ago.

Kenndal McArdle: Former first-round draft pick of the Florida Panthers was recently acquired for Angelo Esposito. The left winger has appeared in 33 NHL games and will give the Jets some grit and toughness.

And in Jaffray the Jets have added a player very familiar to the Moose organization. He was a very productive scorer over parts of six AHL seasons in Winnipeg – including a 2005-06 campaign in which he scored 35 goals and added 46 assists – and was loaned to the Moose late last season by the Anaheim Ducks on a conditioning assignment. Jaffray appeared in six regular season and 14 playoff games for the Moose, scoring four goals and adding 10 assists.

Ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca