Jets hope for quality over quantity at NHL Draft

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This article was published 29/06/2024 (464 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

LAS VEGAS – The Winnipeg Jets added three forwards and a talented defenceman to the prospect pool on Day 2 of the 2024 NHL Draft.

With the fifth pick in the second round, the Jets brought in Alfons Freij.

Freij is a mobile, puck-moving defenceman who is listed at 6-foot-1 and 196 pounds and is scheduled to play for IF Björklöven in the second division of the Swedish Hockey League.

“I would describe my game as a two-way defender that’s more offensive,” said Freij. “I like to have the puck, kind of good skating ability to set up my teammates in good position out there. I like to have the puck on my blade.”

Freij, who met with 24 teams at the NHL combine earlier this month, is hoping to suit up for Sweden at the 2025 World Junior Hockey Championship.

He also has some familiarity with top Jets defence prospect Elias Salomonsson, as they share the same agent.

“There’s a good package of speed and skill and hockey sense there that can make him into a good offensive player that can certainly move a puck and give a dynamic there,” said Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff. “He seems like a great kid as well. There’s some good upside there.”

Freij is excited to get to Winnipeg next week to take part in development camp and already has a good idea what he will be working on this summer.

“I would say, of course, be more able to do better things in the o-zone. But my defensive game also needs to step up,” said Freij. “Use my size a bit more. I’ve got such a good skating ability but to use my size a bit more, especially now that I’m playing with men.”

In the fourth round, the Jets traded up to select Niagara Ice Dogs left-winger Kevin He, who became the highest-chosen player born in China.

“It’s incredible. A huge honour. I had a lot of fans texting me right before the draft, wishing me good luck, showing me support,” said He, whose family moved to Montreal when he was five and to Toronto when he was 12. He had 31 goals and 53 points in 64 Ontario Hockey League games last season. “I hope to be a role model for kids that try to pick up hockey. I hope so.”

He provided a quick scouting report when asked to describe his game.

“Competitive. I’m a hungry player. I want to win. I always play with a chip on my shoulder. I’m skilled as well. I can skate well and shoot,” said He, who expanded his answer when asked a follow up question about his speed. “Yes. It’s something that I’ve always worked on growing up. I did a lot of power skating coaches, a lot of skating. It’s something I’ve been prioritizing and working on, ever since I was a little kid.”

In the fifth round, the Jets chose Finnish forward Markus Loponen and with their final selection in the sixth round, the Jets picked 6-foot-6, 211-pound centre Kieron Walton of the Sudbury Wolves.

“Well, hopefully it’s quality over quantity,” said Cheveldayoff, asked to assess the picks that were made on Saturday. “We were staring at our list and when He was still sitting there, we just felt we had to be decisive there. We didn’t think he was going to be around that much longer, so we just worked the phones to try and find somebody that we could partner up with to be able to make that pick. Again, it’s the scouts’ day.”

One of the unresolved issues of the weekend is the status of top forward prospect Rutger McGroarty.

The expectation was that McGroarty was going to be moved at some point this weekend, but nothing came together on Friday despite several close calls.

Where things go from here remains a bit of mystery and Cheveldayoff wasn’t providing many clues on the next move on Saturday.

“I really don’t have an update,” said Cheveldayoff. “Obviously, he won’t be at development camp coming up here. But I don’t really have an update at this moment.”

It was a relatively quiet weekend for Manitoba prospects, as only one was chosen on Saturday.

In the fifth round, Swift Current Broncos forward Clarke Caswell was selected by the Seattle Kraken.

Caswell, who is from Brandon, had 26 goals, 51 assists and 77 points in 65 Western Hockey League games last season.

With the draft in the rearview mirror, free agency will take centre stage as it opens on Monday.

There was also a big trade on Saturday that involved Manitoban Conor Geekie.

The former Winnipeg Ice forward is on the move to the Tampa Bay Lightning, along with defenceman J.J. Moser and a pair of draft picks, with skilled defenceman Mikhail Sergachev on his way to the Utah Hockey Club.

Geekie, who was chosen 11th overall in the 2022 NHL Draft, is coming off an excellent season in the Western Hockey League, combining for 43 goals and 99 points in 55 games with the Swift Current Broncos and Wenatchee Wild.

While the Jets signed defenceman Dylan DeMelo to an extension earlier this week, there are still a number of important decisions on the horizon for them in regard to their pending unrestricted free agents.

“The next day and a half will be like the last two-and-a-half weeks. It’s been that process of trying to understand where everything is at,” said Cheveldayoff. “Certainly we’re in more constant contact with our own UFA guys, trying to see if there is a way to make some things work. This phase and time of the year is over now and we jump into the next one with both feet.”

Goalie Laurent Brossoit is one of the top goalies available on July 1, so there will be several options for him to consider, including the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings.

Defenceman Brenden Dillon also figures to be a guy who generates plenty of interest, with the New Jersey Devils being one of the teams to watch out for.

Should the Jets not find a way to keep centre Sean Monahan, his suitors could include the Boston Bruins, Columbus Blue Jackets and Ottawa Senators.

ken.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca

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