The big news today in Winnipeg: long-time Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews is coming out of semi-retirement. On Friday, the Jets signed the 37-year-old to a one-year contract to return to his hometown club. Per Chris Johnston, the deal is heavily incentive-laden, as permitted for players age 35 and older.
Meanwhile, we put a wrap this week on the 2024-2025 NHL season. Congrats to Paul Maurice and the Florida Panthers for becoming back-to-back Stanley Cup champions. No we we are only a week away now from the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. The Winnipeg Jets will have just picks in this draft barring any transactions between now and next Friday. Unless Kevin Cheveldayoff can pull a rabbit of his hat to obtain more pics, the Jets had better nail their first pick with an under-the-radar prospect or a risk/reward gamble that pays off down the line.
Jets picks by round
The Jets have their own first round pick, 28th overall. As noted above, Winnipeg has five selections in total. The full breakdown:
1st round: 28th overall
2nd round: none
3rd round: 92nd overall
4th round: none
5th round: 156th overall
6th round: 188th overall
7th round: 220th overall
That’s a tough task for the Jets and their scouts.Let’s take a look at what options the Jets have with the 28 h overall selection.
1. Winnipeg make the pick
The Jets may very well stand pat and take the best player available when it comes time to make this selection. It can be debated that the Jets need more depth at defence than at the forward position. However, any player drafted in this spot most likely won’t play in the NHL anytime soon. For that reason, I think it would be Kevin Cheveldayoff’s best bet to take a swing here at the prospect with the highest upside regardless of position. Yes, that includes goalie Joshua Ravensbergen if he makes it to that point and the Jets like his upside more than any forwards of defensemen.
Here are the last 10 players selected with the 28 th overall pick in the Draft:
2024: Matvei Gridin
2023: Easton Cowan
2022: Jiri Kulich
2021: Oskar Olausson
2020: Ridley Greig
2019: Ryan Suzuki
2018: Nils Lundkvist
2017: Shane Bower
2016: Lucas Johansen
2015: Anthony Beauvillier
None of these players jump out as household names. Of this group, only Beauvillier has produced a single 20 goal season when he scored 21 in the 2017-2018 season with the New York Islanders. Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan has had a dominant run with the OHL and Memorial Cup champion London Knights. However, he has yet to play in the NHL. As such, the jury is still out on him.
Consequently, it’s fair to say, it is a long shot at best that the Jets will select a prospect with the 28th overall pick in this draft that will have a meaningful impact with the team anytime soon. Someday? Maybe. It’s impossible to predict that right now.
Coming off a Presidents Trophy win and Stanley Cup aspirations, this next option with the 28th overall pick may be more appealing.
2. Trade the pick to get help now
The Jets may use the 28th pick as part of a trade package to get immediate help now as they re-tool their roster for another deep playoff run. Example:
To Jets: Ryan O’ Reilly
To Preds: Brad Lambert, Luke Schenn, 28th Overall pick
3. Jets trade down, add assets
If the Jets stand pat and 28th overall doesn’t come offer any player they are in love with, they could opt to trade down and acquire more draft capital. Trading the 28th pick and moving back in the draft could easily land the Jets a 2nd and an extra third (or recouping a 4th round) pick in this year’s Draft. Winnipeg needs more picks next year, too.
In fact, the Jets do not have 2nd or 4th round picks in the 2026 and 2027 Drafts. They have their first and third round picks in 2025, 2026 and 2027. This is
relevant for another tool the Jets may consider utilizing this off-season…..
Prepping for an offer sheet
With the Draft picks they have for the next couple of years, the Jets can make an offer sheet to another teams RFA that ranges in an annual salary of $4,680,077- $7,020,113. The Draft compensation for such an offer sheet would be a 1 st and 3 rd round draft pick. The players that the Jets potentially could target with such an offer sheet could include Mason McTavish (Ducks), Morgan Geekie (Bruins), or Marco Rossi (Wild). All players that can potentially fill the need for a second-line centre.
