Former Kings forward hoping to stick with Jets

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This article was published 01/01/2021 (1770 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A two-time Stanley Cup champion has been invited to Winnipeg Jets training camp on a professional tryout offer, hoping to crack the roster and land a new contract.

Trevor Lewis, 33, has spent his entire 12-year NHL career with the Los Angeles Kings, winning it all during the 2011-12 and 2013-14 seasons. He can play all three forward positions and has 70 goals and 93 assists in 674 regular-season games, and 11 goals, 12 assists in 79 post-season contests.

Lewis was not re-signed by the organization which drafted him in the first round, 17th overall (2006) upon expiration of his most recent deal following last season. The 6-1, 202-pound product of Salt Lake City could potentially work his way into a bottom-six role.

The Jets announced two other PTOs as part of a 39-player roster released Friday. Goaltender Cole Kehler, a 23-year-old from Altona, has spent his first two pro seasons primarily in the ECHL. And defenceman Jimmy Oligny, a 27-year-old from Quebec, has played the last two years on an AHL deal with the Manitoba Moose.

Winnipeg will bring five goaltenders, 15 defencemen and 19 forwards to camp, which begins Sunday with medicals and off-ice testing, then ramps up with the first on-ice sessions Monday at Bell MTS Iceplex.

This doesn’t include forward Cole Perfetti or defenceman Ville Heinola. The pair are currently playing in the World Junior tournament in Edmonton, and will have to undergo a mandatory seven-day quarantine once they arrive in Winnipeg. With the quarterfinals set for Saturday (Canada plays the Czech Republic, while Finland plays Sweden), their arrival could be delayed. The semi-finals will be held Monday, the bronze and gold medal games on Tuesday.

However, both players will be added once they clear protocols. Teams are only allowed to have a maximum of 36 skaters, and an unlimited number of goaltenders, during camp.

One notable absence on the current roster is forward Jack Roslovic. The 23-year-old restricted free agent has requested a trade and remains back home in Columbus without a new contract.

Three players begin the year on the injured list. Veteran centre Bryan Little, whose career is over due to a head/ear injury suffered last season, will be placed on long-term injured reserve once the season begins, allowing him to still collect his salary but give the Jets some cap relief in the process.

Forwards David Gustafsson and Marko Dano are also still recovering from injuries they suffered while skating overseas last month on loan by the Jets. They would be added to the mix once they are given a medical green light.

Winnipeg must reduce its roster to a maximum of 23 total players in advance of the Jan. 14 season opener against Calgary. They can also assign between four-and-six skaters to a “taxi squad” which will practice with the team, but not count towards the salary cap. This is to off-set the fact the AHL isn’t set to drop the puck until February at the earliest.

The Jets have broken their roster into two groups. The main one, which will consist of NHL regulars, will skate daily at 11 a.m. The other smaller group will be up bright and early, hitting the ice at 7:30 a.m.

The big gap is required under extensive health and safety protocols to limit the number of players in the rink at any given time. All skates are closed to the public, but a limited number of media will be able to cover them in person.

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @mikemcintyrewpg