Jets committed to winning now

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This article was published 14/09/2023 (751 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winnipeg Jets management sent the message this summer the NHL organization isn’t in rebuild mode and remains committed to a win-now mentality.

From turning the unhappy Pierre-Luc Dubois into three NHL regulars — rather than draft picks or prospects — to keeping stars Mark Scheifele and Connor Hellebuyck in the fold despite their perilous contract situations, the Jets are seemingly all-in for the coming campaign.

It is being lauded by veteran players filtering into town this week, just days before the onset of training camp.

“Certainly as a guy that’s signed here for five years I don’t want any part of a rebuild at this time in my career,” defenceman Josh Morrissey said Thursday following a well-attended informal group skate at the hockey for all centre.

“So, that message coming from the team was awesome. To have Mark and Helly back is massive. Outside of this year, who knows. Every guy has to go through their own process. All you can do as a teammate is to support them. But to have them all here and have the mindset that we’re here to do some damage this season is what it’s all about.”

Defenceman Brenden Dillon, who like Scheifele and Hellebuyck can become an unrestricted free agent next summer, says there’s no sense worrying about the future. But he believes there’s plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the present given the current state of the roster.

“There’s a bunch of us going into contract years. All of us, collectively, we just want to win. We want to have the best team, be a part of the best team possible,” said Dillon.

“When you have those two guys (Scheifele and Hellebuyck), you have a chance to win any given night. Both those guys, I think all contract and noise aside, are going to be two of the hardest-working guys for the entire time they’re here. Fortunate to have them on the squad, for sure.”

Forward Nino Niederreiter and blue-liner Dylan DeMelo are the other key pending UFAs. Dillon said any concerns he and his teammates may have had about the direction of the franchise following their first-round exit to the Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights last spring have been put to rest.

“For a lot of players going into the summer, you get through the disappointment of losing and then kind of turn the page into what is kind of the direction, where is the team going to go?” said Dillon.

“Are we going to be still trying to be a contender or are we going to be rebuilding this thing or are we playing young guys? What’s kind of going to be the blueprint? I guess no one really knows until you get to the first day of training camp and see the mix you have.”

It’s obvious there is excitement to get going around here, considering nearly every player on the organizational roster took part in Thursday’s on-ice session which included numerous drills and a scrimmage. That includes the Dubois haul from the Los Angeles Kings in forwards Gabe Vilardi, Alex Iafallo and Rasmus Kupari.

“We’ve gotten deeper. You see the players and getting on the ice with them, they’re really good,” said Dillon.

“I think when you’re up close on the same side passing it around and stuff, you sort of see a lot more of the nuances and skill guys have,” added Morrissey.

“I’ve only been out here one day but they looked great. I think Alex had two or three goals in the little scrimmage. I know he can score. Definitely it’s going to add a lot more depth to our team. Pumped to have those guys. You always ask around the league, ‘What’s this guy like? What’s that guy like?’ I’ve heard nothing but great things about all three. I think they all have room to grow to higher potential as well.”

Scheifele, Vladislav Namestnikov, Kyle Capobianco and Collin Delia are in Winnipeg but didn’t skate Thursday, as they’ve done in some previous days. Niederreiter and Nikolaj Ehlers have yet to arrive in Winnipeg. Both were travelling from their respective homes in Europe and are expected to get in by this weekend.

Training camp officially begins next Wednesday with medicals and fitness testing. The first skates start Thursday.

“Last year, we really set out to try and change some things around. We made some big strides. And now we have an opportunity, days like today before camp, to build off of that,” said Morrissey.

A hot topic of discussion Thursday was the appointment of Adam Lowry as new captain. Morrissey was in Vegas for the NHL player tour when the announcement went down but immediately posted about his excitement on social media, then echoed that in his public comments.

“Super pumped for him. He’s a great leader,” said Morrissey.

“We’ve kind of grown up through the Jets system together. Even before that in Calgary, being a few years apart but we’ve known each other a long time, we’ve seen each other in the summers. We’re good friends. He’s super deserving. He’s earned it and he’s going to do a great job.”

Morrissey, who will remain as one of the two alternates along with Scheifele, was definitely in the running to be the next captain and was asked if there’s any disappointment.

“At the end of the day, me sitting here being disappointed or anything other than just being excited about the future isn’t going to help me or the team,” he said.

“Quite frankly I’ve just been excited for Lows and excited for our team. At the end of the day, the team comes first and that’s the way I’ve always tried to be as a player. And that’s the way I see it.”

Dillon said the Jets organization got it right when it comes to Lowry.

“Unbelievable. Super, super happy for him. Couldn’t be more deserving,” he said.

“From the moment I’ve gotten to know Adam and I’ve played against him now for a while and very fortunate to be playing with him now and be his teammate, he is what Winnipeg represents, in hardworking. He represents the way we want to play. Universally loved by all of us, and respected, too. So fantastic choice. He’s going to be a great leader.”

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

X: @mikemcintyrewpg