Uncertainty around Patrik Laine’s future clouds the depth chart for Winnipeg, but either way the Jets will need some kids to step up as the current core gets older. Will there be enough high-end talent to keep up in the ravenous Central Division?
Ville Heinola|Terrence Lee/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Welcome to the Five-Year Plan. In this summer exercise, we forecast the rosters for all 31 current NHL teams for the 2023-24 season. Are we bound for folly? Sure, but the point of the exercise is to give some sense of where an organization is heading based on current long-term contracts and the prospects they have in the system.
Some ground rules: No trades will be made and no future draft picks will be included – so you won’t see the likes of Alexis Lafreniere or Quinton Byfield on any roster, even though they will almost certainly be NHL stars in 2023-24. All current contracts are honored and most restricted free agents are projected to stay with their teams, unless it is determined the player will lose his spot or move on in the future. Some future unrestricted free agents will be kept on if the players are deemed integral and likely to re-sign. The Seattle expansion draft is not considered. With all that established, let’s take a look at Winnipeg.
FORWARDS
The first thing you will notice here is the absence of Patrik Laine. But given the current climate, can you blame me? Even if Laine signs a bridge deal soon, it feels like he’s going to need a change of scenery soon and while that may bring a nice return back to the Jets, we can’t speculate specifically what that might be. What we’re left with is a diminished Winnipeg attack that will still have a good top end thanks to Scheifele, Ehlers and Connor (still unsigned himself). Vesalainen could move the needle if he finds his scoring touch, but that’s still an unknown. A surplus of centers in the bottom six meant some shifting around was necessary and age pushes captain Wheeler down the depth chart – but he’ll still have value. One dark horse to consider: wrecking ball Austin Wong, who is a freshman at Harvard this season.
DEFENSE
With the uncertainty surrounding Dustin Byfuglien this season, the Jets are confronting their future already, but in five years it will definitely be different. Morrissey will be the undisputed No. 1, though it will be fun to see how good Heinola can become in the next five years. Samberg and Poolman bring some size to this unit and if the Jets want a different look, there’s 6-foot-7 Logan Stanley, who has great reach and snarl. Winnipeg has drafted a lot of blueliners lately, so there will be ample competition for spots.
GOALIES
