The Winnipeg Jets announced that forward Lucius is out for the remainder of the season due to a shoulder injury. The close of trading is rapidly approaching and the Jets are scrambling to fill the void before the deadline. The team is looking at various options and will make a decision shortly.
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Chaz Lucius during a Winnipeg Jets Young Stars tournament team practice session at the Bell MTS Iceplex on Wednesday September 14, 2022. Photo by KEVIN KING /Winnipeg Sun
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If you’ve been taking some time off the Winnipeg Jets lately, don’t worry, you’re not alone.
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According to Instagram, Nikolaj Ehlers was back home in Denmark, Pierre-Luc Dubois spent some time in the Big Apple and Adam Lowry appeared to be somewhere warm south of Florida. The Sunshine State hosted Josh Morrissey and Connor Hellebuyck representing Winnipeg at the NHL All-Star Game last weekend.
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To make up for that, Morrissey finished third in the competition for the hardest shot with a howitzer that reached 95.7 mph. Vancouver’s Elias Pettersson took home first place by wiring a bomb that registered at 103.2 mph.
Buffalo’s Rasmus Dahlin, who Morrissey will have by his side in the Norris talk at the end of the season, finished second after his second shot hit 102.3 mph.
Hellebuyck joined forces with Central Division competitor Juuse Saros to take home the Tendy Tandem crown.
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Central Division goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) of the Winnipeg Jets defends the net against the Atlantic Division during the first period of the finals during the 2023 NHL All-Star Game in Sunrise, Fla. on Saturday February 4, 2023. Photo by Jasen Vinlove / USA TODAY Sports
Saros tried shots from behind his own goal-line while Hellebuyck did what he does best: stopping balls.
In the end, the duo combined for 13 points based on shots and saves, beating the Pacific Division tandem, Logan Thompson of Vegas and Stuart Skinner of Edmonton, who finished second with 11 points.
Hellebuyck and Morrissey advanced to the final of the All-Star Game proper on Saturday, losing 7-5 to the Atlantic Division in the end.
That being said, things have been mostly quiet on the Jets front line as the team continues to enjoy their playing break. Winnipeg is expected to be back on the ice Thursday ahead of Saturday night’s matchup against the Chicago Blackhawks at the Canada Life Center.
Lucius ready for season
There was news, however.
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Chaz Lucius, Winnipeg’s 2021 first-round pick (18th overall), went under the knife Monday to repair a shoulder problem and will be closed for the remainder of the season.
Lucius, 19, had played six games with the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League, scoring 15 points after being moved there after last month’s World Junior Hockey Championships, where the forward scored the overtime winner to secure a bronze medal for Team USA.
It’s a tough blow for Lucius, who played 12 games for the Manitoba Moose before being sidelined with an injury in late November.
The latest illness will worry the Jets, not because of its nature, but because of the trend.
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Lucius missed a lot of time in his only season in college last year, struggling with a hand injury and then being shut down for the remainder of the season for ankle surgery.
In 2020, he also required knee surgery and a recovery process that began in a wheelchair and ended with learning to skate again.
It’s clear that Lucius’ abilities have not been affected by the injuries, but staying healthy has been a constant challenge over the past few years. He is considered by some to be Winnipeg’s top prospect.
The ultimate outcome will depend on his ability to stay healthy.
close of trading
We’ll be delving into this in much more detail in the coming weeks, but the March 3 NHL trade deadline is fast approaching and general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff could be spending big in the coming weeks.
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According to MoneyPuck’s Tuesday playoff odds, his team has a 96.9% chance of making the playoffs. In terms of winning the Stanley Cup, MoneyPuck puts Winnipeg’s odds at 8.8% – the fifth-best odds behind Carolina, Edmonton, Boston and Toronto.
Given the openness of the Western Conference, the Jets’ odds have never looked better, especially considering they will have just over $9 million in cap space to work with as of deadline.
So who can they target?
Timo Meier – LW – San Jose Sharks
The biggest name on the board after Vancouver shipped captain Bo Horvat to the New York Islanders last week. Meier, 26, offers Winnipeg a chance to promote a big name and even sign him long-term. He has 28 goals and 48 points in 51 games on a poor Sharks team this season. His analysis throughout his career is very impressive. As a pending restricted free agent, he currently has an AAV of $6 million (and a qualifying offer of $10 million for next season). The final bit, the QO, could be resolved by a sign-and-trade with the Sharks. He played with Nikolaj Ehlers in juniors and with both Dylan DeMelo and Brenden Dillon in San Jose.
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Ryan O’Reilly – C – St Louis Blues
As an upcoming free agent, the 31-year-old would give Jets two things they would love — a proven Stanley Cup champion and Conn Smythe winner, and for head coach Rick Bowness, an elite face-off man. O’Reilly is currently injured but will go into the playoffs rested. Cheveldayoff and Blues GM Doug Armstrong have also done deals in the past, adding Paul Stastny to the 2018 trade close.
Vladislav Gavrikov – LD – Columbus Blue Jackets
The Jets could solve their sixth defender problem with Gavrikov, a strong defender who would solidify the team’s defensive corps. He’s a 27-year-old UFA on a team that currently only plays for Connor Bedard. Speaking of past trading partners, Cheveldayoff and Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalanen are well known.
Other: RD Luke Schön, Vancouver; C. Jonathan Toews, Chicago; LW/RW Ivan Barbashev, St.Louis
And the-total-shot-in-the-dark-middle-with-time-on-his-deal-pick: C Jean-Gabriel Pageau, New York Islander
Much more will be added here in the coming days and weeks.
Twitter: @scottbilleck
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Source: winnipegsun.com
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