{"id":14168,"date":"2017-08-07T09:00:47","date_gmt":"2017-08-07T13:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=14168"},"modified":"2025-10-10T22:55:44","modified_gmt":"2025-10-11T02:55:44","slug":"tsp-winnipeg-jets-prospects","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2017\/08\/07\/tsp-winnipeg-jets-prospects\/","title":{"rendered":"TSP: Winnipeg Jets Prospects"},"content":{"rendered":"

Welcome to the 2017 edition of \u201cTop Shelf Prospects\u201d. \u00a0During the summer, I will feature a team-by-team look at the top prospects in the NHL. I will follow the order of the first round of the NHL draft (as if there were no trades). You\u00a0can find all the articles here<\/a>. Since we had an\u00a0extensive NHL Draft preview<\/a>, I will not be reviewing the players who were drafted this year. There have been no games since then, and my reports on them will not have changed.<\/em><\/p>\n

I will link you to those articles; as well as taking a look at prospects that were acquired before this year\u2019s draft; their progress, and their chances of making the 2017-18 roster.\u00a0<\/em>I will also bring you one sleeper pick \u2013 a player who was either drafted in the 4th-round or later; or an undrafted free agent signing who I pick as a dark horse to make the NHL. 50 NHL games played or being 25 years old is the cut-off for prospects. These are not hard or fast rules though, and I may make some exceptions depending on the circumstances.<\/em><\/p>\n

TSP: Winnipeg Jets Prospects<\/h1>\n

\"\"<\/a>A familiar problem plagued the Winnipeg Jets<\/a>\u00a0last season. Their goaltending just was not good enough. A high powered offence led by Mark Scheifele<\/a><\/strong>, Blake Wheeler<\/a><\/strong> and super rookie Patrik Laine<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>had the Jets finish 7th in the NHL in goals for. They finished 27th in the NHL in goals against. Goalies\u00a0Connor Hellebuyck<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>(.907 save percentage);\u00a0Michael Hutchinson<\/a><\/strong> (.903); and Ondrej Pavelec<\/a><\/strong> (.888) did not make enough saves. The Jets biggest off-season move is an attempt to strengthen that weakness as they have added<\/a>\u00a0Steve Mason<\/a><\/strong>, formerly of the Philadelphia Flyers<\/a>, as a free agent. They have also tried to shore up the defence, signing<\/a> Dmitry Kulikov<\/a><\/strong>, formerly of the Buffalo Sabres<\/a>.<\/p>\n

2017 NHL Draft Picks:\u00a0Kristian Vesalainen<\/strong><\/a>,\u00a0Dylan Samberg<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0Johnathan Kovacevic<\/strong>,\u00a0Santeri Virtanen<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0Leon Gawanke<\/strong>,\u00a0Arvid Holm<\/strong>,\u00a0Skyler McKenzie<\/strong>,\u00a0Croix Evingson<\/strong>
\nGraduates: Patrik Laine<\/strong>, Josh Morrissey<\/a><\/strong>, Connor Hellebuyck<\/strong>, Nic Petan<\/a><\/strong>, Joel Armia<\/a><\/strong>, Brandon Tanev<\/a><\/strong>, Julian Melchiori<\/a><\/strong> (age)\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Top Prospect: Kyle Connor<\/a><\/h3>\n

Left Wing \u2014 shoots Left
\nBorn December 9th, 1996 \u2014 Shelby Township, Michigan
\nHeight 6\u20191″ \u2014 Weight 177 lbs [185 cm \/ 80 kg]
\nDrafted by the\u00a0Winnipeg Jets in the 1st Round, 17th overall at the 2015 NHL Draft<\/p>\n