Winnipeg Free Press https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/hockey/jets/jets-taking-police-by-committee- approach-this-season-448107463.html

Jets taking police-by-committee approach this season

By: Jason Bell

NO one’s walking the beat for the this season.

The Central Division team, making final preparations for the start of the 2017-18 NHL season in a week’s time, neither has nor intends to create the position of resident tough guy on the roster.

To a man, the players say they will police by committee.

"We’re going to have to stick up for each other and that won’t fall on any one guy," Winnipeg said Tuesday. "If there’s any liberties individually, we’re going to have to stand up for each other.

"Generally, (the NHL game) seems to be going away from that kind of stuff, but there’s still guys who are going to tow the a little bit. It’s great to have as many guys stand up for one another as possible."

Gone is the one player who, limited skills notwithstanding, could be counted on to consistently answer the bell for the Jets. Chris Thorburn was assessed 55 major penalties for fighting during the six season he spent wearing No. 22 for Winnipeg. He dropped the mitts 13 times — nearly half of the Jets’ 27 fighting majors — during the 2016-17 season, tying him for fifth-most in the league.

Now 34, the right- is plying his trade with the St. Louis Blues, assuming the role of enforcer left vacant when Winnipeg product Ryan Reeves was dealt to the for the 31st pick of the first round of this past summer’s NHL draft in Chicago.

Clearly, the Penguins put stock in employing a bodyguard to protect prized assets such as forwards Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel and blue-liner Kris Letang.

The Jets, who have also parted ways with others who weren’t afraid to trade punches such as Mark Stuart and winger Anthony Peluso, are taking a more judicious approach to filling their roster spots.

Matt Hendricks, signed late in the off-season to a one-year contract after four seasons with the , is regarded as a gritty checker, solid faceoff guy and effective killer, but he’s also the logical choice for the role of heavyweight in Winnipeg.

With 81 NHL fights under his belt, he gets it by acclamation. But he’s 36 now and only had one scrap in 42 contests a year ago with the Oilers, and doesn’t expect to dance just because the heat on the ice reaches a fever pitch.

"The way the game’s going now, you look around the league and for the large of teams now it’s done by committee," said Hendricks. "In the short amount of time that I’ve been here, we’ve got guys that can stand up for themselves, guys that can stand up for their teammates as much as needs to be done.

"I don’t think not having that one or two heavyweights in our lineup will or should make us timid going up against other teams or in any arena in the league."

A couple of regulars have demonstrated in the past they’re willing to fight if the cause is right. Dustin Byfuglien had three majors a year ago, while fellow defenceman Jacob Trouba and Adam Lowry had two apiece. Lowry also had three bouts in 2015-16.

So far in the pre-season, youngsters Brendan Lemieux and JC Lipon have engaged in a couple of fights on behalf of the Jets, while Byfuglien lost his cool Monday night at Bell MTS Place and took on ’ heavyweight Luke Gazdic.

"You look at Lipon and Lemieux and what a great job they’re doing, working hard in camp every day, definitely battling hard, and you see they take on some tough customers. I just think they’re part of a group of guys that really care about one another," said Shawn Matthias.

Matthias challenged Cody McLeod in mid-March after the forward delivered a questionable open-ice hit on Lowry. It’s worth noting Matthias had only had seven fights in 524 games over parts of nine seasons, while McLeod, who hails from Binscarth, Man., led the league in fighting majors (19) last year and has 130 since he broke into the league during the 2007-08 campaign.

Matthias was injured during the fight and was done for the season.

"When you see one of your brothers take a cheap shot or someone takes a run at you, yeah it pisses you off," said Matthias. "The one I was in last year, I thought the guy stuck his knee out, so I went in there and, unfortunately, my bad shoulder got a lot worse after that one. But when you see a guy you care about in that instance, my linemate for most of the year, he would have done the same for me."

Jets head coach Paul Maurice admires his players’ loyality and protective instincts, but said turning the other cheek is also part of the team’s plan to spend less time in the penalty box.

"There are going to be clean hits that we let go, that aren’t answered right away, and we’re going to have to learn to take it when the score says we need to," he said. "And then, most importantly, stick together and by committee make sure that we take care of each other on the ice.

"The Western Conference still has lots of guys on team who do that for a living. We just won’t go into the season with one. We think that we’ve got enough guys that can handle it if we need to. But I don’t think we have anyone getting to the puck second because of it, and that’s the No. 1 concern." https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/hockey/jets/perreault-scratched-from-game-to- welcome-baby-448028803.html

Perreault scratched from game to welcome baby

By: Jason Bell

The Perreault household has had a visit from the stork and not the injury bug.

Winnipeg Jets centre Mathieu Perreault was scheduled to play Monday night against the Calgary Flames, but was scratched from the lineup before the pre-season game at Bell MTS Place.

Jets head coach Paul Maurice did some stickhandling Tuesday morning, providing an explanation for the turn of events without actually delving too deeply into Perreault’s personal life.

"Matty Perreault had an expansionary issue with his family and it’s all very, very positive. But I don’t get to announce that, right? So, we can pretend I didn’t say anything," he said.

The Jets are 1-3-1 in the pre-season, with two more games to go before the start of the 2017-18 regular season.

Adam Lowry left in the second period of a game the home side won 5-2 with an undisclosed injury. Maurice said the big third-line centre won’t dress tonight against the visiting Ottawa Senators, but should be good to go when the Jets kick off the season at home exactly a week later against last year’s NHL rookie-of-the-year and the rest of the Maple Leafs.

"We wouldn’t think (Lowry) is gonna have a problem starting the season," Maurice said. "We’re being very cautious here. Most of these are either groin, hip flexors or your quad strains — tightness that we can’t loosen up, which is what you’d expect based on the way we’ve run camp. It’s been a grind for them."

A pair of nicked-up veterans, blue-liner Tyler Myers and centre Bryan Little, returned to practice Tuesday morning at Bell MTS Iceplex, while forward Joel Armia rested for another day.

"We don’t have anybody that right now is a concern for opening night," Maurice said.

Early in the third period, Flames forward Marek Hrivik took a high hit from Jacob Trouba and the Winnipeg rear-guard was slapped with a match penalty for an illegal hit to the head and five- minute major for fighting with forward Garnet Hathaway.

There was no word from the NHL on any additional punishment on Tuesday.

● ● ●

Maurice took a shine to the play of Brandon Tanev not long after the fleet-footed forward finished his university career at Providence College and signed with the Jets near the tail end of the 2015-16 NHL season.

Tanev earned a starting job with the Jets last fall and played 51 games in the NHL, but also had to handle the impact of a demotion to the of the . His Jets numbers included just a pair of goals — both scored in the same game in mid-November against the — and two assists.

Locked in a battle for fourth-line work this training camp, Tanev was a major contributor on a penalty-killing unit Monday that extinguished all five of the Flames’ power-play opportunities.

Flashy will never be a descriptor for the Toronto product and he’ll never play major minutes, but it’s difficult to knock his tenacity as a checker. His place in the NHL as a role player — past, present and future — is clearly defined, and he’s just fine with that.

"In this league it’s all about roles, about giving what you have to give, especially as a bottom-six player. You gotta be willing to do the dirty work and that’s a role I like to do," Tanev said. "I’m trying to establish myself as someone like that. It’s very important."

Maurice said Tanev identified his strengths early on as a pro and hasn’t strayed from the belief he can contribute in ways far different than those of a star scorer such as Patrik Laine or top defender such as Jacob Trouba.

"There is that understanding when you come to pro hockey that you have to be really good at something," Maurice said. "You have to have something that you do in your role that’s better than other players. (Monday) was the best, by far, of his pre-season. He was really strong (and) he used that speed.

"We have to develop and we have to have penalty killers in our lineup, just as much as you have a power-play guy in your lineup. So, he made a good case for himself in last night’s game."

● ● ●

Early on, the possibility of raw rookie without a single NHL game on his resumé arriving in training camp and cracking the Jets’ 23-man roster to begin the regular season seemed a long shot at best.

Maurice even said as much.

On Tuesday, however, Maurice played coy when asked if there’s a young player whose performance might make the bench boss eat his words.

"Possibly… that’s all you’re getting," he said. "You can get the list out."

Immediately, the name Tucker Poolman was thrown at the savvy, 20-year NHL coach, who begins the ’17-18 campaign with 1,365 games under his belt split between Hartford/Carolina, Toronto and Winnipeg.

Poolman, a right-shooter fresh out of college, has been a bright spot this fall as he battles for the seventh job on the Jets’ defence.

"He’s been pretty good, has played well. We’re going to try him on his off side (against the Senators), take a look at that, something he’s done over the course of his career. But he’s had a very strong camp," Maurice said.

"I would have (had) that line of thinking all summer. I didn’t think we would have a rookie come in, based on what I saw on the board — a pure rookie who hadn’t played in the NHL. But we’ve got some guys that have really good camps and now they’re in that mix."

● ● ●

Winnipeg is expected to start goalie Connor Hellebuyck against the Senators tonight.

Game time at the downtown rink is 7 p.m. (TSN 3 TV, TSN1290 Radio).

Fans might get to see talented forwards and best buddies Patrik Laine and Nikolaj Ehlers create some magic on the same line again.

On Monday, Laine showed off his sharpshooting skills with a pair of goals, but also turned playmaker with three assists. His best dish of the puck didn’t produce a , but was highlight- reel stuff.

He sent a blue line-to-blue line saucer pass to Ehlers that dropped right on the stick blade of the Danish-born speedster, who cradled the puck on the fly and broke in alone, only to be stopped by goalie Eddie Lack.

Indeed, the pair has chemistry.

"Of all the forwards, Nik Ehlers’ growth right now is the one that I’m most pleased with," Maurice said.

"That line (centre Bryan Little with Ehlers and Laine) is an option now. If you’d asked me in July, I’d have been nervous about it... but Nik Ehlers has become a pro, so it becomes a viable option.

"When (Laine) gets over to his natural (right) side, you saw that pass. You really needed to sit from ice level, because there was no way he should have been able to land that puck and there was no way Nikki should have been able to get to it. It was almost like a hole-in-one that didn’t touch the rim. It was perfection." https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/hockey/manitoba-moose/flood-returns-to-manitoba- for-shot-at-moose-lineup-448118453.html

Flood returns to Manitoba for shot at Moose lineup Veteran defenceman previously played for Jets and AHL squad

By: Mike McIntyre

Winnipeg will always be a magical place for Mark Flood as the city where he played the most meaningful hockey of his life. But with his career at a crossroads, Flood has found his way back under much different circumstances.

The well-travelled defenceman is skating this week at Bell MTS Iceplex on a professional tryout offer from the Manitoba Moose. It’s quite a change for a player who suited up for 33 games with the Winnipeg Jets during the 2011-12 season.

"Honestly, it was the highlight of my career," Flood, 32, said Tuesday about being a part of the return of NHL hockey to Winnipeg that season. "I really enjoyed my time here. It was special for me. To be part of that first season was really special. I still look back at it very fondly."

The Prince Edward Island native has spent the past five years travelling the globe. He’s been with three different Russian teams in the Kontinental Hockey League, with a return to North America to play for the of the American Hockey League mixed in between. He spent last season playing in Austria.

"I would have loved to stay here in North America. It just kinda didn’t work out. I didn’t really predict I’d be all over the world. But I’m back here today and we’ll see where it goes," Flood said.

He credits Moose general manager Craig Heisinger, with giving him another shot during a series of phone chats this past summer. Flood spent the 2010-11 season playing in Winnipeg for the Moose, putting up an impressive 11 goals and 29 assists in 63 games.

That led to a two-way deal the following season, in which he spent a good chunk with the Jets along with some time with their AHL affiliate in St. John’s.

"I was looking around in Europe. There wasn’t many options for me. There was a couple I wasn’t too keen on. I called Zinger, who was very good to me when I was here. He said he would get back to me. He called me back about a week after and said he’d offer me a tryout, but couldn’t guarantee anything," Flood said.

He jumped at the chance, although where he could fit in with the Moose remains to be seen.

There appears to be a logjam at the defence position, with prospects such as Tucker Poolman, Jan Kostalek, Julian Melchiori, Nelson Nogier and Sami Niku expected to get ample playing time on the farm.

The Moose have also inked established AHL blue-liners in Cameron Schilling, Kirill Gotovets and . Also in camp are promising youngsters out of college such as Jake Kulevich and Chris Dienes competing for jobs along with a handful of established ECHL-level defencemen here on tryouts.

Suddenly a position of weakness over the past two seasons for the Moose looks impressive and deep. Flood said he hasn’t studied the depth chart, preferring just to follow Heisinger’s advice to come here and compete as hard as he can.

"I understand they are trying, from an organizational standpoint, to get better and develop their young guys. I’m just going to come here, try and help out some of the younger guys, and if there’s a place for me, great," said Flood, who is the oldest player in camp. "I’d love to stay. The staff are great, the city... I hope it works out."

Flood said he would relish a chance to take on a mentoring and leadership role, even if it meant not being an everyday player to allow for the prospects to play. He’s got some familiarity with Moose head coach Pascal Vincent, who was an assistant with the Jets during his one season here.

"In my career I’ve never had anything given to me, I’ve had to work for it. So that’s nothing new for me if I had to start at the bottom here. I’m prepared to do that. I just have to play good and see where it goes," he said.

There’s no denying Flood’s success at this level. He’s scored 56 goals and added 121 assists in 391 AHL games. In addition to his one stint with the Jets, he also dressed for six NHL games with the in 2009-10.

"I like to be a two-way guy, be responsible defensively, make a good first pass and jump up when I can and the opportunity is there," Flood said of his playing style.

As for the constant moving around, Flood said his preference would have been to settle in one place for more than a season, but the nomadic nature of being a professional athlete made it difficult.

"I’ve kind of looked at it like a life experience for me. I’ve got to travel around and see some places that I probably never would have other than if I was playing hockey. So it’s been good. I’ve tried to embrace it because I’m not going to play hockey forever," Flood said.

But he’s certainly not ready to hang up his skates and hopes a return to Winnipeg this season is in the cards.

"I’ve obviously played in some different countries and the States. It’s great, but there’s nothing like playing in Canada," he said.

Winnipeg Sun http://www.winnipegsun.com/2017/09/26/poolman-may-prove-jets-coach-wrong

Poolman may prove Jets coach wrong

BY PAUL FRIESEN, WINNIPEG SUN

About a week before training camp, Paul Maurice made a prediction, of sorts.

“There's possibly the first year in the last three we won't have a pure rookie going into opening night,” the Winnipeg Jets head coach said. “Everybody probably will have played a NHL game going into that.”

Less than three weeks later, “possibly” has gone in the other direction.

Asked Tuesday if camp has changed his mind, Maurice grinned and got cryptic in a hurry.

“Possibly,” he said.

Long pause.

“That's all you're getting.”

The next question, not so coincidentally, was about the play of defenceman Tucker Poolman.

“Pretty good, yeah,” Maurice said. “We're going to try him on his off side (Wednesday, against Ottawa), take a look at that. But he's had a very strong camp.”

Fresh out of the University of North Dakota – and fresh off surgery on both shoulders – Poolman is not your typical rookie.

The 24-year-old has been a steady presence, and getting better every day.

Just don't tell Poolman he's close to making it.

“I'm not the best at grading myself,” he said. “But I think I've done alright. Try to not think too much. That's when I get into trouble.”

Poolman says it's not like he receives regular updates or grades on his play.

So he just keeps his head down, works and learns.

That won't change, whether he starts the season in the NHL or the AHL.

“I knew it was going to be a physical, mental grind every day,” he said of his first camp. “It's a little different than college. There's no letdown, no slowdown.

“Just try to play solid hockey.”

That approach is working like a charm.

EYEING EHLERS If Poolman has been the pleasant surprise on the blue line, speedster Nik Ehlers has popped off the coach's page up front.

We all know what the slick Dane can do with the puck. It's the rest that Maurice has noticed.

“The ability to put him on the ice and not be somebody that the centre man has to take care of out there changes what we can do,” Maurice said. “So he has surprised me. Of all the forwards, Nik Ehlers' growth right now is the one I'm most pleased with.

“That line is an option now, and if you'd asked me in July I'd be a bit nervous about it.”

Maurice had Ehlers skating with Patrik Laine and Bryan Little, Tuesday, combining two of his most potent offensive talents.

Ehlers and Laine weren't two of his better defensive players, though, last season.

And defence is Job 1 this year.

PUTTING PATRIK IN HIS PLACE After a bit of experimentation, the latest evidence coming in Monday's pre-season win over Calgary, Maurice has settled on where he's going to play Laine.

“Laine on right wing saw an ease with his game that hadn't been there,” the coach said. “Patty's game changes on the side of the ice he plays. He may eventually play the left side, but there's a lot to learn from playing your off side.

“So the right side is a good place for Patty, right now.”

Except, of course, on the first power play unit.

“He finds a way over to the shooting hole, regardless,” Maurice said. “And on the power play we've got him in the hole that he wants.”

ENFORCEMENT BY COMMITTEE Over to the brawn department, where the Jets will go into the season without an enforcer, after letting Chris Thorburn walk.

That means it'll be policing by committee.

“Generally, it seems to be going away from that kind of stuff,” Blake Wheeler said. “But there's still guys that are going to toe the line a bit. It's great to have as many guys stand up for one another as possible. Anytime you get Buff fired up, he's a pretty scary guy. If you have guys that can step up when need be, it definitely is a good, valuable resource to have.”

If there's no threat, there's always an opponent who'll take liberties with your best players.

“The Western Conference still has lots of guys on teams that do that for a living,” Maurice said. “We just won't go into the season with one. We think we've got enough guys that can handle it if they need to.”

All that said, any kind of retribution will have to be doled out judiciously. Because this team has to rein in its penchant for penalties.

“We're going to have to learn to take it when the score says we need to,” Maurice said.

OUCH UPDATE Little and defenceman Tyler Myers returned to full practice, Tuesday, after taking time to nurse minor ailments.

Centre Adam Lowry will miss Wednesday's game, but Maurice said he's expected to be ready for the season opener in a week.

Maurice said Mathieu Perreault was absent, Tuesday, as he and his wife were dealing with “an expansionary issue with his family.”

We hear it was the birth of twins.

THE GOALIE PLAN Connor Hellebuyck will get the start against Ottawa, Wednesday, while Steve Mason is planning to play the final pre-season affair in its entirety, Saturday in Calgary.

“That's the plan,” Mason said. “It would be good to get another one. I don't understand the need to play half a game or anything. You play a full game in the regular season, so you may as well in the pre-season as well.”

THE LAST WORD Confidence can be taken in a lot of different ways. From roll-up-the-rim-to-win to putting a big one in – they'll take it all.” -Maurice, on what players, especially goal-scorers, can take from the pre-season.

Sporting News http://www.sportingnews.com/nhl/news/playstation-at-heart-chemistry-between-winnipeg-jets- patrik-laine-nikolaj-ehlers/anrirqthbdug1l6t3yga266ep

PlayStation at the heart of chemistry between Jets' Patrik Laine and Nikolaj Ehlers?

By Jim Cerny

Patrik Laine and Nikolaj Ehlers were back on the same line at even strength last night when the Jets hosted the Flames in preseason action, and the talented young duo immediately found the chemistry they had last season when each recorded 64 points.

Asked afterwards about why he clicks so easily with Ehlers, Laine displayed his quick wit.

"I don't know, we're both from Europe, we're both young and we both like PlayStation," the 19- year-old Laine said through a thin smile.

Of course, what the young Fin left out is that he and Ehlers, the 21-year-old from Denmark, are both extremely high-skilled wingers, who think and play the game at a level few can relate to. Their teamwork was on display Monday with Laine setting up Ehlers for a 5-on-5 goal in the second period of a 5-2 victory. Ehlers missed out on a second goal when he failed to score on a breakaway.

"Last year he didn't score a lot of goals on the breakaway, and a lot of guys were chirping him (Monday)," Laine said as a way of explaining why he didn't give his buddy a good-natured earful after the missed opportunity.

Ehlers did score 25 goals last season, fourth-best on the team. Laine recorded a a team-high 36 goals, center had 32 and captain Blake Wheeler potted 26. On Monday, Scheifele centered Wheeler and rookie Kyle Connor, while Laine and Ehlers skated with Nic Petan. However, when the puck drops on the regular season, look for Scheifele, the league's seventh-leading scorer with 82 points last year, to slot right back in between the two young guns.

Laine and Scheifele actually worked more magic together than apart Monday against the Flames. Winnipeg scored four power play goals and both Laine and Scheifele recorded points on all four. Laine finished the game with five points (2-3-5), more than he scored in any regular- season game during his wondrous rookie campaign a year ago. Scheifele earned four points (1- 3-4) as the Jets won their first game of the preseason (1-3-1).

"It's nice scoring," offered Scheifele, in full understatement mode.

As for the power play success -- the Jets now have nine man-up goals in the preseason, Scheifele said, "Obviously, it's clicking now, but there are still things we can dial in on, so we can't get too confident."

The Jets had the 18th-ranked power play in the NHL last season despite the plethora of talent they deploy on the PP, so the early preseason success here in September is most definitely welcome.

"We haven't used a lot of man-hours to practice our power play yet, but we've gone over some of the things we want to see on the power play, and (Monday, especially), we saw those things on the ice," explained Laine. "The big thing is that we have a lot of options, not just one option, out there."

Laine pointed out that Wheeler helps set things in motion by playing on his off wing, while he, Scheifele and Dustin Byfuglien are known for their quick releases and one-timers.

It also helps when the Jets play at a fast pace, both on the power play and at even strength. Certainly, Monday night they did just that, heeding the captain's pre-game words.

"It's time to flip the switch," Wheeler told his teammates.

Consider the switch flipped. Laine and Co. seem ready for the regular season to start.

TSN.ca (VIDEO LINK) http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/video/scheifele-ready-to-join-the-nhl-s-elite~1217702

Scheifele ready to join the NHL's elite

Mark Scheifele, who sits at 15 on TSN Hockey's list of the Top 50 players, talks to James Duthie about his offseason training with Gary Roberts, whether his line with Blake Wheeler and Patrik Laine can be the NHL's next super line and comments on the Jets' playoff pursuit.

Sportsnet.ca http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/one-remaining-training-camp-question-canadian-nhl-team/

One remaining training camp question for each Canadian NHL team

By Rory Boylen

Training camp is winding down and we’re just eight days away from the opening of the NHL season. But there are still some roster spot battles going on and some surprising names still with the big club, after others have been cut and sent back to junior, Europe, the AHL or elsewhere.

Each of the Canadian teams has at least one question mark remaining from the pre-season, so we look at what’s going on with each team.

WINNIPEG JETS: WILL EITHER KYLE CONNOR OR TUCKER POOLMAN MAKE THE TEAM? These two players came into camp with different levels of expectation.

It appeared as though Connor had a roster spot that was his to lose. The 20-year-old stuck with the team out of camp last year, struggled, and then after a slow start in the AHL, took off with 17 goals in his final 20 games — and totalled 25 in 52 for the season. A sniper and a speedster, Connor needed a good pre-season to play his way into Winnipeg’s top six and push Mathieu Perreault down to the third line, but it hasn’t been such a slam dunk.

Connor doesn’t have a point yet and hasn’t received top-six ice time either. He was put with Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler on Monday night and was scoreless with a minus-2 rating and three shots on goal.

“There’s lots of improvement in Kyle’s game,” Jets coach Paul Maurice said. “There are lots of really good things. He’s still a young man. He’s going to play for the Winnipeg Jets. He’s going to score a bunch of goals for us.

“When that starts, we’re not sure. He’s made huge strides in a year. There’s a lot to learn about the game of hockey and he’s got a really good skill set. But patience with Kyle is really important. I’ve got lots for him. I’ve got lots of time for him.”

The Jets are one of the most patient teams in the league, and insist the long-term approach they take will one day pay off as year-in, year-out contenders rather than one-off performers. Scheifele, picked seventh overall in 2011, didn’t crack a season-long Jets roster until three years after his selection, so it wouldn’t be unprecedented for the Jets to play it slow with Connor too, and send him back to the AHL to gain more confidence. If he doesn’t make the team out of camp, we’d still expect to see him in the NHL at some point this season.

But given all the hype and despite the lack of pre-season scoring, it would still be a surprise to see him go down again.

Poolman, also scoreless in the pre-season, is a different case, though. A fifth-rounder in 2013 after being passed over in two previous drafts, Poolman is buried in Winnipeg’s defence depth chart that has a clearly defined top six. But the 24-year-old has impressed in camp and, despite the fact he’s fresh out of the University of North Dakota and hasn’t played a pro game yet, is forcing his way into the conversation and making the final-cut decisions difficult.

“He’s had a real strong camp. He hasn’t had a dip, he hasn’t had a lull,” Maurice said after Saturday’s game. Poolman played again on Monday and registered 19:13 of ice time.

The issue here is where he’d fit into the pro lineup. The top six spots are already spoken for between Dustin Byfuglien, Jacob Trouba, Tobias Enstrom, , Dmitry Kulikov and Tyler Myers. The only potential opening would be for the seventh spot, which currently belongs to Ben Chiarot. But does it make more sense for Poolman to be a depth player watching from the press box, or gaining pro experience with big minutes in the AHL?

ESPN.com http://www.espn.com.au/nhl/story/_/id/20829654/2017-18-nhl-season-preview-winnipeg-jets

2017-18 season preview: Winnipeg Jets

By Josh Cooper

Winnipeg Jets: 40-35-7, missed the playoffs, $7.3 million in cap space

Biggest changes: The Jets' biggest move this summer came with the signing of former Flyers goalie Steve Mason to a two-year, $8.2 million contract. Mason struggled last season but is 29 years old and has proven to be a solid during his career. Blueliner Dmitry Kulikov was signed to a three-year, $13 million deal to add depth. Winnipeg finished 27th in goals against, allowing 3.11 goals per game, and both Mason and Kulikov will help bring that number down. Winnipeg's top prospects have all been brought up in recent years, mostly with positive results, and this season the Jets hope 20-year-old Kyle Connor, the team's first-round pick in 2015, can continue that trend. Connor had five points in 20 games with the Jets last season after notching 44 points in 52 games with the AHL's Manitoba Moose.

Case for: The Jets have some of the best young offensive talent in the NHL, which will take them to the next level this season. Winger Patrik Laine scored 36 goals in 73 games as a rookie last season and could challenge for 40 -- or even 50 -- as a sophomore. Center Mark Scheifele cemented himself as a top pivot with 82 points and should repeat those numbers. Winger Blake Wheeler is one of the NHL's least-publicized stars and has picked up 74 or more points in each of the past two seasons, so another season above the 70-point mark is likely. Winger Nikolaj Ehlers is just 21 and had a breakthrough year with 64 points last season; he has the talent to hit 70 points. The Jets have some versatile puck movers on the back end, with Jacob Trouba (33 points in 60 games) and Dustin Byfuglien (52 points in 80 games). If Tyler Myers can stay healthy and Kulikov can successfully make the transition to his new team, the D will be formidable.

Case against: Although the Jets had talent and depth and improved from the previous season, something was still off in 2016-17, when they went 4-1-0 against the but 36-34-7 against everyone else. Overall, their lack of consistency was confusing, and if that isn't addressed, it's hard to see them improving. Also, signing Mason didn't really address the goaltending issues. Last season, No. 1 Connor Hellebuyck had a 2.89 goals-against average and .907 save percentage in 56 games. Mason wasn't that much better, with a 2.66 goals- against average and .908 save percentage in 58 games with the Flyers. Mason has had more success in his career than Hellebuyck, but based on numbers, it doesn't seem like he will make a major difference. Kulikov is coming off his worst season, in which he had five points in 47 games. If he doesn't find his form, his contract will quickly turn into a liability.

Trade bait: Trouba asked for a trade before last season, and he did not report until after he signed a two-year, $6 million contract on Nov. 7. He said he rescinded his trade request, but based on his recent contract history with the Jets, questions remain as to whether he wants to stay. Trouba's deal is up after this season, and the Jets might look at him as a trading chip if negotiations go south.

Goalie situation rating: 5. Mason and Hellebuyck have had success and should bounce back. But they aren't considered elite, and their struggles last season loom large as a major question heading into the season.

Scout's take: "I look at their team, and I think they're better than the Chicago Blackhawks. They're deeper than the Chicago Blackhawks, and they killed the Chicago Blackhawks almost every time they played them. They're big, they're fast, they're dynamic up front with Ehlers and Scheifele, Wheeler and Laine. I just don't understand how they're not better."

Prediction: Fourth in Central

TSN 1290 (AUDIO LINKS) http://www.tsn.ca/radio/winnipeg-1290/munz-laine-is-continuously-working-on-his-game- 1.867567

Munz: Laine is continuously working on his game

TSN 1290's Brian Munz joins Kevin Olszewski with an update from Winnipeg Jets practice. They discuss the injuries to Bryan Little & Tyler Myers, look back at last night's win vs. Calgary and preview the lineup for tomorrow's game vs. Ottawa. www.winnipegjets.com https://www.nhl.com/jets/video/camp--back-on-the-ice/t-277437442/c-52953903

CAMP | Back on the Ice

JetsTV's Mitchell Clinton reports from Training Camp today as two familiar faces were back on the ice for the Winnipeg Jets https://www.nhl.com/jets/video/camp--paul-maurice/t-277437442/c-52953303

CAMP | Paul Maurice

Winnipeg Jets Head Coach Paul Maurice spoke to the media following today's skate https://www.nhl.com/jets/video/camp--tyler-myers/t-277437442/c-52952003

CAMP | Tyler Myers

Tyler Myers gives an update on how he is feeling following today's skate https://www.nhl.com/jets/video/postgame--paul-maurice/t-277437442/c-52946603

POSTGAME | Paul Maurice

Winnipeg Jets head coach Paul Maurice spoke to the media following today's 5-2 win over Calgary https://www.nhl.com/jets/video/camp--bryan-little/t-277437442/c-52951603

CAMP | Bryan Little

Bryan Little spoke to the media following today's practice