Welcome to the 2023-24 NHL season: The Jets will never change, and some bold predictions for the season
It is time. The new NHL season is here. Let's get going.
Just a few housekeeping notes before we get into today’s newsletter.
Even though the season has begun my NHL 15 series will still be continuing with individual looks at some key players that will impact the 2023-24 season.
It will be done so over the next few days and couple of weeks as part of a daily entry throughout the week. The start of a new season is a good time for a reboot in what I am doing here with my main focus still being on the NHL and hockey (my Steelers and Pirates thoughts will still continue). So each weekday, Monday through Friday, expect a daily entry that offers some sort of take on something that is happening in the NHL (a big picture storyline, a random take etc.), a look back at the previous day’s games and a look ahead to that day’s games. It all starts today. Let’s go.
Today’s Take: The Winnipeg Jets are allergic to change
The start of the season was huge for significant contract extensions with the Buffalo Sabres signing one of their young stars — defenseman Rasmus Dahlin — to a monster eight-year, $88 million contract extension that will begin next season.
That extension was obvious. He was a No. 1 overall pick, is a core player, an outstanding player, and was going to be due for a new contract extension after this season anyway as a restricted free agent. This just gets it all out of the way and takes care of it long-term. It is a pricey deal for sure, but Dahlin is great, still has his best days ahead of him and with the salary cap set to rise significantly (hopefully) in the next few years it should be a market rate contract for a top-tier defenseman that can score the way he does.
A bargain or a team-friendly contract? No.
But definitely fair for team and player.
The contract news on Monday that was NOT expected was the Winnipeg Jets signing veteran forward Mark Scheifele and starting goaltender Connor Hellebuyck to long-term deals that will probably keep them in Winnipeg for most of what is left of their careers.
This news kind of came out of nowhere and is one of those situations where it is difficult to grasp how it makes sense for either side.
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