Rookies gotta take the next step

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This article was published 18/09/2015 (3871 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

They spent the summer in the gym, mixed in gruelling on-ice sessions to improve their quickness and hands, and were subjected to highly detailed diets aimed at putting on the right kind of weight — anything that could give them an added edge come fall.

Now, for a number of Winnipeg Jets’ prospects, the hard work has finally begun, as Day 1 of training camp kicked off Friday at the MTS Iceplex.

With a number of spots up for grabs with the exits of Michael Frolik, Jiri Tlusty, Lee Stempniak and Jim Slater, among others, the chance to impress head coach Paul Maurice and earn the right to be called a Winnipeg Jet is officially underway.

That means for the likes of forwards Nikolaj Ehlers, Andrew Copp, Nic Petan, Brendan Lemieux and Joel Armia, as well as defenceman Josh Morrissey, the coming weeks will be dedicated to proving not only do they have what it takes to perform on hockey’s biggest stage, but that they’re able to adapt to the hard-nosed style of play expected by their superiors.

If that wasn’t clear before practice, the message from head coach Paul Maurice to reporters after Friday’s skate was a stern reminder they better be all-in on the buy-in or they won’t be here very long.

“I don’t give a rat’s ass what their game is, they’ve come to play our game and that’s what they’re going to learn here in these 30 days,” said Maurice. “In general, the young players come in and say ‘I just got to play my game’ and, you know, you’ve all seen Bull Durham, so there’s a list of things they’ll say to you. But playing their game isn’t going help them make the team. Playing our game makes the team.”

Copp, the front-runner to take over fourth-line centre duties after the Jets opted not to sign veteran Slater, feels his time is now. In the group of young talent he’s considered to be the most NHL-ready at 6-1, 208 pounds.

“You want to obviously make the team,” he said. “But at the same time, it’s almost a little nerve-racking that you have that pressure on you. I can’t control the outcome, but I expect the best in all that I do every day.”

Petan is fresh off his fourth season with the Portland Winterhawks, where he scored 452 points in 345 games. He put on 10 pounds this summer working out in Vancouver and now in his third camp with the Jets, he feels ready to prove his worth.

“I know a lot more and I feel more confident,” he said. “It definitely gives me a little extra, I wouldn’t say pressure or nervousness, but just a little extra something; waking up every morning knowing there’s a spot and you’re just fighting for it.”

Petan can take some solace in knowing if the Jets don’t call his number, he’ll be able to continue his development here in Winnipeg as a member of the Manitoba Moose. The same can’t be said for Ehlers, who is still too young to be assigned to the AHL. Instead, he would most likely have to return to junior with the Halifax Mooseheads. That pressure doesn’t faze the Jets’ 2014 first-round pick.

“I’m not the biggest guy and I’ve always played against guys that were bigger than me, but this is taking it to the next step and playing against real big guys,” said Ehlers. “But you know what, I think I’m ready for it. I can play a little bit tough as well. I want to be able to make those passes and to be able to get in front of the net and put it in, so I’m going to do whatever I can to be able to do that.”

jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

twitter: @jeffkhamilton

Jeff Hamilton
Multimedia producer

Jeff Hamilton is a sports and investigative reporter. Jeff joined the Free Press newsroom in April 2015, and has been covering the local sports scene since graduating from Carleton University’s journalism program in 2012. Read more about Jeff.

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