While plenty of NHL teams went deep sea fishing on Monday, the Winnipeg Jets stayed close to shore and barely dipped their toes into the free agent waters.
Consider this: On a record-setting day when the other 31 clubs combined for more than $1.1 billion in new contracts, the Jets reeled in a depth defenceman and two goaltenders to compete for the backup spot: D Colin Miller (two years, US $1.5 million per season), G Eric Comrie (two years, US $825,000 per season) and G Kaapo Kahkonen (one year, US $1 million).
Not exactly the July 1 “frenzy” that many other markets experienced.
Former Buffalo Sabres goaltender Eric Comrie is back with the Winnipeg Jets after signing a two-year deal. (Jeffrey T. Barnes / The Associated Press files)
“For us, we’re sitting here on July 1 and there’s a little ways to training camp and there’s lots of different thought processes that we’ll certainly take a look at,” said general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff, who added he still had a “few other things on the go” which might pan out.
One of those is believed to be interest in veteran centre Adam Henrique, who joined the Edmonton Oilers at the trade deadline but was not re-signed. The Jets have a glaring need up the middle that he could help fill.
The biggest storyline around the Jets Monday wasn’t what they added, but what they lost, as four UFA skaters who were part of last year’s 110-point team quickly found new homes.
Second-line centre Sean Monahan, obtained prior to last year’s trade deadline for a first-round draft pick, signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets for five years at US $5.5 million per season. The Jets were in the bidding right up until the final moments.
“I had a great time in Winnipeg. Some great friendships. It was a brief stint and definitely something I was trying to decide on,” Monahan told the Free Press in a Zoom interview. “It was not an easy decision.”
Monahan, 29, said it came down to family and wanting to play in the Eastern Conference and re-unite with former Calgary Flames teammate Johnny Gaudreau. His wife, who is great friends with Gaudreau’s spouse, just gave birth to their first child a month ago.
Goaltender Laurent Brossoit, who excelled as Hellebuyck’s backup last year and essentially priced himself out of Winnipeg, inked a deal with the Chicago Blackhawks for two years at US $3.3 million, where he’ll get a chance to perhaps be the No. 1 behind Connor Bedard and company.
“It was not an easy decision.”–Sean Monahan
Rugged defenceman Brenden Dillon is now a member of the New Jersey Devils (four years at US $4 million), while trade-deadline addition Tyler Toffoli went to the San Jose Sharks (four years at US $6 million).
The Jets also officially bought out the final year of Nate Schmidt’s contract on Monday, making him an unrestricted free agent and clearing yet another spot on the blue-line.
“Obviously it was a tough decision, but we wanted to open up some opportunities within the organization for some of the players that have been here more,” said Cheveldayoff.
“But even more so I didn’t want to have to put Nate through the situation where if he’s a veteran guy that’s getting scratched, it just wasn’t right. So we talked about it and that’s why we as a group, including talking to Nate’s representatives, made that decision.”
The lack of activity, at least so far, would appear to be good news for promising prospects such as Brad Lambert, Nikita Chibrikov, Ville Heinola, Elias Salomonsson and Simon Lundmark.
“If I’m a young player in the Jets organization today, I’m pretty excited about the opportunities that are in front of me and I’m working pretty hard in the offseason to make sure that I take full advantage,” said Cheveldayoff.
Another option to boost the roster could be finding a team that blew its budget and now is in a world of hurt when it comes to complying with the US $88-million salary cap and needs to shed a player or two at a discount rate.
Goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen signed a one-year deal with the Winnipeg Jets that pays him US $1 million. (John Woods / Canadian Press files)
Winnipeg currently has more than US $9 million of cap space available, although some of that will be taken up with new contracts needed for restricted free agents Heinola, Cole Perfetti, David Gustafsson and Logan Stanley.
“I can guarantee you, because I’ve been on the other side, as exhilarating as it can be to be make some of those deals, sometimes you wake up the next morning and kind of wonder what did I just do,” said Cheveldayoff.
“The one thing about free agency is that it doesn’t just stop on free agency day. Once the dust settles, you go through the different teams and you may find some needs for trades or different things of the like in some organizations. We’ll take a look at all of that.”
As for the three players Winnipeg inked, two are familiar faces.
Miller, 31, was obtained at the trade deadline last year from the New Jersey Devils in exchange for a 2026 fourth-round draft pick, but barely played under then head coach Rick Bowness (five regular-season games and one playoff game). The right-hander will get a bigger chance under new bench boss Scott Arniel.
Comrie, 28, is back for a fourth stint with the organization that drafted him 59th-overall in 2013.
“I love everything about Winnipeg, I love the guys and it always feel special back there because I’ve had such great fond memories being there for a long time.”–Eric Comrie
“I love everything about Winnipeg, I love the guys and it always feel special back there because I’ve had such great fond memories being there for a long time,” Comrie, 28, said in a phone interview. “An unbelievable organization, they treat their players as good as any team I’ve been on, and I’ve been on a few so I know how well they treat their guys.”
Comrie has 57 games of NHL experience with a 24-26-2 record, 3.38 goals-against-average and .893 save-percentage. His best season in the big leagues came in 2021-22 with the Jets, when he appeared in 19 games with a 10-5-1 record, 2.58 GAA and .920 SV%.
“I just have a very good working relationship with Helly. I think myself and him get along really well, and he’s the best in the world, so it’s amazing to learn from him, watching him every single game and in practice,” said Comrie, who spent the past two years with the Buffalo Sabres bouncing between the NHL and AHL.
“And they have one of the best goalie coaches in the world, if not the best (Wade Flaherty). He’s unbelievable at what he does. How much my game grows when I’m with him and how sharp he keeps my game, it doesn’t matter how much you’re playing or when you’re playing, he knows how to keep goalies ready to go and keep them sharp.”
Kahkonen, 27, was drafted by the Minnesota Wild and split last season with the San Jose Sharks and New Jersey Devils. He has appeared in 139 NHL games in his career and has a 49-67-15 record, 3.33 goals-against average, and .899 save percentage.
Thomas Milic had a terrific rookie season with the Manitoba Moose, so the organization wants a more veteran presence to work with him. Whether that’s Comrie or Kahkonen remains to be seen.
The Winnipeg obtained Colin Miller at the trade deadline last year from the New Jersey Devils but he only appeared in five regular-season games and one playoff game for the Jets. (Fred Greenslade / Canadian Press files)
“Obviously you’ve got to go to camp and earn a job and that’s my main thing, to go there and earn a job and just work as hard as I can and try and secure that position,” said Comrie.
mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca
X: @mikemcintyrewpg
Mike McIntyre Sports reporter
Mike McIntyre is a sports reporter whose primary role is covering the Winnipeg Jets. After graduating from the Creative Communications program at Red River College in 1995, he spent two years gaining experience at the Winnipeg Sun before joining the Free Press in 1997, where he served on the crime and justice beat until 2016. Read more about Mike.
Every piece of reporting Mike 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.
The French league’s legal commission has ordered Paris Saint-Germain to pay Kylian Mbappé the 55 million euros ($61 million) in unpaid wages that he claims he’s entitled to, the league said Thursday.
The league confirmed the decision to The Associated Press without more details, a day after the France superstar rejected a mediation offer by the commission in his dispute with his former club.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Former football star Reggie Bush was at his Encino home Tuesday night when three male suspects attempted to break in, the Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday.
“Everyone is safe,” Bush said in a text message to the newspaper.
The Los Angeles Police Dept. told the Times that a resident of the house reported hearing a window break and broken glass was found outside. Police said nothing was stolen and that three male suspects dressed in black were seen leaving the scene.
Bush starred at Southern California and in the NFL. The former running back was reinstated as the 2005 Heisman Trophy winner this year. He forfeited it in 2010 after USC was hit with sanctions partly related to Bush’s dealings with two aspiring sports marketers.
VANCOUVER – A fresh face has been gracing the B.C. Lions‘ highlight reels in recent weeks.
Midway through his second CFL campaign, wide receiver Ayden Eberhardt has contributed touchdowns in two consecutive games.
The 26-year-old wide receiver from Loveland, Colo., was the lone B.C. player to reel in a passing major in his team’s 37-23 victory over the league-leading Montreal Alouettes last Friday. The week before, he notched his first CFL touchdown in the Lions’ win over the Ottawa Redblacks.
“It’s been awesome. It’s been really good,” Eberhardt said of his recent play. “At the end of the day, the biggest stat to me is if we win. But who doesn’t love scoring?”
He’ll look to add to the tally Friday when the Leos (7-6) host the Toronto Argonauts.
Eberhardt signed with B.C. as a free agent in January 2023 and spent much of last season on the practice squad before cementing a role on the roster this year.
The six-foot-two, 195-pound University of Wyoming product has earned more opportunities in his second season, said Lions’ head coach and co-general manager Rick Campbell.
“He’s a super hard worker and very smart. He understands, has high football IQ, as we call it,” Campbell said.
The fact that Eberhardt can play virtually every receiving position helps.
“He could literally go into a game and we could throw him into a spot and he’d know exactly what he’s doing,” the coach said. “That allows him to play fast and earn the quarterback’s trust. And you see him making plays.”
Eberhardt credited his teammates, coaches and the rest of the Lions’ staff with helping him prepare for any situation he might face. They’ve all spent time teaching him the ins and outs of the Canadian game, or go over the playbook and run routes after practice, he said.
“I’ve played every single position on our offence in a game in the last two years, which is kind of crazy. But I love playing football,” he said. “I want to play any position that the team needs me to play.”
While B.C.’s lineup is studded with stars like running back William Stanback — who has a CFL-high 938 rushing yards — and wide receiver Justin McInnis — who leads the league in both receiving yards (1,074) and receiving TDs (seven) — versatility has been a critical part of the team’s back-to-back wins.
“I think we’ve got a lot of talented guys who deserve to get the ball and make big plays when they have the ball in their hands. So it’s really my job to get them the ball as much as possible,” said quarterback Nathan Rourke.
“I think that makes it easy when you can lean on those guys and, really, we’re in a situation where anyone can have a big game. And I think that’s a good place to be.”
Even with a talented lineup, the Lions face a tough test against an eager Argos side.
Toronto lost its second straight game Saturday when it dropped a 41-27 decision to Ottawa.
“We’ll have our hands full,” Rourke said. “We’ll have to adjust on the fly to whatever their game plan is. And no doubt, they’ll be ready to go so we’ll have to be as well.”
The two sides have already met once this season when the Argos handed the Lions a 35-27 loss in Toronto back on June 9.
A win on Friday would vault B.C. to the top of the West Division standings, over the 7-6 Winnipeg Blue Bombers who are on a bye week.
Collecting that victory isn’t assured, though, even with Toronto coming in on a two-game skid, Campbell said.
“They’ve hit a little bit of a rut, but they’re a really good team,” he said. “They’re very athletic. And you can really see (quarterback Chad Kelly’s) got zip on the ball. When you see him in there, he can make all the throws. So we’re expecting their best shot.”
TORONTO ARGONAUTS (6-6) AT B.C. LIONS (7-6)
Friday, B.C. Place
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE: The Lions boast a 4-1 home record this season, including a 38-12 victory over the Redblacks at Royal Athletic Park in Victoria, B.C., on Aug. 31. The Argos have struggled outside of BMO Field and hold a 1-5 away record. Trips to the West Coast haven’t been easy for Toronto in recent years — since 2003, the club is 4-14 in road games against B.C.
CENTURION: B.C. defensive back Garry Peters is set to appear in his 100th consecutive game. The 32-year-old from Conyers, Ga., is a two-time CFL all-star who has amassed 381 defensive tackles, 19 special teams tackles and 16 interceptions over seven seasons. “Just being on the field with the guys every day, running around, talking trash back and forth, it keeps me young,” Peters said. “It makes me feel good, and my body doesn’t really feel it. I’ve been blessed to be able to play 100 straight.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 12, 2024.
