Jets cheer big signings

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This article was published 10/10/2023 (958 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

No matter when the Winnipeg Jets announced the signing of two stars to massive extensions, it was going to cause a stir inside and outside the market.

That the deal was officially announced in the days before Wednesday’s opener against the Calgary Flames could have a ripple effect as the Jets look to get off to a great start to the new NHL season.

“To get it done right before the season, it just kind of sends a bolt of energy through the team,” said Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey. “As a guy that signed here and committed to playing in Winnipeg and wanted to be here, it certainly makes me feel good that those guys want to be here and that we have a chance to build something special in the future.

“Again, we’ve grown up here together, so it’s pretty cool to see them make that commitment and the organization make that commitment as well. It’s a big deal on both sides.”

One of the biggest storylines going into training camp focused on the futures of the team’s No. 1 centre and its Vezina-calibre goalie.

Would there be a trade in the works at some point before March 8? Would the organization spit in the face of asset managers and keep one or both players as self-rentals and keep them through the deadline?

Head coach Rick Bowness was happy the uncertainty has been eliminated.

“They’re in the prime of their careers,” he said. “I think you’re going to see both of them have outstanding years, which is great news for our franchise. We don’t have one player in that room that has a half-foot out the door. We don’t. They all want to be here. They all want to be part of the Winnipeg Jet team.

“(This) shows everybody in that room, ‘OK, we think we can win with you guys. We’re staying here with ya. We’re a big family here and we’re part of the family for a long time.’”

The narrative has certainly shifted.

“It takes one of those elephants out of the room that the media or the speculation on what’s going to happen and what direction is the team going to go,” said Jets captain Adam Lowry. “I don’t think it was going to be a distraction per se, but to get it out of the way and to know what our team is going to look like going forward is huge.

“Our goal is to win the Stanley Cup, our goal is to be a competitive team and that wasn’t going to change. It’s nice to have the uncertainty out of the way, though.”

The impact of the double signing certainly wasn’t lost on relative newcomers such as Cole Perfetti.

“Locking up two guys like that is huge. Goalies like Bucky don’t grow on trees and centremen like Scheif don’t grow on trees,” said Perfetti. “To be able to have them for the next (seven) years is just massive. Everyone is really, really excited. It’s a fun time to be part of the organization.”

The Jets still have some work to do when it comes to pending unrestricted free agents, such as backup goalie Laurent Brossoit, defencemen Dylan DeMelo and Brenden Dillon and forward Nino Niederreiter.

Moves like this would certainly add to the appeal of signing extensions of their own.

“It was a great deal for the city of Winnipeg because it shows the fan base that they’re not ready to go through a rebuild or what-not. Chevy did his part in showing they want to move forward and they want to keep pushing to get a Cup here,” said Niederreiter.

“As a player like myself, you don’t know if you’re going to be part of the future or if you’re just here for a moment. It’s something where I’ve got to do whatever it takes to play my best hockey and prove to Chevy and to prove to the organization that they want me to stay here longer than this year.”

ken.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca

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