On the Winnipeg Jets …
Paul Wiecek of the Winnipeg Free Press: Winnipeg Jets head coach Paul Maurice is entering the final year of his contract. When the season ended for the Jets back in April both Maurice and GM Kevin Cheveldayoff agreed that an extension was all be done. Mid-way through August a deal has yet to be announced.
asked Jets spokesman Scott Brown.
“Actually I haven’t heard anything lately,” Brown replies. “But it’s not a topic I ask about until told.”
Maybe the sides know a deal is easy to do and just haven’t spent the time to put it together yet, or maybe they already have a deal done and are waiting closer to the start of the season.
If there is more to it, Wiecek looks at some reasons that could be causing the delay.
With coaches like Mike Babcock, Joel Quenneville, Claude Julien and Alain Vigneault making more money, maybe Maurice wants a big raise.
Maybe Maurice is looking for more term on a new deal than the Jets want to go.
Another reason could be the rumors that Maurice is tired of having questionable goaltending and that he believes that he needs an elite goaltender to succeed in Winnipeg.
James O’Brien of Pro Hockey Talk: The Winnipeg Jets and Jacob Trouba’s camp had some tough negotiations last year. Trouba held out and eventually signed a two-year, $5 million deal. Trouba will once again be a RFA after this season and could be looking for a big deal.
O’Brien looks at a few players who went the “bridge” deal route before cashing in big.
P.K. Subban went from two-years, $5.75 million to eight years at $9 million per. Ryan O’Reilly went from $6 million for two years to $7.5 million per. Ryan Johansen now makes $8 million a season.
Garret Hohl on The Hockey PDOcast noted that Seth Jones could be a comparable for Trouba but could end up making more that $5.4 million that Jones makes.