Latest news with #Cheveldayoff
Miami Herald
13-07-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
If Jonathan Toews Falters, Will The Jets Have A Plan B? Cap Space Says Yes
When the Winnipeg Jets announced that longtime NHL star center Jonathan Toews would be returning to hockey's top league playing for his hometown Jets, you couldn't have asked for a better human-interest story. Toews had been out of the NHL for the past two seasons, dealing with a host of health issues. But agreeing to a one-year contract with Winnipeg could allow the 37-year-old Toews to push the Jets far deeper in the Stanley Cup playoffs – and maybe, just maybe, win a championship at the sport's highest level. All that is the best possible outcome for Toews and the Jets. But the question has to be asked – what if things don't turn out as planned for the three-time Cup-winner? What if Toews can't get back to speed and he can't fulfill the duties associated with a second-line center? Well, for one thing, Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff has hedged his bet on Toews, giving him a performance-bonus deal that has a $2-million salary cap hit with bonuses that could boost the cap hit to $7 million if Winnipeg wins next year's Cup. Winnipeg will happily pay that money to Toews if everything goes right, but let's be pessimistic for a moment and assume that Toews' comeback attempt falls short. What can the Jets do to stay in Cup contention in a world without Toews playing well for them? In that regard, here's what is clear thus far: Cheveldayoff has managed his cap situation very well, as the Jets currently have $19.89 million in cap space. Winnipeg may spend some of that money on an upgrade for the Jets' group of forwards. But even if Winnipeg uses some of that cap space, Cheveldayoff has given himself insurance of sorts to deal with what could turn out to be a hole in the team's second-line center spot. For instance, let's say that the Anaheim Ducks don't perform very well out of the gate next year. There might be a circumstance in which newly signed Ducks center Mikael Granlund wants to play for a Cup contender. And while Granlund now has a full no-trade clause in his new deal with Anaheim, playing on a Jets team that was the top regular-season team in the league last season could appeal to Granlund. And Granlund's $7-million per-season contract, which runs for next season and an additional two years, could easily fit under Winnipeg's current salary structure. On the other hand, Toews' situation could pan out very well – and if that's what turns out to be the case, Cheveldayoff will be able to use his remaining cap space on high-end wingers to give the Jets incredible depth throughout their lineup. But that money doesn't necessarily have to be spent anytime soon. And being careful with Toews means that there needs to be a Plan B if things don't work out as hoped with the longtime Chicago Blackhawks superstar. Every talented NHL executive always has to plot out different scenarios as it pertains to their team's potential for success. And that's what we're seeing from Cheveldayoff in regard to Toews. The investment Winnipeg has made in Toews could be one of the final pieces of a championship puzzle for the Jets, but if it doesn't, thanks to his expert cap management, Cheveldayoff will have other solid options to get the job done. Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on Copyright The Hockey News, Roustan Media Ltd.
Winnipeg Free Press
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Looking ahead to training camp
Is it October yet? Now that most teams around the NHL are throttling down slightly to off-season mode after the flurry of activity that is the NHL draft, free agency and development camp, it's time to take stock of the Winnipeg Jets and peer into the crystal ball to project what things might look like once training camp arrives. To be clear, there are still pressing matters for Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff, primarily as it pertains to the three restricted free agents that elected to file for salary arbitration last week: defenceman Dylan Samberg and forwards Gabe Vilardi and Morgan Barron. John Woods / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES The speed of Winnipeg Jets' Brad Lambert marks the forward as a potential player to help replace Nikolaj Ehlers' speed. As Cheveldayoff mentioned at the Jonathan Toews press conference last week, those moves were expected and fall more into the procedural category rather than any cause for concern. All three players remain a priority for the Jets and there's been nothing to suggest the negotiations are anything but amicable to this point. One of the big questions folks are asking right now is what are the Jets going to do with all of the money they've got left over? Well, the bulk of the remaining US$18 million and change of cap space that's left over — according to PuckPedia — is likely to be gobbled up by new contracts for Samberg, Vilardi and Barron. There's plenty of time left in the off-season and one phone call could change things. But if you're waiting for a big blockbuster trade, don't hold your breath. Most of the puzzle pieces that Jets head coach Scott Arniel will have at his disposal have already arrived. 'It is important to be ready to pivot for anything. There's lots of teams with cap space out there this year. There's lots of teams that are looking to add,' said Cheveldayoff. 'It's an interesting time in the game. Knowing what the cap supposedly is supposed to be for the next two years, that's something that we've never known before, so we're all trying to feel our way to understand what that means moving forward.' As Cheveldayoff hinted recently, there could still be some changes coming to a crowded blue line that already has eight players on one-way deals without Samberg, plus Elias Salomonsson knocking at the door and former Brandon Wheat Kings blue-liner Kale Clague ready to jump into the Kyle Capobianco role (playing a top-pairing offensive role in the minors or pushing for time on the NHL roster) after signing as a free agent. 'I guess we'll see how things play out. No real proclamations here yet,' said Cheveldayoff. 'But obviously nine is not a number that you can live with during the regular season.' Could that mean the Jets are looking at trading Ville Heinola? Absolutely, especially when you consider he needs to appear in 27 NHL games this season to avoid becoming a Group 6 unrestricted free agent. Connor Hamilton / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES Winnipeg Jets' Cole Perfetti is also a prospect to replace Nikolaj Ehlers, and his resumé speaks for itself having been responsible for the 'Manitoba Miracle' goal in Game 7 against the St. Louis Blues back in May. It's hard to envision a scenario where that's going to be the case with the Jets, barring an injury or two. With Haydn Fleury signing a two-year extension prior to July 1, Heinola would have to leapfrog him and Logan Stanley to force his way into consistent playing time. Up front, Nikolaj Ehlers, Mason Appleton and Brandon Tanev all moved on in free agency and Rasmus Kupari signed to play in Switzerland (though the Jets retained his rights). They were replaced by the collection of Toews, Gustav Nyquist, Tanner Pearson and Cole Koepke. 'We've talked about free agency. Sometimes it's tough for us in this market,' said Arniel. 'Last year, we really looked at our depth and a lot of it was on our back-end. And that became important right out of training camp with our defence. This year it kind of flipped the other way, we went heavy with our forwards. There's a lot of similarities to these guys. There is size and speed, heavy character, physicality, physical kinds of guys. That is kind of where we were looking with that group coming in.' How the pieces fit will be interesting to monitor, but for those worried about the speed that was lost, Cheveldayoff spoke openly about forward prospect Brad Lambert and his push for a roster spot. 'Hopefully a guy like Brad Lambert can give us that opportunity to use his speed,' said Cheveldayoff. 'For us, skating is paramount, but it's also (about) playing fast. That's what a coach tries to do within their systems. It's not necessarily about the individual speed of a player, it's how the player plays that a team plays fast.' There's no doubt that replacing a dynamic and explosive player like Ehlers isn't an easy task and will end up being a collective effort. Replacing that production will need to come from incremental growth from a number of players on the roster (like Cole Perfetti and Barron), coupled with a bounceback campaign from Nyquist and potential double-digit production from the likes of Pearson and Koepke. The Jets figure to be strong down the middle, especially so after captain Adam Lowry returns from off-season hip surgery (most likely in November). Until that time, Mark Scheifele, Toews, Vladislav Namestnikov, Barron and David Gustafsson are likely to handle the responsibilities. Gareth Patterson / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES Extending Kyle Connor's contract remains a top priority for Winnipeg Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff in the off-season. Extensions for Lowry and top-line winger Kyle Connor (who had a career-high 97 points last season) are another top priority for Cheveldayoff and will be something to keep an eye on during the coming months. Along with Lambert, there are some other intriguing prospects that could turn heads in training camp (Brayden Yager, Nikita Chibrikov and Parker Ford), but will either be heading back to junior (Kevin He and Kieron Walton) or require some seasoning with the Manitoba Moose (Colby Barlow and Jacob Julien). Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. There are no concerns between the pipes, where reigning Hart Trophy winner and three-time Vezina winner Connor Hellebuyck is set for his 11th NHL season. Eric Comrie is returning as the backup and could push for somewhere in the neighbourhood of 22 to 24 starts after making 20 last season. Winnipegger Isaac Poulter joined the organization to provide some additional experienced depth in the crease to go along with prospects Thomas Milic and Dom DiVincentiis. X and Bluesky: @WiebesWorld Ken WiebeReporter Ken Wiebe is a sports reporter for the Free Press, with an emphasis on the Winnipeg Jets. He has covered hockey and provided analysis in this market since 2000 for the Winnipeg Sun, The Athletic, and TSN. Ken was a summer intern at the Free Press in 1999 and returned to the Free Press in a full-time capacity in September of 2023. Read more about Ken. Every piece of reporting Ken produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
NBC Sports
05-07-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Jonathan Toews is grateful and excited to play again after signing with his hometown Winnipeg Jets
WINNIPEG, Manitoba — Jonathan Toews is back in the NHL with his hometown Winnipeg Jets after a two-year absence. The three-time Stanley Cup champion was introduced Friday as the newest member of the Jets, donning a jersey with his signature No. 19 at a team news conference. The Jets announced their intention to acquire the 37-year-old center last month, but it only became official this week, with Toews signing a one-year deal worth $2 million, plus performance bonuses tied to games played and playoff success. The longtime Chicago Blackhawks captain last played in April 2023. On Friday, he told reporters he was just grateful for the opportunity to return to the ice, let alone with his hometown club in front of friends and family. 'It's an honor and one that has really lit that fire again, that excitement for the game,' Toews said. 'You have these moments throughout your career where I don't want to say you get jaded, but you get used to it, and you kind of settle in. This is another moment that kind of brings me back to that new feeling like you're getting drafted again.' Chosen one of the NHL's top 100 players from its first 100 years, Toews played 15 seasons with the Blackhawks and was one of the faces of the franchise. He also helped Canada win gold at back-to-back Olympics in 2010 and '14. Toews stepped away from hockey two years ago citing the effects of Chronic Immune Response Syndrome and long COVID-19. His exit coincided with Chicago trading fellow star Patrick Kane and going into a full-scale rebuild. Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff called Toews' signing an exciting day for Winnipeg and said it's something he's been thinking about making happen for more than a decade. Cheveldayoff, an assistant GM in Chicago when Toews and the Blackhawks won the 2010 Stanley Cup, said that when he joined the Jets the following year, he and team co-owner Mark Chipman mused about the possibility of seeing Toews in a Winnipeg jersey one day. 'At that point in time it was merely a dream or a concept,' Cheveldayoff said. 'Last week, when we finalized everything, I sent Mark a text, and it said 'Toews is a Jet.' It was an emotional feeling.' 'One of the most decorated hockey players in Manitoba history is coming home.' Toews is joining a Jets team that's coming off a Presidents' Trophy-winning season as the NHL's top regular-season club. Earlier this week, Winnipeg lost a key offensive piece when winger Nikolaj Ehlers signed a six-year deal with the Carolina Hurricanes.
Chicago Tribune
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Jonathan Toews, introduced by Winnipeg Jets, says signing with hometown team ‘really lit that fire again'
WINNIPEG, Manitoba — Jonathan Toews is back in the NHL with his hometown Winnipeg Jets after a two-year absence. The three-time Stanley Cup champion was introduced Friday as the newest member of the Jets, donning a jersey with his signature No. 19 at a team news conference. The Jets announced their intention to acquire the 37-year-old center last month, but it only became official this week, with Toews signing a one-year deal worth $2 million, plus performance bonuses tied to games played and playoff success. The longtime Chicago Blackhawks captain last played in April 2023. He told reporters Friday he was grateful for the opportunity to return to the ice, let alone with his hometown club in front of friends and family. 'It's an honor and one that has really lit that fire again, that excitement for the game,' Toews said. 'You have these moments throughout your career where — I don't want to say you get jaded — but you get used to it and you kind of settle in. This is another moment that kind of brings me back to that new feeling like you're getting drafted again.' Chosen as one of the NHL's top 100 players from its first 100 years, Toews played 15 seasons with the Blackhawks and was one of the faces of the franchise. He also helped Canada win gold at back-to-back Olympics in 2010 and '14. Toews stepped away from hockey two years ago citing the effects of Chronic Immune Response Syndrome and long COVID-19. His exit coincided with the Hawks trading fellow star Patrick Kane and going into a full-scale rebuild. Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff called Toews' signing an exciting day for Winnipeg and said it's something he had been thinking about making happen for more than a decade. Cheveldayoff, an assistant GM in Chicago when Toews and the Blackhawks won the 2010 Stanley Cup, said that when he joined the Jets the following year, he and co-owner Mark Chipman mused about the possibility of seeing Toews in a Winnipeg jersey one day. 'At that point in time it was merely a dream or a concept,' Cheveldayoff said. 'Last week, when we finalized everything, I sent Mark a text and it said, 'Toews is a Jet.' It was an emotional feeling.' 'One of the most decorated hockey players in Manitoba history is coming home.' Toews is joining a Jets team that's coming off a Presidents' Trophy-winning season as the NHL's top regular-season team. Earlier this week, Winnipeg lost a key offensive piece when winger Nikolaj Ehlers signed a six-year deal with the Carolina Hurricanes.
San Francisco Chronicle
04-07-2025
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Jonathan Toews is grateful and excited to play again after signing with his hometown Winnipeg Jets
WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) — Jonathan Toews is back in the NHL with his hometown Winnipeg Jets after a two-year absence. The three-time Stanley Cup champion was introduced Friday as the newest member of the Jets, donning a jersey with his signature No. 19 at a team news conference. The Jets announced their intention to acquire the 37-year-old center last month, but it only became official this week, with Toews signing a one-year deal worth $2 million, plus performance bonuses tied to games played and playoff success. The longtime Chicago Blackhawks captain last played in April 2023. On Friday, he told reporters he was just grateful for the opportunity to return to the ice, let alone with his hometown club in front of friends and family. 'It's an honor and one that has really lit that fire again, that excitement for the game,' Toews said. 'You have these moments throughout your career where I don't want to say you get jaded, but you get used to it, and you kind of settle in. This is another moment that kind of brings me back to that new feeling like you're getting drafted again.' Chosen one of the NHL's top 100 players from its first 100 years, Toews played 15 seasons with the Blackhawks and was one of the faces of the franchise. He also helped Canada win gold at back-to-back Olympics in 2010 and '14. Toews stepped away from hockey two years ago citing the effects of Chronic Immune Response Syndrome and long COVID-19. His exit coincided with Chicago trading fellow star Patrick Kane and going into a full-scale rebuild. Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff called Toews' signing an exciting day for Winnipeg and said it's something he's been thinking about making happen for more than a decade. Cheveldayoff, an assistant GM in Chicago when Toews and the Blackhawks won the 2010 Stanley Cup, said that when he joined the Jets the following year, he and team co-owner Mark Chipman mused about the possibility of seeing Toews in a Winnipeg jersey one day. 'At that point in time it was merely a dream or a concept,' Cheveldayoff said. 'Last week, when we finalized everything, I sent Mark a text, and it said 'Toews is a Jet.' It was an emotional feeling.' 'One of the most decorated hockey players in Manitoba history is coming home.' Toews is joining a Jets team that's coming off a Presidents' Trophy-winning season as the NHL's top regular-season club. Earlier this week, Winnipeg lost a key offensive piece when winger Nikolaj Ehlers signed a six-year deal with the Carolina Hurricanes.
