Defenceman dogfight for spot on Jets roster

Dean Chynoweth wasn’t about to try and sugar coat things.

The Winnipeg Jets assistant coach runs the defence corps and he isn’t about to provide any false hope when it comes to what will be at stake during the final eight days of training camp.

When you boil it all down, there are more capable players than jobs available, which should only ratchet up the intensity with the next round of cuts looming.

“We have numbers. We have lots of D right now, it is extremely competitive back there,” said Chynoweth, who is back for his second season on Scott Arniel’s coaching staff. “All the guys came to camp in really good shape and they can count. So, they know the numbers and they know the situation. We have got to get through the exhibition season and see where everybody is at.”

The Jets have a clearly established top-2 pairings, with Josh Morrissey and Dylan DeMelo, and Dylan Samberg and Neal Pionk handling the most minutes.

After that, a quartet of veterans look like the front-runners for the third pair, but it’s too early to tell if a platoon could be in place for the likes of Haydn Fleury, Luke Schenn, Colin Miller and Logan Stanley.

Ville Heinola is healthy and back in the mix, Kale Clague is new to the organization but showing well and Elias Salomonsson is the top prospect in the Jets’ system and is hoping to force his way into the discussion.

Seeing how guys fit together is an important part of the evaluation process, as is the versatility to play on your off side if the situation calls for it.

“You look at chemistry among pairs at times, especially (because) the top four have been very consistent,” said Chynoweth. “We ran into it last year where we were short on the right side at times, so we had to have guys play their off side, same with on the left side, having to play on the right.

“So that is an adjustment for guys, but we didn’t have to do it in long stretches — but the ability to play both sides as a defenceman is a huge bonus for us as a coaching staff and the team.”

MIXING AND MATCHING: Chynoweth also oversees the Jets’ penalty killing units and while he was proud to see the steps taken as the team jumped from the bottom third into the middle of the pack in terms of efficiency, he recognizes there’s another level for the group to reach.

Chynoweth noted there were conversations both with the coaching staff and players about how to proceed.

“One of the focuses was trying to be more aggressive when we can,” said Chynoweth. “When we are aggressive and everybody’s on the same page, it looks fairly effective. When one guy’s off or two guys are off, it doesn’t. Guys have to take on certain roles to be able to make the team and also increase their ice time. So we got lots of options there (for) guys.

“Some of it is new to some of the new guys, the system we’re playing. So it’s a matter of working through it.”

The Jets will be without captain Adam Lowry for several weeks to start the season, which means they’ll be missing one of their best penalty killers.

That also presents an opportunity for others to work themselves into the mix during his absence.

The good news is that newcomers like Jonathan Toews, Gustav Nyquist, Cole Koepke and Tanner Pearson have all been used on the PK in the past.

“Well, that’s — that’s just it,” said Chynoweth. “There’s experience there. We can try some different things and see who can fill in while he’s out, and see what step they take with it.”

A LOOK AHEAD: The Jets have two exhibition games in the rearview mirror and have two more on the horizon this weekend.

Based on the groupings from Thursday, it looks like the trio of Vladislav Namestnikov, Alex Iafallo and Nino Niederreiter will get their first look together on Friday night against the Edmonton Oilers.

On Saturday, when the Jets host the Calgary Flames, you can expect Connor Hellebuyck to be between the pipes and for the top two lines to see action, including the first game for Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor and Gabe Vilardi.

Toews is expected to get into his second game with linemates Cole Perfetti and Nyquist as well.

The Jets wrap up the exhibition portion of the schedule with road games against the Minnesota Wild next Tuesday in St. Paul and next Friday in Calgary against the Flames before opening up the regular season on Oct. 9 against the Dallas Stars.

ken.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca

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