In Chevy we trust? That’s the question Winnipeg Jets fans should be asking themselves heading into this season. It’s been five years since the Jets returned home. Five years since Kevin Cheveldayoff left the Chicago Blackhawks—a Stanley Cup-winning team—to become General Manager of the Jets. Five years since the team starting rebuilding.
It started with one draft pick in 2011. Chevy’s inaugural pick brought Mark Scheifele (seventh overall) to Winnipeg. A player that was projected to go 21st overall by TSN, Scheifele, to some, was a risky move. In the end, the fans, devoid of a hometown team for so long and desperate for a Stanley Cup, stood behind the GM and trusted his process to rebuild.
That was five years ago. This year’s draft saw a similar situation when the Jets selected defenseman Logan Stanley 18th overall. Projected to be selected anywhere from 15th to 50th, the Jets traded up their 22nd overall pick for the Flyers’ 18th in order to acquire the rookie, who will likely play the next two years in Junior before turning pro. Like Scheifele, other players around the league were ranked higher, a statistic that didn’t seem to matter to Chevy, whose intention has remained clear from the start. Rebuild. Build. Win.
Before joining the Jets, Cheveldayoff spent two years with the Blackhawks as they rebuilt their team and created a development plan. A plan that no doubt paid off when the team won the Stanley Cup three times in six seasons (2010–2015). Throughout his career, he quickly became known for his ability to produce championship-winning teams, winning a total of four Turner Cups in the IHL, two Calder Cups in the AHL, and Chicago’s first Stanley Cup after a 49-year drought. Based on the numbers alone, it’s no wonder he has been able to use his core players to help solidify the Jets’ future as true Cup contenders.
The Jets are no longer in the rebuilding phase; they are now simply building. It is evident that their core set of players believe in the vision, with Scheifele signing an eight-year deal worth $6.125 million per season, and Mathieu Perreault signing a four-year extension at just over $4 million per season. In January, key defenceman Dustin Byfuglien agreed to a five-year extension worth roughly $7.6 million per season, which is speculated to be around $1–2 million less than he could have received with another team, based on other players of his position and calibre. Despite the offers and potential paydays from other teams around the league, Chevy’s track record has encouraged his players to do whatever it takes to stay.
Perhaps Lady Luck is also in Chevy’s camp, helping the team win the second overall pick in this year’s draft, where they selected Patrick Laine. The left-winger is expected to make the roster as a top six forward during his first season with the team, with the likely long-term goal of playing alongside Scheifele as a first-line winger for the next eight years. Although he didn’t practice at the Jets prospect camp a couple of weeks ago, as he’s rehabbing from minor surgery, he is expected to produce early in the season; already his shot has been compared to Alexander Ovechkin. At just 17, Laine played in the Finnish Elite League last season, where he was the playoff MVP, helping to lead his team to the championship. Additionally, he was named MVP of the World Junior Hockey Championships this past June, where he competed against seasoned NHL players and led Finland to the gold medal. With that impressive resume, the Jets will likely be looking to the NHL rookie to be an integral part of the team’s future.
Other notable picks in the 2016/2017 draft are QMJHL defenseman Luke Green, Swedish right-handed defenseman Jacob Cedarholm, and Russian goaltender Mikhail Berdin, who led this year’s World Junior A Challenge in lowest GAA (.800) and top save percentage (.963). Calgary Hitman centre Jordan Stallard, a Brandon native, was also selected (127th overall).
Much has happened so far in this year’s preseason, leading fans to wonder whether this will be our year. When the puck drops in October, will that mark the spot in history when the Jets finally hoist the Cup? If that is the case, perhaps five years will not have seemed so long. But if the sun sets on another season, will fans be left wondering if the clock has run out on Chevy’s plan?
One thing is certain: players who have already invested five years of their professional careers with the Jets aren’t looking anywhere else and are confident they can win in Winnipeg. That takes trust. And a proven track record. Players like Byfuglien, Perrault, and Scheifele trust in Chevy. Do you?
