First off-season domino falls for Jets with Koepke signing

The Winnipeg Jets saw enough from Cole Koepke to determine they wanted to keep him around for a couple more seasons.

Koepke, who led the Jets in hits (186) and chipped in eight goals and 17 points in 66 games, agreed to terms on a two-year deal that was announced on Saturday afternoon and has an AAV of US $1.45 million.

The speedy left-winger matched his career-high for points and is someone who made a solid contribution to the penalty kill in his first season with the Jets.

“I feel really good about the communication between both sides,” Koepke said on Thursday after the Jets closed out the regular season with a 6-1 loss to the San Jose Sharks. “Personally, I think it’s a good fit and I’ll just let them do the negotiating and see where it goes.”

For a team that needs to be faster and harder to play against, retaining Koepke before he became an unrestricted free agent on July 1 is a smart move.

Koepke, who turns 28 next month, gets a raise and the security of a multiyear contract, while the Jets retain a forward that can at minimum be someone they can pencil in for fourth-line duty and might even consider for a role beside captain Adam Lowry on the checking line next season.

It was a slow start to the season for Koepke, who signed a one-year contract with an AAV of US $1 million last summer after spending the previous season with the Boston Bruins.

Koepke, who had 10 goals last season to set a career high, was a bit snake bitten early in the campaign and didn’t find the back of the net until his 18th game with the Jets.

But after adjusting to a new system and working his way through an extended period of healthy scratches, Koepke got comfortable in his new surroundings and showed off the skill set that made him attractive in the first place.

“Yeah, I feel like I really settled in, especially after the break and felt comfortable,” said Koepke. “Obviously, it’s unfortunate that some guys went down, but I think it kind of allowed me to be kind of put into a little bit bigger role, and from there I started to play a lot better hockey and started to keep that role a little bit.”

“The core here is exactly what you need and the belief in the group is there. I really believe that the core of this group is built for success and it’ll get back there next year.”

Despite dealing with the disappointment of joining a team that missed the Stanley Cup playoffs and didn’t live up to the lofty expectations, Koepke believes in the potential of the group, otherwise he would have waited until free agency opened to field other offers and explore his options instead of locking in for the next two seasons.

“Absolutely, I think this group cares deeply and there’s a lot of skill and there’s huge core pieces at every position. I think that’s essential,” said Koepke. “When you look at teams that win, they need star power on the forwards, reliable and offensive defencemen, which we have, and then goaltending, which we obviously have one of the best, if not the best, goaltender in the world.

“So, the core here is exactly what you need and the belief in the group is there. It just didn’t come together this year, and I really believe that the core of this group is built for success and it’ll get back there next year.”

Other players on the Jets roster who can become unrestricted free agents on July 1 include backup goalie Eric Comrie, defencemen Colin Miller, Ville Heinola and Jacob Bryson, and forwards Gustav Nyquist and Winnipegger Jonathan Toews, who is considering retirement.

Of those players, Comrie looks like the strongest candidate to return, given his relationship with Connor Hellebuyck and his love for the city and organization.

Comrie, who set career highs for starts (24) and appearances (25) this season, finished with a record of 12-11-1, a 3.13 goals-against average and .890 save percentage.

Toews said on Friday that expects to make his decision in the next couple of weeks to a month.

“When you’re chasing a playoff spot and you’re playing every other day, it’s been so crazy since the Olympic break, you don’t have much time to think about much else,” said Toews. “It’s kind of like every night you’re standing on the blue line or on the bench for the anthem and you’re like, ‘oh, here we are again, another game’s starting.’ It’s all you really have time and energy for, so it would be nice to have some space to sink into that thought process and to think about next steps.”

Earlier on Saturday, the Jets loaned forwards Brad Lambert and Brayden Yager to the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League.

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