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Home , Adam Larsson, Adam Lowry, Ben Chiarot, Brandon Tanev, Brian Strait, Charlie Huddy

Winnipeg Free Press http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/hockey/jets/former-oiler-huddy-knows-value-of-drills- at-jets-practices-395189781.html

Former Oiler Huddy knows value of drills at Jets practices

By: Mike Sawatzky

They're a staple of training camp. Most hockey practices, in fact.

The mind-numbing, tedious, seemingly endless on-ice drills: breakouts, three-on-twos, two-on- ones, power-play and short-handed situations, and...

Tedious? Not for Jets assistant coach , whose eyes light up when he talks about them. You could say drills are the bread and butter of his workday.

Huddy, along with the other members of the club's coaching staff, invest a good chunk of their prep time creating new drills or modifying old ones for future workouts.

"We're building practice for the structure of the game," Huddy said following a training camp scrimmage at the MTS Iceplex Wednesday afternoon. "We went through the summer, had meetings and we realized there were areas we need to get better in. We need to manufacture drills to get better in the areas we need to get better at."

Drills at training camp, with a large of new, younger players, have a narrow focus.

"Mostly just five-on-five structure," Huddy said, adding the 3-0 score in Tuesday's preseason- opening loss to "was whatever."

"There was structure we had put in the last four days of practice... and there were signs of doing the right things. So the guys are getting it."

It's a lot about helping new players learn the Jets' way of doing things and reminding veterans about how they got there.

"We start in components, take basic things and then continue to build — add a player, add another play so now, instead of working on a one-on-two or two-on-two, now it’s a two-on-three to a three-on-three to a four-on-four to a five-on-five," said assistant coach , who is serving as the club's media man while is working behind the bench in the final series.

Veterans such as are already locked in.

The 23-year-old is a fourth-year pro in his sixth training camp with the Jets. The son of former NHL player and coach — the current bench boss of the WHL's — he understands the importance of grunt work.

"I think if you look at the drills we’re doing right now, there’s a lot of simple lessons we can implement in our games, whether its’s certain things on three-on-twos or two-on-ones, things like that," Lowry said. "It’s important that you take the time to really pay attention and you find the things the coaching staff is trying to utilize in practices and you use that in game situations."

Captain is a believer, too.

"We do drills all season," Wheeler said. "We try to work on things, work on your structure. You do it with a purpose to get everyone on the same page."

Huddy, a on the free-wheeling, high-scoring Oilers teams of the 1980s, said tactical changes to the game and technological advances made it essential for clubs in the modern era to prepare their players like never before. Video allows teams to review virtually everything, dissecting every play.

"In the regular season we pre-scout the other teams on their play and make adjustments to our play so that will carry over into our practice," he said. "We would set up different drills to adjust to the different teams we're playing. And then again, when the games are over, we always watch the games again to see what we need to improve on and we'll build our practice around the areas we need improvement."

Huddy concentrates on the work of his defensive corps.

"I'll spend more time watching the D if it's breakouts or neutral zone," he said. "(For) the young defenceman, the hardest part of the game — they might have skill, they may be able to skate — is the play in your own end, the D-zone coverage. With so many skilled players, things happen so fast."

Reading plays in the NHL is a big jump from the AHL, and an even longer journey from playing junior.

Forwards and defencemen learn from the same drills, improving play-reading and reaction on both sides of the puck, Huddy said.

"It takes time... it's not an easy process," he said. http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/hockey/jets/delayed-but-not-dismayed- 395215061.html

Delayed but not dismayed Tanev's road to the brink of the NHL took a detour along the way

By: Scott Billeck

While most future NHLers were starting their rookie season in junior at 16, the prospect was stepping away from the game he loved.

In fact, if he didn’t have his brother — defenceman Chris Tanev — blazing a trail before him, it’s unlikely Brandon would be mentioned in the same breath as the .

"(Chris) has been in the league now for a couple years and just seeing him grow has really echoed onto me in many ways," Tanev, 24, said from his locker room stall Wednesday at the MTS Iceplex. "I look up to him in many ways. His help has been unbelievable."

The duo’s curse wasn’t their skill — both possessed what it took to move up the ranks throughout their childhood years. Instead, what stunted their progression was their diminutive stature during their mid-teens — both closer to the five-foot mark than the much more desirable and seemingly mandatory six-foot region.

So the younger Tanev took a three-year hiatus from the game, choosing to attend high school and wait and hope for the day he woke up several inches taller.

"I wasn’t physically mature yet and I wasn’t able to make any of the Triple-A teams that I played for growing up," Tanev said.

As with brother Chris, Tanev would eventually hit the growth spurt he needed to step back onto the ice with a purpose.

In 2010, Tanev, then 19, joined the Junior B ranks with the in the Junior Hockey League. At the same time, current head coach Nate Leaman — then at Union College — had been keeping tabs on the now 6-0, 180-pound left-.

Those tabs turned into a scholarship for the Toronto native when Leaman took over the reins with at Providence in 2011. After playing one year in the British Columbia Hockey League with the Surrey Eagles, Tanev joined the Providence College Friars, recording 11 points in 33 games in his freshman season.

"We went out and watched him — two or three games — and we really liked him." Leaman said in a telephone interview from Rhode Island on Wednesday morning. "His freshman year was an adjustment, like it is for most guys, but he just kept improving and improving."

Leaman said Tanev’s skills became game-changing over time, perhaps no more apparent than in the NCAA national championship game against Boston College April 11, 2015.

With just more than six minutes remaining in a 3-3 hockey game, Tanev picked up a loose puck just behind his centreman at the right faceoff dot, surged into the slot and scored the game- winning just under the bar in the left-hand corner of the net. Providence were national champions for the first time.

"It was unbelievable, you can’t replace that type of feeling. It’s something I’ll remember for the rest of my lifetime," Tanev said. "At the same time, what that game meant for our school, Providence College, the community, it was the biggest game in the school’s history. I know each one of us on that team was glad to wear that jersey."

Leaman said there weren’t too many nights where NHL teams didn’t want a word with Tanev in the season after, his senior year.

Winnipeg was one of those teams.

Tanev attended several NHL development camps but eventually signed a one-year, two-way pact with the Jets after his final game with Providence this spring.

"It was a proud moment for my family and I," said Tanev, who played three games with the Jets on their western road swing that closed out the 2015-16 season.

Leaman feels certain Tanev has the desirables of an NHL player, pointing to his 15-goal, 28- point senior season before signing with the big club.

"Definitely," he said. "He was a pretty elite player at this level.

"The one thing that I was always amazed by with Brandon was that there were no off days for him. Because of his energy level and his elite skating, there were very few days he wasn’t the fastest going player on the ice. I can think of maybe just one or two games were he looked tired." http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/hockey/jets/note-book-395215051.html

NOTE BOOK

By: Scott Billeck and Mike Sawatzky

Patrik Laine took in his first scrimmage action with the Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday afternoon.

The 18-year-old Finn didn’t make it onto the scoresheet, but he got a taste of what the NHL life will be like after going up against , and Blake Wheeler.

"It’s kind of new to me because in Finland we never do (scrimmages) like that," he said.

Will he play tonight against the visiting Wild? Like the first game, assistant coach Jamie Kompon, who’s minding the fort while head coach Paul Maurice is helping coach Team Europe at the World Cup of Hockey, said he won’t divuldge the game’s roster until game day.

Playing on the Laine

Laine, who arrived in Winnipeg Friday, and is living out of a hotel room, revealed how he keeps a bit of his home life with him here in Winnipeg.

"I’ve have my Playstation 4 with me, so I’m not bored," he said. "Call of Duty, FIFA, stuff like that."

The video game console now surely on every kid’s Christmas list has been keeping Laine company during his down time away from the MTS Iceplex. Like most who indulge, Laine is playing all the popular titles.

But does he play himself in the recently released NHL 17?

"I don’t play that much NHL," he said. "I got a lot of hockey in my life, I don’t want to play that on Playstation." docs see matthias

Doctors evaluated , who the Jets signed in free agency this past summer, Monday afternoon.

The 28-year-old forward left Monday night’s 3-0 pre-season loss to the in the first period with an upper-body injury. He did not return.

No word was given on his injury. He’s day to day at this point.

Meanwhile, Ryan Olsen and both showed up on the injury report Wednesday. Jets assistant coach Jamie Kompon diagnosed both as day-to-day.

Wheels rarin’ to go

Captain Blake Wheeler, who recently returned to Winnipeg after a stint with Team USA at the World Cup of Hockey, sounded eager Wednesday to get through training camp and get the regular season underway.

"This is training camp No. 2. So I’m feeling good. Getting through it," said Wheeler.

Goals scored by...

Mark Scheifele, and were the goal scorers during a 30-minute scrimmage at the end of Day 6 of training camp.

Winnipeg Sun http://www.winnipegsun.com/2016/09/28/jets-intensity-shocked-laine

Jets' intensity shocked Laine 'Here you have those guys that want to take your spot' sats rookie

BY PAUL FRIESEN, WINNIPEG SUN

The look on 's face said it all.

Yeah, he's one of the most talented 18-year-olds on the planet. And yeah, he's played against the best in the world at the World Championships and the recent World Cup.

But Laine has never, ever, experienced anything like a cutthroat NHL training camp before.

And the first few days of his first one with the Winnipeg Jets have opened his eyes and screamed into his ears: he's not in Finland, or even the pro league in Switzerland, anymore.

“We don't normally have nothing like the training camp,” Laine said, Wednesday. “Everybody comes to the practice and we don't have to kind of race (for) the spots on the team. We just come there and practise and then play. And we don't have that many guys there. We just have the team and we're just practising with them.

“Here you have those guys that want to take your spot and want to be ahead of you in the roster. Back home there's no such thing.”

Even the Jets have never had a training camp as competitive as this one, with at least a dozen players fighting for just a few open jobs.

It shows in the intensity of a scrimmage like Wednesday's — another thing Laine had never experienced.

“That's kind of new to me. Because in Finland we never do stuff like that,” he said. “It's a good thing to see those players that you're playing against (for) the spots on the roster. It's only a good thing to have those games.”

SLEEPING IT OFF

Defenceman didn't get much sleep after Tuesday night's pre-season game, and it wasn't one play that kept him awake.

It was just the turn-around from a night game to a 9 a.m. training camp session.

“I'm not a young buck anymore,” Strait said. “I'm almost 29. But I've done it before. It's part of being professional.”

So is making mistakes and just moving on.

That's what Strait had to do, Tuesday, when he and goalie messed up behind the Jets net and Strait's ensuring giveaway handed Calgary a goal.

“He was, like, 'Oh, sorry I didn't get out of the way.' I'm like, 'Dude, we both messed up. Brush it off.' It's one of those things,” Strait said. “Bad puck luck, too, that the guy was standing right there. What are you going to do? You've got to brush it off and keep playing.”

That's one thing that's easier to do now than when he was younger.

One of Winnipeg's summer free-agent signings, Strait says his legs and lungs weren't bad for the pre-season opener.

He loved the way a youth-dominated Jets lineup played -- for two periods, anyway.

There'll be another chance to make up for the disappointing third – not to mention his mistakes.

“Yeah, you want to put your best foot forward for pre-season games,” Strait said. “That's where it counts. That's what they're all looking for. Just try to give your best effort every night.”

Assistant coach Jamie Kompon says with each game players usually start to separate themselves.

“You hope there's not separation and they make our job tough,” Kompon said. “Don't make our job easy.”

THE “OTHER” KID

Like Laine, is looking forward to his first pre-season game, potentially Thursday.

The Jets' first draft pick last year, Connor says he's not sure if there's more value in games or day-to-day performance in camp.

“Everything probably goes into play,” he said. “You're being evaluated every time you got to the rink. So every time you get a chance to impress them you want to do your best.”

If he suits up against the Wild, Connor's plan is simple: do what he's always done.

“Play my game -- lots of speed, and use my skills to make the players around me better.”

His goal for camp is the same as Laine's, too: “Make a good impression on the coaches and making that opening-day roster.”

STARS CRANK IT UP

There was a noticeable difference in Wednesday's camp sessions, Kompon said.

“The execution, the tempo – and that's not taking away from anybody else,” Kompon said. “But that first group, they were going. That was Litts and Staff and , they drive the bus. It was really good to see. And in turn it was only a one-hour practice, because we got what we needed to get accomplished and the attention to detail was spot-on.”

That same intensity was on display in an afternoon scrimmage involving World Cup returnees Blake Wheeler, Mark Scheifele and Dustin Byfuglien.

The pace might have opened some younger eyes.

“It's a little bit of a reality check: 'I've got to notch it up just a little bit more now,' ” Kompon acknowledged. “For those guys it's a great experience to push themselves out of that comfort zone. It's a real good test.”

OUCH UPDATE

Shawn Matthias, injured in Tuesday's pre-season affair, wasn't hurt seriously, Kompon said.

“I don't think there's much of a concern.”

Ryan Olsen and Patrice Cormier remain day-to-day, week-to-week. http://www.winnipegsun.com/2016/09/27/roslovic-makes-jets-debut

Roslovic makes Jets debut

BY KEN WIEBE, WINNIPEG SUN

For Jack Roslovic, it wasn't flashy, but it was another step in the right direction.

The 25th overall pick in the 2015 NHL Draft made his Winnipeg Jets pre-season debut on Tuesday night and was held off the board in a 3-0 loss to the Calgary Flames.

But for a guy that turned heads at the summer development camp and was lights-out during the 2016 Young Stars Classic, finishing with two shots on goal in 15 minutes and 35 seconds of ice time gives him a foundation to build on as he continues to chase a roster spot.

“My comfort level definitely built as the game went on and that's a big thing,” said Roslovic. “I wasn't nervous. I was anxious and ready to go. There was a lot of adrenaline early, but once that settles down, you have to find something else and follow the structure to the fullest and get back to your game.”

As Roslovic makes the jump to the professional game after leaving Miami University following his freshman season, his game plan for his first NHL training camp is simple.

“I'm trying to do what I do best, to make an impression and make a footprint into the coaching staff's notebook and really show them why I'm here,” said Roslovic. http://www.winnipegsun.com/2016/09/28/running-the-gauntlet-to-make-jets

Running the gauntlet to make Jets Deep lineup means hopeful players in tough

BY PAUL FRIESEN, WINNIPEG SUN

Nic Petan on Wednesday was looking back at how many training camps this is, now, in his quest to make the NHL.

“I think it's four,” the Winnipeg Jets hopeful, a second-round draft pick in 2013, was saying.

Here's the funny thing about that: while you'd automatically think someone like Petan, small but ridiculously skilled, would be getting closer and closer to his dream job with every try, that's not necessarily the case.

Not that he's levelling off. Far from it. Petan gets better every year, and spent roughly one-third of last season with the Jets (six points in 26 games), the other two-thirds with the AHL Moose (32 points in 47).

“But the challenge gets harder,” he said. “More guys, less spots.”

Never has that been truer than this season.

Where you used to be able to pencil in virtually all the names who'd stay up with the NHL team, good luck doing that this fall.

The difference is like night and day from the last few years.

And Petan isn't the only one feeling it.

You can have two full seasons under your belt and still be more than a little insecure about your place.

“The last few years there hasn't been quite this level of competition,” Adam Lowry said. “Especially up front, the amount of forwards. Especially in the lower two lines. There's a lot of guys that can fill those roles. That's a good sign.”

A good sign for the team.

A foreboding one for a bunch of players.

“It pushes everyone, every day,” Lowry said, acknowledging he feels the pinch. “It's our jobs here. You've got to make sure you're doing everything in your power to stay in the lineup, make the team. And then once you're here, continue to contribute. If you're not playing up to organization's standards, there's going to be someone here to take your job.

“I'm still a young guy. I was in the minors last year, too. Everyone knows they're going to have to work to keep their jobs.”

Lowry went through some tough times in his sophomore year and spent four games with the Moose.

This year, with the talent that'll no doubt end up down on the farm, that four games may turn into four weeks. Or more.

“The more competition, the better and harder you play,” Petan said. “There's younger guys than me this year and you don't want them doing better than yourself. So each and every day you want to battle harder than anyone out there.”

That's all you can control.

The rest just keeps you awake at night.

And when it comes time for a pre-season game, well, that's showtime.

Just don't try to do too much, either.

“You're not going to be changing and going to be a 30-goal guy right off the bat,” is how Lowry put it. “Make sure you're contributing to the lineup every time out.”

Lowry and Petan are among a long list of forwards vying for jobs on the third and fourth lines. They have names like Howden, Matthias, Burmistrov, Copp, Tanev, Thorburn, Peluso, Connor, Dano, Armia, Lipon — you get the picture.

That's not competition — it's a bloody gauntlet. A game of survivor.

“It drives it — the compete and the work,” assistant coach Jamie Kompon said. “And you saw that in the first two periods (Tuesday) night. That was really evident in the game. We had a dip in the third period. But... they know there's opportunity there. Everyone wants to showcase and put their best foot forward for it.”

Thursday night marks the next chance to get your skate blade into a door that's barely open a crack, and seems to be closing a little more every year.

“You've just got to keep proving yourself,” is how Petan sees it. “I come here, do my best and whatever happens, happens.”

The Metro Winnipeg http://globalnews.ca/news/2968523/winnipeg-jets-youngsters-shutout-by-calgary-flames-to- open-pre-season/

Winnipeg bridal shop dresses mannequins in Jets gear Here comes the bride, all dressed in white... Jets gear... or blue... she's a fan...

By: Braeden Jones

You know you’re in a hockey town when even the mannequins show their support.

While it’s common for businesses to cheer on local sports teams with a flag or sign, one Winnipeg bridal shop gussies up their dummies in something borrowed and blue with a Jets logo on the front for game days.

“We started doing it during the season last year,” said Helene’s Bridal Salon manager Joanne Clark. “We put jerseys on (the mannequins) on game days so people see them as they are passing by on the way to the game.”

The Helene’s storefront has a massive window and is just a five-minute walk from the MTS Centre on Portage Avenue, and it’s filled with mannequins in Jets jerseys for “big games,” including—since Winnipeg is hockey-crazed—Tuesday’s pre-season home-opener.

“It’s that time of year again, it’s important we show our support,” Clark said. “There’s lots of people going by.”

Shelly Ducharme, the Helene’s employee and Jets mega-fan who supplies all of the mannequins with jerseys said it’s fun being a part of the town’s hockey culture.

“It makes me happy, it makes other people happy, and we’re here right in the middle of it, right on Portage, so when people are going to the game I hope they see it,” she said. “Maybe, if they’re engaged, they’ll come in and buy a dress from us.”

Clark explained the bridal shop, though not necessarily a game night destination, “absolutely” benefits from the exposure gained since the return of NHL hockey and major crowds the MTS Centre brings.

“We do see (business increase), not like restaurants or bars of course, but if our window gets their attention, they’ve never heard of us before they might think ‘oh that’s worth a visit’ hopefully,” she said. “Everybody gets a kick out of it.”

The National Post http://news.nationalpost.com/sports/nhl/will-the-toronto-maple-leafs-land-jacob-trouba-to-play- with-morgan-rielly-six-teams-that-could-trade-for-the-winnipeg-jets-defenceman

Will the land to play with ? Six teams that could trade for the Winnipeg Jets defenceman

By Michael Traikos

Here we go again.

Another year, another player demanding a trade from the team that drafted him. , Travis Hamonic and Patrick Marleau all pulled the same stunt last season and when it was all said and done, all three ended up staying with their respective teams.

So the fact that Winnipeg’s Jacob Trouba has requested a trade from the Jets, because he doesn’t believe there is an opportunity for him on the right side on defence, doesn’t actually mean he will in fact be moved.

That’s not to say that plenty of teams won’t try to acquire the 22-year-old.

In three seasons in the NHL, the 6-foot-3 and 202-pound Trouba has already established himself as a steady defenceman who can play in all situations — he led the Jets in kill minutes — and provide plenty of offensive pop (10 goals as a rookie and six goals and 21 points last season).

What’s it going to take? Well, here are six teams that are in the market for a defenceman and could have the assets to pull off the deal.

TORONTO Why they want him: The Leafs have a franchise centre in and what they believe is a No. 1 goalie in Frederik Andersen. Now, it’s time to work on the defence. Toronto passed on Noah Hanifin and instead drafted with the fourth-overall pick in 2015, which gave them a winger who might grow up to become the next Johnny Gaudreau — or better. But what the team needs more right now is a top-pairing defenceman to play with Morgan Rielly. What it will take: The Jets would obviously want Rielly, which is obviously a non-starter for the Leafs. Maybe is a starting point, but it might also take either a first-round pick (lottery-protected, of course) or a top-end prospect like William Nylander.

BOSTON Why they want him: Zdeno Chara, who has two more seasons remaining on his contract, is 38 years old and slowing down. After trading Dougie Hamilton and Johnny Boychuk in recent years, the Bruins are left with and as the future of an underwhelming defence. What it will take: is Winnipeg’s goalie of the future, but prospect (first-round pick in 2012) could provide the Jets with even more depth in net. Or if it’s a defenceman that the Jets want, Jakub Zboril (13th overall in 2015) and Charlie McAvoy (14th overall, 2016) are interesting options.

BUFFALO Why they want him: Like the Leafs, the Sabres have a No. 1 centre in and what they hope is a No. 1 goalie in Robin Lehner (that is, if he can ever stay healthy long enough to play a full season). But where the team is lacking is on defence. Rasmus Ristolainen is a stud, but aside from and the recently acquired Dmitry Kulikov, a significant drop off exists. What it will take: These two teams have a history of helping each other with their roster problems (See: the trade), so don’t be surprised if Buffalo and Winnipeg work something out again. But it won’t be easy. The Jets would probably be looking for Ristolainen, who is also in a contract dispute. If you’re the Sabres, is getting Trouba an upgrade, a lateral move or worse?

VANCOUVER Why they want him: The Canucks acquired over the summer but their defence still needs work, especially when you consider that they play in a division with Edmonton’s Connor McDavid, Calgary’s Johnny Gaudreau and the . Trouba would be a perfect complementary player for Chris Tanev and Ben Hutton, not to mention the ageing Alexander Edler. What it will take: The tough part about trading for Trouba is that the Jets probably want a defence back in return. In other words, forget about Trouba and Olli Juolevi (fifth overall in 2016) playing together in the future, because it would likely take trading Juolevi to get Trouba.

DETROIT Why they want him: Because Nicklas Lidstrom is still retired and the Red Wings are still looking for his replacement. Trouba, who was born in Rochester, Mich., and attended the University of , is a natural fit. He might not be a future Norris Trophy winner, but with getting older, he would give Detroit a stud defenceman to complement forwards , Tomas Tatar and Gustav Nyqvist. What it will take: Six-foot-five and 214-pound Anthony Mantha, who has been biding his time in the minors, is exactly the type of big-body power forward that every team in the Western Conference covets. Toss in defenceman Danny DeKeyser or a top-end prospect (Evgeni Svechnikov or Dennis Cholowski) and this trade looks even more appealing.

NEW JERSEY Why they want him: Acquiring in the summer gave the Devils a legitimate top-line sniper. But giving up Adam Larsson in the trade meant they also lost their No. 1 defenceman. Cup-winning blue-liner Ben Lovejoy signed as a free agent in the summer, but he’s not a replacement. For New Jersey to maintain its philosophy of low-scoring games, another top-end defenceman is needed. What it will take: Pavel Zacha, who was the sixth-overall pick in 2015, had two assists in his one and only game with the Devils last season. He might not get the deal done on his own, but adding goalie prospect MacKenzie Blackwood could sweeten the pot.

ESPN.com http://sports.yahoo.com/news/puck-lists-who-could-the-winnipeg-jets-land-for-jacob-trouba- 155943688.html

Where should the Winnipeg Jets trade Jacob Trouba?

By Rob Vollman Special to ESPN.com

The availability of Winnipeg Jets defenseman Jacob Trouba is a rare and tremendous opportunity for an NHL team to significantly upgrade its blue line long term, and for the Jets to cash in on the currently high going rate for solid young defensemen. What's the best possible outcome for this situation?

On Sept. 23, Trouba's agent Kurt Overhardt released a statement to announce that there has been no negotiation with the restricted free agent for several months, and that Trouba wished to be traded to a team with a greater need for a right-handed defenseman.

Based on his underlying numbers, there are only a few teams that don't have a great need for a young defenseman with such tremendous potential. In his three-season NHL career, Trouba is known for his strong defensive game, ranking 13th among defensemen with 2:58 minutes of average shorthanded ice time per game, and 23rd with 429 blocked shots. He's also a skilled and physical defenseman who ranks 57th in that span, with 336 hits. His offensive game may not be elite, but he does rank 39th with 387 shots, and 33rd with 23 goals in that same span.

Even for a defenseman in his prime, acquiring a player with numbers like that could carry a steep asking price, but Trouba is only 22 years old. When comparing his statistics to how all active defensemen performed through their age-21 seasons, he's essentially in the top 10.

An elite young blueliner

Here are Trouba's career statistics through his age-21 season, compared to all active defensemen, courtesy of Hockey Reference:

Jacob Trouba Statistics, 2013-14 To 2015-16 CATEGORY VALUE RANK Games 211 10th Goals 23 7th Assists 49 18th Points 72 13th Shots 387 6th Penalty Minutes 151 9th

One of the most impressive aspects of Trouba's game has been his usage. Most young defensemen are used quite carefully in their first few seasons, even in the case of an elite talent like Aaron Ekblad of the . In his rookie season in 2014-15, Ekblad was paired up with the team's top defenseman Brian Campbell, and generally protected from playing tough minutes in the defensive zone, against top opponents, or killing penalties. In 2015-16, Ekblad was moved gradually into only a marginally more challenging role.

In contrast, Trouba has been paired with a depth option like , and essentially relied upon as the team's No. 4 defenseman from day one, as demonstrated by the following three- season player usage chart of Winnipeg's current defensemen.

As indicated by the tight band on the horizontal axis, the Jets do not employ a zone-matching strategy for their defensemen, who are all used to roughly equal extents in both the offensive and defensive zones, with the exception of occasional AHL call-up .

The vertical axis is more interesting, as it represents which defensemen are deployed against Winnipeg's top opponents. In this regard, Trouba is clearly the No. 4 defenseman, and a step up from , Mark Stuart and the newly acquired Brian Strait, who may be fighting for their jobs against rookies like and Joshua Morrissey this season.

Trouba's high position in the chart is no trick of the numbers. Quality of competition estimates usually line up with a defenseman's share of the ice time, and Trouba's career average of 17:53 even-strength minutes per game ranks 66th among NHL defensemen in the past three seasons, which is well inside top-four territory.

Most impressively, the sized and shaded circles represent how well the Jets have performed in terms of shot-based metrics when Trouba has been on the ice, relative to his teammates. In simple terms, his plus-244 shot attempt differential at even strength is 42nd among defensemen during the past three seasons. If anything, these numbers make the case that is the right-handed shot who should be shopped around, not Trouba.

Likely destinations

Trouba is a young and developing defenseman who is already a solid two-way, top-four option who can play tough minutes, kill penalties and pose a serious scoring threat from the point. Quite frankly, it's easier to list the teams who don't need someone like that than those who do.

His most ideal destination is a team that is planning and positioned for long-term contention, where Trouba would immediately be at least the No. 2 right-handed defenseman, with potential to assume the top-pairing role as he hits his prime two seasons from now.

Since that description fits more than half of the teams in the league, including Winnipeg itself, Trouba's most probable destination relies more heavily on who can provide the greatest return package.

As demonstrated by the June 29 trade where the very similar Adam Larsson was traded from the to the for top-flight forward Taylor Hall, the going rate for defensemen like Trouba is quite high right now.

However, the Jets do not need the added scoring punch that a forward comparable to Hall would provide, especially with the arrival of rookies Patrik Laine and Kyle Connor, not to mention the continued development of . The Jets also don't need any more forward depth, draft picks or prospects, and may just wait patiently for Connor Hellebuyck and/or Eric Comrie to solve their goaltending problems.

What the Jets really need is a second-pairing, defensive-minded defenseman exactly like Trouba, especially one who can improve a penalty kill that allowed the second-most shot attempts per minute last season. From this perspective, Winnipeg has three types of options:

Exchange Trouba for another young RFA holdout, like Buffalo's Rasmus Ristolainen or Anaheim's Hampus Lindholm.

Trade Trouba to a team with roughly equivalent defensemen, but a surplus of left-handed shots, like Oscar Klefbom in Edmonton, or upgrade to someone older and better, like 's Oliver Ekman-Larsson.

Use Trouba to acquire an established veteran who can really help today, at the expense of a long-term contractual nightmare, like Minnesota's Ryan Suter, Chicago's , or Calgary's . Obviously, these types of moves are almost impossible to make, and aren't really good moves for Winnipeg in the long run, anyway.

What should happen

Even at age 22, Trouba has three seasons as a solid, two-way No. 4 defenseman who can throw hits, take shots, kill penalties and play the tough minutes with virtually anyone as a partner. If he's looking for a new home, then it makes sense for almost every NHL team to pick up the phone and put together a serious offer that includes a left-handed blue-line replacement for Winnipeg.

Based on the underlying numbers, it makes far more sense for the Jets to trade Myers instead, and work out a new contract for Trouba. Myers is already being outperformed by Trouba in all situations, carries a steep cap hit of $5.5 million for three more seasons, but has value in a market that is currently hot for a hard-hitting top-four defenseman in his prime.

While it is difficult to craft a fair trade for a player of Trouba's talent and potential, it is more realistic to identify defensemen that teams would be prepared to swap for a lesser prize like Myers. That's why the NHL GMs might want to have a second offer in mind when they place their calls to Winnipeg.

Sportsnet.ca http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/seven-potential-trade-destinations-winnipeg-jets-jacob- trouba/

Seven potential trade destinations for Winnipeg Jets’ Jacob Trouba

BY MIKE JOHNSTON

Simply because a player demands a trade (or asks politely) it doesn’t mean it’s a guarantee they get moved. Remember what happened with Jonathan Drouin and Travis Hamonic last season?

That’s why the situation surrounding still-unsigned restricted free agent Jacob Trouba is so interesting.

The 22-year-old Winnipeg Jets defenceman went public over the weekend with a trade request that was first brought to the Jets’ attention in May, according to Trouba’s agent Kurt Overhardt.

Despite the fact his point totals have decreased annually since breaking into the league in 2013, Trouba remains one of the top young blueliners in the game and his availability is garnering plenty of attention from around the league.

The Jets are seeking a left-handed defenceman in the same age and skill range as part of a package for Trouba, but as we've seen in the past things can change. With all that in mind, here are seven teams that could be possible trade partners with Winnipeg.

Boston Bruins The Bruins were reportedly preparing an offer sheet for the RFA in June. They weren’t able to address their issues on the back end in free agency, so landing Trouba would be huge for that franchise as Trouba would leapfrog both Kevan Miller and Adam McQuaid as Boston’s best right-handed defenceman. If Trouba went to the Bruins, it would also appease any fans still salty that the team traded Dougie Hamilton to the Flames last summer.

The catch here is power-play quarterback Torey Krug would likely have to be part of the deal since he fits what the Jets are looking for. Or, would the Bruins be willing to part with 2015 first- round pick Jakub Zboril or 2016 first rounder Charlie McAvoy if Winnipeg is open to accepting a more prospect/pick-heavy deal?

Detroit Red Wings Detroit native Danny Dekeyser would seemingly have to be the centrepiece of an offer here. If you’re a Red Wings fan who loves local talent you don’t want to hear that, but on the other hand Trouba is from Rochester, Mich., and played one season at the . The Jets were one of the teams interested in Dekeyser in 2012 when he was a college free agent. Anthony Mantha took a step backwards in his development last season, but still has a high ceiling. He could be another potential trade chip.

Arizona Coyotes There’s no doubt the Coyotes covet Trouba, but the problem with them as a potential partner is they lack the type of left-handed d-man the Jets seek. They just signed veteran Alex Goligoski, who has a modified no movement clause, and don’t even think about bringing up Oliver Ekman- Larsson’s name -- he’s on another level than Trouba. Connor Murphy and Michael Stone are quality young defencemen on the rise but both shoot right. The Coyotes do, however, have a surplus of young forwards to dangle out there and Martin Hanzal is entering the final year of his contract where it’s believed he could be moved at some point.

Toronto Maple Leafs What would a list like this be without talking about the Maple Leafs, really? We know Toronto won’t give up Morgan Rielly as part of a deal but packaging Jake Gardiner with a young forward could feasibly be enough to land Trouba. The three best right-handed defencemen on the Leafs right now are veteran Roman Polak plus unproven and , so suffice it to say the team would love to add more talent to the back end.

New York Rangers The Blue Shirts are close to the salary cap and have seven players on their active roster set to become RFAs following the 2016-17 season. They’d need to shed salary if they wish to take on a player like Trouba who is sure to land a lucrative long-term contract. Also, the Rangers have given away prospects and picks acquiring players like Eric Staal, Keith Yandle and Martin St. Louis in recent seasons so it’ll be interesting to see if they’re willing to do the same to get a young stud like Trouba. They could conceivably offer up a veteran like Marc Staal or Dan Girardi as part of a deal to balance out the books in addition to 2012 first-rounder Brady Skjei.

New Jersey Devils The Devils gave up Adam Larsson to get Taylor Hall so they have a significant void on the right side of their top pairing. John Moore and Jon Merrill are left-handed blueliners in their mid-20s, both of whom would fit in with the Jets. They’d have to give up a lot more than that, though.

Edmonton Oilers Larsson is the only decent righty the Oilers have on defence and they could use more balance back there. It might be too early in his career to move but Oscar Klefbom fits exactly what the Jets want – on paper at least. The Swede is signed through 2023 at $4.167 million per year.

TSN 1290 http://www.tsn.ca/radio/winnipeg-1290/dreger-teams-asking-about-trouba-for-months-1.575812

Dreger: Teams asking about Trouba for months

TSN Hockey insider joins Hustler & Lawless to discuss the possibilities of the Winnipeg Jets trading Jacob Trouba. Dreger also talks about the World Cup finals. http://www.tsn.ca/radio/winnipeg-1290/copp-i-worked-on-face-offs-with-ryan-kesler-in-the-off- season-1.575746

Copp: I worked on face-offs with Ryan Kesler in the off-season

Winnipeg Jets forward joins Rick Ralph and discusses the start of training camp and the Jets loss to Calgary. http://www.tsn.ca/radio/winnipeg-1290/beyak-tanev-shines-and-lowry-struggles-for-jets- 1.575443

Beyak: Tanev shines and Lowry struggles for Jets

Voice of the Jets joined the Big Show to break down the Jets 3-0 preseason loss to the Flames including Brandon Tanev's standout night, the play of and a tough go for Adam Lowry as he battles for a spot on the fourth line. www.winnipegjets.com https://www.nhl.com/jets/news/laine-enjoying-new-experiences-in-winnipeg/c-282220280

Laine Enjoying New Experiences In Winnipeg Even training camp itself is like nothing he's ever seen before by Ryan Dittrick @ryandittrick / WinnipegJets.com

WINNIPEG - The comforts of home are almost impossible to replicate - unless you're a gamer like Patrik Laine, in which case they totally are.

The newest Jet is just like any other young adult, spending the bulk of his off nights playing video games after a long day at work.

"I have my Playstation with me so I don't get bored," he said with a laugh. "Every day I'm at the hotel playing it, so it's just like home."

He spends most of his time playing Call of Duty and FIFA 16, even though he's not much of a soccer player himself. NHL 17? Too life-like.

"I have a lot of hockey in my life, so I don't need it on Playstation, too."

Makes sense.

The games, of course, are a welcome distraction during an understandably stressful time, as it would be for anyone in his position. A new city, a new team, his friends and family a world apart - but he handles it well, with grace and maturity well beyond his years.

Even training camp itself is like nothing he's ever seen before.

"It's new to me because in Finland we never did stuff like this," Laine said. "We just came to practice and we didn't have to (fight) for spots on the team. … It's a lot different here than back home, but it's a good thing to have a lot of players here. You have to play your best game to earn a spot.

"I've scored a couple goals in practice but training camp is only just getting started. Anything can happen, so I just want to show the best skills I have."

Laine got his first taste of game action earlier today in a Blue/White scrimmage at MTS Iceplex. That, too, was something he never experienced in the Finnish Elite League, but he enjoyed it nonetheless.

Next up: His first NHL pre-season games, which could come tomorrow against the , or Friday against the Edmonton Oilers.

"I'm feeling pretty good right now," he said. "Everybody wants to play. It's the best thing about this sport. We'll see what (the coaches) have to say."

- Ryan Dittrick, WinnipegJets.com https://www.nhl.com/jets/news/camp-notebook---day-7/c-282218082

Camp Notebook - Day 7 News and notes, injury updates & more from the Iceplex by Mitchell Clinton @MClinton007 / WinnipegJets.com

BACK IN ACTION

Adam Lowry got his first preseason game of the season under his belt last night. The big centre had over 16 minutes of ice time, including 1:37 on the power play and 2:08 shorthanded.

Though he described the game as "scrambly at times," he says improvement over the preseason is key.

"The big focus for us this year is going to be on our special teams. That was something that really hindered us last year," said Lowry. "If you're going to be a successful team, you're going to want to have those firing consistently on a night in night out basis."

Winnipeg's power play was ranked 30th in the NHL, while the penalty kill was 25th. In order for those to improve, Lowry says the players - new and old - have to take advantage of practice time.

"Early on we've had a few chances to work on those. Then it's just making sure that all the systems are ironed out and nailed down," said Lowry. "You have a lot of new guys coming in and a lot of guys that haven't played those systems before. It's important to make sure they feel comfortable in those."

BANGED UP

Assistant coach Jamie Kompon said Shawn Matthias is seeing a doctor this afternoon for the upper-body injury he sustained in last night's 3-0 preseason loss to Calgary.

Matthias played 3:22 in the opening period before leaving with the injury.

Kompon added that forwards Ryan Olsen and Patrice Cormier are day-to-day as well (neither skated in practice on Wednesday). https://www.nhl.com/jets/news/dano-looks-to-make-noise-in-first-jets-training-camp/c- 282206064

Dano Looks To Make Noise In First Jets Training Camp 21-year-old came to the Jets in a trade late last season by Mitchell Clinton @MClinton007 / WinnipegJets.com

WINNIPEG - For the first time in a long time, Marko Dano got to spend his full off season in his home country of Slovakia.

"It was different between those couple years before because they made me come overseas for six weeks," said Dano. "Now I spent the full summer back home which was nice. I had time to focus on things that I want to improve."

The 21-year-old came to the Winnipeg Jets last season in the trade that sent to Chicago. In the 21 games Dano played since the trade, he scored four goals and eight points.

"The good thing was I came here last year so I got to know the guys around. It's easier for me to be around the guys in the locker room right now," he said. "I feel comfortable. I had a good summer back home, so we'll see how the preseason games are going to go, and we'll start from there."

But Dano doesn't want to only be "comfortable." He wants to get better. That was his focus this summer, starting with his speed.

"(I wanted to) get a little faster. The first couple steps a little quicker," Dano said. "We were working on that, and I got a little stronger too."

He isn't taking those 21 games with the Winnipeg Jets last season for granted either. Since being drafted by the in 2013, Dano has spent time in both the NHL and the AHL.

In total, the forward has played 83 AHL games (split between Springfield and Rockford), and 69 NHL games (with Columbus, Chicago, and Winnipeg).

This year's training camp in Winnipeg has 60 players vying for only a few roster spots. Dano knows if he wants to stay in the NHL, he has to bring it every day.

"We have tough practices, and a little conditioning. There's a lot of guys here so it's a pretty big competition battling for a spot," said Dano. "That's how it is with every team. It's good for us. We have to be on our toes and play our best, and try to make the team."