The Winnipeg Jets don’t have an extended historical past of signing gamers to Skilled Tryout Contracts (PTOs) however they could be a nice, no-risk means of testing out gamers who would possibly match right into a workforce’s lineup. Though nearly all of gamers on PTOs don’t find yourself making the groups they check out for, from time to time, golf equipment discover a man they assume can contribute properly within the quick time period for an inexpensive value and signal him.
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Having gamers who can chip in for reasonable is essential within the wage cap period, and the Jets discovered one in 2021-22 once they inked Evgeny Svechnikov to a one-year deal after inviting him to camp on a PTO and being impressed by him in preseason. He produced 19 factors in a bottom-six function earlier than shifting on.
The Jets’ group sees itself in win-now mode regardless of shedding within the first spherical in every of the previous two seasons and have good depth and a quantity prospects of their deepening pool who could also be prepared for expanded roles, so it’s unknown in the event that they’ll invite anybody to camp on PTOs. Nonetheless, it’s price taking a minute to have a look at just a few potential candidates new head coach Scott Arniel may get some worth out of.
Dominik Kubalik
Kubalik is a participant searching for a reset after a difficult 2023-24. The Czechian left winger had a career-low 15 factors (11 objectives, 4 assists) in his lone season for the Ottawa Senators after being traded from the Detroit Pink Wings as a part of the Alex DeBrincat deal. The 29 12 months outdated has an extended observe report as a constant offensive producer, nevertheless, in each Europe and the NHL.
Initially drafted in 2012 by the Los Angeles Kings (seventh spherical, 191st total) out of the Ontario Hockey League, Kubalik returned to Europe and spent his early 20s taking part in in Czechia and Switzerland earlier than coming again to North America to play for the Chicago Blackhawks for the 2019-20 season. He put up 46 factors that season (together with 30 objectives,) 38 factors within the shortened 2020-21, and 32 factors in 2021-22 earlier than the Blackhawks allowed him to stroll into unrestricted free company. In his lone season with the Pink Wings, who signed him to a two-year deal within the 2022 offseason, he put up 45 factors earlier than his aforementioned struggles with the Senators.
In 357-career video games, Kubalik has produced at a .492 point-per-game clip. Whereas he doubtless received’t be a 30-goal scorer once more, that price is nothing to sneeze at for a participant who’d be utilized in a bottom-six function. His profession CORSI and Fenwick numbers are each north of fifty per cent, attention-grabbing contemplating he has performed for non-playoff groups for four-straight seasons.
Steven Lorentz
Lorentz is searching for a brand new workforce after profitable the Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers final season; they let him stroll into unrestricted free company after buying him and the ultimate season of his contract in a commerce with the San Jose Sharks final summer time. The 28-year-old two-way centre and left winger was a wholesome scratch for a lot of the primary a part of the season, however battled his means again into the lineup and have become a fourth-line mainstay within the second half and of their run to the Stanley Cup. In 38 regular-season video games, the lefthander had three factors (one aim, two assists) whereas averaging 8:47 of ice time and added one other three (two objectives, one help) in 16 postseason video games.
Whereas these aren’t flashy offensive numbers by any stretch, further centre depth isn’t a foul factor, particularly for a workforce just like the Jets that misplaced a top-six expertise in Sean Monahan and has unproven gamers vying for the second-line spot he vacated. The 6-foot-4, 206-pound Lorentz has a bodily edge to his recreation, racking up 317 hits in his four-season NHL profession. He’s additionally an skilled penalty killer who could possibly be a welcome addition to a Jets’ membership that solely killed 77.13 per cent of its penalties final season and is seeking to enhance below new assistant coach Dean Chynoweth, who Arniel has tasked with revamping the PK regime.
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Initially drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2015 (seventh spherical, 186th total) Lorentz has 43 factors (21 objectives, 22 assists) between the Hurricanes, Sharks, and Panthers in 230-career NHL video games and has received 48.7 per cent of his profession faceoffs. Though he performs a heavy recreation, he stays out of the field, with solely 42-career penalty minutes to his identify.
Kailer Yamamoto
Going from a hulking participant to a small (some would say undersized) one, Yamamoto is one other participant the Jets may check out. In his lone season with the Seattle Kraken, who took a step again and missed the playoffs final season after advancing to the second spherical in 2022-23, the 5-foot-8 proper winger had a disappointing eight objectives and eight assists for 16 factors in 59 video games.
Nonetheless, the 25 12 months outdated is able to far more, making him a compelling “purchase low” candidate. Initially drafted by the Edmonton Oilers twenty second total in 2017 after placing up 99 factors with the Western Hockey League’s Spokane Chiefs, Yamamoto — a speedy man with good playmaking abilities — has recorded as many as 20 objectives and 41 factors in a season (he set each marks in 2021-22 with the Oilers.)
With 134 factors in 303 video games, his 0.442 point-per-game clip is just like Kubalik’s and he’s in the same scenario — in want of a recent begin after a down marketing campaign.
No PTO Participant Is Good, However Potential Worth Exists
As we are able to see, not one of the three PTO candidates are good gamers — in the event that they had been, they wouldn’t be unsigned at this level within the offseason — and none would make or break the Jets’ fortunes in 2024-25, however all carry potential upside that could possibly be unlocked in the event that they’re put in the appropriate conditions. Whether or not it’s one in every of these three or another person, the Jets can be well-served to ask a number of gamers to coaching camp on PTOs. In the event that they don’t work out, it’s no hurt, no foul, but when one does, it’ll solely strengthen the workforce’s depth because it continues to try to contend.