Analyzing the Winnipeg Jets Free Agency Signings

Analyzing the Winnipeg Jets Free Agency Signings

What’s going on everybody? Welcome back to another video here on Pig City Hockey. I apologize for not having any free agency news coverage up sooner. I made this video at like 1:30 last night or whatever it was. I finished it. I’m uploading it. And I guess the the upload wasn’t complete before I turned my computer off. So, I had everything scheduled. I hit closed and I forgot that the video wasn’t uploaded. And then lo and behold, when I wake up this morning and I’m at work, the video doesn’t get uploaded properly and now you have to wait until later. But nonetheless though, there’s still been some very interesting news that’s happened today. So, kind of works out for the benefit of the viewer, if I’m not going to lie. So, without any further ado, let’s jump in and finally start talking about Winnipeg Jets free agency 2025. And with the big thing uh to get into first, obviously Nikolai Eers is still an unrestricted free agent as of recording this video at 4:49. Uh he is still a free agent, so we’ll see how that ages. Uh you know, obviously Chris Johnson said that he expected to see that announcement come today. It didn’t. You know, it’s already like early morning tomorrow in Denmark or whatever it is right now. So, we’re going to have to wait and see. I still have my fingers crossed, but you know, I don’t know. There’s especially after what just happened uh like an hour ago with this Gustaf Nikos contract one year for $3.25 million. I think that kind of signals that Nikolai Eers might be on his way out. I hope to God that’s not true because if you’re betting all your stock on Nic on Gustav Nyquis having a rebound year, you know, I know he had 28 points last year, but he was not good last year. Now, he played on Nashville, terrible team, and then he played on Minnesota, which, you know, had its hot and cold moments, but nonetheless, you know, this isn’t, you know, the mid2010s anymore. Like, when you acquire Goss Nikas, you know, you know, 10 years ago even, that would have been a pretty good thing for the Jets to acquire, but at this point in his career, they’re just putting a lot of chips in on older players, you know, having really good rebound years. And I just don’t know how I feel about that. Like, again, I’m not going to hate this signing. I think that there could be potential here. Obviously, you know, 27 points is not a terrible season by any means, split between two clubs. So, we’re going to have to wait and see what he can do in a healthy full year with the Jets. But, as of right now, it looks like Gustaf Nyquist is a Winnipeg Jet. Now, getting into some more other signings that I find interesting. Cole Copek was signed to a one-year $1 million contract. He played last year with Boston uh and played the two years prior to that in the NHL and between the AHL with the Tampa Bay. Uh he really got his, you know, NHL moment though last year with Boston. you know, he was able to put up 17 points uh in in in in a you know, fourthline reduced minute role. He never really got an opportunity to really grow his game at the NHL level in Tampa. And last year, Boston was not a good team. So, for him to be able to come into Boston, make opportunity for himself, find some consistency, and have a decent year. You know, I I I don’t hate this signing at $1 million. I think this is honestly a pretty fair value contract for the Winnipeg Jets. I think you might be able to even get some upside on this. If not, he’s a press box guy or he’s a Matchable Moose guy. But I think that again when you look at, you know, $1 million depth and when you look at all the money that was getting thrown around and some of the other depth signings that were, you know, money given given out to depth signings at one year, $1 million for Cole Copek, I have no problem with this. Uh, on the other hand though, the flip side of this Cole Copek deal is a Tanner Pearson deal. Identical one-year $1 million contracts. Now again, Tanner Pearson a few years ago, 5 years ago, I would have been all for this, but at this point in his career, I know we had 27 points last year with Vegas, you know, and that was a really big, you know, rebound for where he was with Montreal the year before. But I just, again, I the Jets are putting a lot of stock in guys having rebound years. You know, this is an older player you’re going to hope that can, you know, build off of what they showed last year and continue that, you know, with 27 points. So, you’re hoping that you can get a 30-point guy out of Pearson and you’re hoping that, you know, Gustaf Nyquis can slot maybe around 40 points for you on the upside, 45 points. You know, I like the Jets really feel like Billy Bean money ball right now. It feels like they’re going through the aggregate to find any way they can to replace Nikolai Elers. And again, when you look at the contract get contracts given out to other players, you know, like Mason Apple, who just signed today for a $3 million cap hit, I think that Tanner Pearson and Cole Copek and and even Gustav Nyquis on their respective contracts are better than that than, you know, Mayappleton. I I I fully stand by that. As well as Brendan Tan, three years, $2.5 million. I like Brennan Tanov. I wasn’t opposed to the Jets keeping him if it was a fair value contract for that fourth line. But at the end of the day, you know, when you look at Tanov’s numbers, you look at his production, his age, I just don’t understand giving out that kind of term uh to a depth depth signing, right? So, when you look at one year $1 million for Pearson, one year $1 million for Cole Copek, I think that they’re pretty good contracts for the Jets. Like, we’re going to have to wait and see what they can do obviously, but, you know, at the end of the day, I think that this Jets team, you know, really got gets a lot out of certain players. You know, they’re able to find a way to really get the most out of guys. You know, Scott O’Neal and the coaching staff, I think, really cemented themselves with that last year. You know, Rick Bonus started it, but Arneal really kept it going. And, you know, everyone was able to jump into the lineup pretty much at any point and play anywhere regardless of injuries. And that really felt like the Jets strong point last year. So, we’re going to have to wait and see if whether or not Arneal can get Pearson, get Copek, and even get a guy like Gustav Nyquist, you know, to really rebound. You know, the Jets also went out and made some other signings as well, some debt signings for the Mata Moose. My favorite one that they made was signing Philip De Jeppi to a one-year two-way contract. Um I I really think this is a great move for the Manitoba Moose. You know, this is a guy that, you know, when it comes to the NHL, could he play for the Jets if there was injuries in the fourth line? Yeah, absolutely. No real problem, but he just won the Calder Cup with the Abbottzford Conucks last year. Was a fan favorite in Abbottzford. Very very liked in the room uh as well. Really important uh leadership guy on that team. Had a really big role with Abbottzford. And again, when you look at the Moose last year, they were dog And when you look at developing prospects, you kind of need decent players to develop prospects. And the Jets don’t really have any good culture guys on the Moose right now. So, you know, I have no problem with this contract as from the Moose standpoint. I actually think it’s pretty good for the franchise to bring in proven AHL winners that can help create a culture for the Mount of Moose. They desperately need that. So, Philip D. Jeppi, welcome to Winnipeg and I hope you have a great year with the mount to a moose. uh as well as Kyle Kle was signed yesterday to win uh to a two-way two two-way deal. I’m not really going to get into it. Again, decent defensive metric numbers at the AHL level. Just kind of a Dylan Coglin replacement, honestly. Nothing really fancy. And that kind of goes for every one of the other replacements that the Jets signed. All of these guys are just going to be AHL depth. I doubt that even any of them really get an opportunity. Maybe you’ll see a guy like Philip Guseeppi get a opportunity if there’s a lot of injuries because you know he had some time on the he played some games for the Canucks and he wasn’t terrible but nonetheless most of these guys are just depth signings for the Moose and I think that’s a good thing. The Moose were terrible last year. I like all these guys. I think they’re good additions to the club. Uh so again go out there and sign you know experienced AHLers that have a proven track record that can you know help the moose and help guys develop. When you look at the actual lineup though for next year, this is what I got right now. Again, you’re kind of missing that right-wing spot, you know, like obviously like you you could slot somebody in there. I hope to god it’s not Nyquis, but this team is just looking stretched right now. Like the Jets are obviously going to have to approach approach the trade market uh very hastily. uh they’re going to have to do something to get somebody because again right now this team to me and I hate to say it I hate to be a butt already this early on into the off seasonason but I’m looking at these moves I’m looking at the guys are plugging in and more importantly I’m looking at the blockage that goes in for these young guys like Cherov like a Lambert you know like a Jerger even like do we even see the path to the NHL for them next season when you sign a guy like Pearson when you sign a guy like Cole Copek when you sign a guy like Gustaf Nyquist like you’re kind of creating a log jam again of experienced veteran depth, you know, over a young guy potentially. Now, again, we’re going to have to wait and see. There’s a lot, this is all hypothetical. We’re going to have to wait and see what happens. And hell, if Elers comes back, then all of these signings on top of an Eer signing would be pretty damn good. And I would have absolutely pretty no problem with that. It’s just right now I’m looking at everything and gauging it as we don’t have Nikolai Eers for game one. And if we don’t have Nickelers for game one and this is all we have going into the uh first game of the regular season and no other real trades are coming, then I’m starting to get a little worried and I could see this team being a wild card team. I know that’s crazy to say after a President’s Trophy campaign, but the Jets are going to have to go out there and do more because I just don’t see Nyquist, Pearson, and Copek really being the difference makers the Jets need, especially when you look at, you know, the departure potentially of either. So, let me know your thoughts on the comments section below. As always, how you’re feeling about this Jets fans. Uh, it’s been a crazy 48 hours. So, let me know your thoughts on the comment section below. As always, thank you so much for watching this video. And again, I apologize for it out being late. Hopefully, we’ll be able to get some better consistency for the videos in the near future. Peace, love, and positivity as always. Go Jets. Go. And I will see you all in the next one very, very soon. It’ll all be over. It’ll all be over. And we won’t have to cry no more.

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Analyzing the Winnipeg Jets Free Agency Signings

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