In this edition of Jets News & Rumors, we look at the Winnipeg Jets signing Bryan Little to a one-day contract and the possibility of him officially retiring from the Jets, what general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff thinks about prospect Dmitri Laszewski, and more. Guest Colin Miller. Jets at Noon Dylan Coghlan has spoken about returning to the Jets and has signed with the club.
Little will not return to the Jets.
It's never easy when a key player in your lineup goes down with an injury, especially one that ends your career. In 2019, Little circled around to get better positioning behind the New Jersey Devils goal and was hit by the puck in the side of his head on a teammate's missed slap shot. That was Little's final game, and he's been on long-term injured reserve ever since.
It's a reminder of the speed at which an NHL game is played and anything can happen in an instant. Athletic I asked Cheveldayoff about the idea of bringing Little back, whether it would be on a one-day contract or as a ceremonial tribute to the player.
I'll probably have a chance to talk to Brian at some point, he was and always will be a special member of our organization.
Kevin Cheveldayoff Via Murat Ates, X
Little remains a highly-regarded player in the history of the current Jets team. He ranks in the franchise's top five in goals, assists and points. After deciding not to return to the NHL, Little was traded to the Arizona Coyotes and his contract expired this offseason.
Jets trying to lure Laszewski to North America
Another update from Cheheberdayov after development camp ended was that they have been in contact with Rashevky's North American agent and informed him of his desire to move.
The rest of his answers didn't help shed any light on whether an early deal will be struck, as was the case with Matvey Mishukov.
Rashevsky is a 23-year-old winger who has been dominant in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) over the past three seasons. While it's not always easy to track development in the KHL, his scoring output is impressive for a player so young. There are some similarities between him and Kaprizov in terms of their first four years in Russia's top league.
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Laszewski appeared in 191 games over his first four years and scored 117 points, good for a pace of 0.61 points per game. Kaprizov fared slightly better, appearing in 179 games over his first four years and scoring 117 points, good for a pace of 0.65 points per game.
The Jets are eager to move Laszewski, and having a younger, more experienced player competing for a roster spot would put the team in an advantageous position. He's currently under contract for one more year in the KHL, and some, including Chevelle Dayoff, are hoping he'll move to North America sooner than that, but that seems unlikely at this point.
Collin Miller explains why he chose the Jets
In a recent interview Jets at NoonMiller said he had received multiple offers but chose to return to the Jets after joining them at the trade deadline. Miller only played in six games total, five in the regular season and one in the playoffs. Miller said it didn't feel good to be left out of the first four playoff games because players always want to play, especially in the playoffs.
Miller added that discussions began late last season and he was pleased to reach an extension. He said his experience with the players and staff was great and it was a good fit for him and his family. With the departure of Brenden Dillon and other signings, Miller feels he has a better opportunity to become a full-time addition rather than an initial signing.
Miller's playoff experience, which included a trip to the Finals in his first season with the Vegas Golden Knights, will be a great asset to a team with a strong veteran core.
While any player who signs with a team always focuses on the positives, Miller was quick to spontaneously comment on players, staff, Connor Helbück and others throughout the interview. He sounded like staying in Winnipeg was his top option and that he was very grateful to be back with the Jets.
Coghlan signs one-year contract extension
The Jets announced that they have signed their newly acquired Coghlan to a one-year contract worth $775,000. We've written more about what Coghlan brings to the team here, but signing him to a one-year deal at the league minimum salary gives the Jets more flexibility in how they use Coghlan. Keeping Coghlan on an NHL roster wouldn't be difficult, but given his skill set and style of play, he would fit well in the lineup and be able to compete for a spot with younger players.
Coghlan is expected to compete for a spot on the third pairing and play on the right wing. If that doesn't happen, he'd certainly be one of the top call-up candidates if the Jets have injuries at that position. Right-handed defensemen are hard to find, so having a guy on the outside of the lineup who can play NHL games is a good thing.
The Jets have several options on the right wing with Coghlan, Miller and Elias Salomonsson and will likely compete with each other for the third-pair spot.
