The Toronto Maple Leafs were undoubtedly the winners of draft day on Saturday following the announcement they’ll draft first overall and likely land super-prospect Auston Matthews. The Winnipeg Jets should get some consideration as the draft’s biggest winner as well, even though they didn’t land the top spot.
The Jets ended up moving up big time on draft day, going from the sixth position all the way up the two spot. For an organization already well-stocked in good, young players, it was great news for fans in Winnipeg.
We're picking 2nd overall! pic.twitter.com/D1VKmwuzAG
— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) May 1, 2016
With the pick, general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff can add to the enviable group of prospects he’s brought to the organization. He’s quietly assembled one of the best cores in the league.
After the Boston Bruins whiffed three times in last year’s draft, the Jets smartly used the 17th overall pick to select center Kyle Connor. In his freshman season in the NCAA with the University of Michigan, Connor led the entire league in scoring with a staggering 71 points in 38 games. Elite Prospects scouting report described him as “a highly skilled, proactive forward that has the capacity to dominate in all three zones.” He’s going to be one heck of a player.
Until recently, Jets fans had to endure the subpar goaltending of Ondrej Pavelec, but help is coming in a huge way. Winnipeg has not one, but two dynamite youngsters coming up through the organization. Connor Hellebuyck arrived in 2015-16, as he appeared in 26 games for the Jets, posting a 13-11-0 record with a 2.34 GAA and a .918 save percentage. Hellebuyck was the best goalie for Winnipeg this year and should be the starter next season. Eric Comrie, a second-round pick in 2013, transitioned to pro hockey this season, posting a 13-25-7 record with a 3.12 GAA and a .907 save percentage. It wasn’t a great pro debut for him, but he’s still one of the best young goalie prospects in the NHL. The 20-year-old will likely play full-time in the AHL.
Winnipeg has a ton of talent who debuted for the team this season. Marko Dano, acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks in the Andrew Ladd deal, is still just 21 years old and has a ton of offensive potential. Promising 21-year-old defenseman Josh Morrisey made his NHL debut this season. There’s 21-year-old center Nicolas Petan, a juggernaut in the WHL, who made his pro debut appearing in 26 games for the Jets. Winnipeg is starting to see a return on investment as top prospects are starting to find their way into the lineup.
That brings us to the present. Landing the second overall pick is massive for the Jets. The big prize is obviously Matthews, who will go first, but the consensus number two pick, Patrik Laine is an elite offensive talent. At just 18, Laine scored 17 goals for Tappara Tampere of the Finnish elite league. He also dominated the World Juniors, scoring a ridiculous seven goals and 13 points in seven games, leading Finland to the gold medal. Scouts have said Laine could go first overall. He’s no consolation prize. The Jets also have the Blackhawks’ 1st round pick, so draft day is going to be big.
That’s without mentioning names like Mark Scheifele, Jacob Trouba and Nikolaj Ehlers, all good NHL players already established in the league who are only going to get better.
Now is the time to buy stock in the Winnipeg Jets. They might have only won 35 games in 2015-16, but they’re completely loaded going into next year. Adding Laine, Connor and whoever else could make the group very, very fun.