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"Is it worth it?" McPhee said when asked about giving up a prospect of Forsberg's level. "We're looking at our hockey club and saying we'd like to add another top-six forward if we can and how soon will Forsberg be able to play and the right side [of the organization] is pretty stacked right now."

Erat is a Czech Republic native. The 6-foot, 196-pound forward led Nashville in points (21) and assists (17) at the time of the trade -- though the Predators have struggled this season. He is an 11-year NHL veteran and has scored between 16 and 23 goals every year since 2003-04. Eight times he has finished between 49 and 58 points. Erat also has solid Stanley Cup playoff experience with 23 points (eight goals, 15 assists) in 46 career postseason games.

Erat was teammates with current Caps right wing Joel Ward in Nashville for three years and defenseman Jack Hillen last season. He had already agreed to waive his no-movement clause when Nashville general manager David Poile informed him about a potential trade.

"It's about trying to be a good team now and in the future," McPhee said. "The players have been playing really well. We weren't going to be sellers. And I thought I'd help them out if we could, add another player and we did."

Washington Examiner LOADED: 04.04.2013

667998 Winnipeg Jets

Cheveldayoff focuses on long-term assets for Jets

By: Tim Campbell

Posted: 4:14 PM

WINNIPEG — Winnipeg Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff said he understands the angst of fans who would have counselled him to make a move before today’s NHL trading deadline but he stood firm again on trying to build for the future.

"The hard part, and I feel for them (the fans) is that you’re always looking for that quick answer, that quick fix and man, oh man, you wish you could find it sometimes," Cheveldayoff told reporters on a conference call this afternoon. "Everything comes at a price. At some point in time we hopefully we will be the people that hopefully are going to be the ones that will be able to pay the prices and pay whatever is necessary to get that piece to win the Cup.

"There’s no guarantees. You’ve seen a lot of teams today, over the course of three or four days, make moves and you talk about the balance of power ... at the end of the day one team is going to win.

"For us, the opportunity to sign Jacob Trouba and know he’s going to be on the pro side of the mix next year, knowing that Mark Scheifele is someone that will be turning pro next year ... these are all things where we need to build assets within our organization.

"We’re going to work hard to try to build long-term assets."

Cheveldayoff agreed with a questioner that said today’s lack of activity, other than the claiming of Mike Santorelli from waivers from Florida, is a vote of confidence for the current team’s efforts to make the playoffs.

"This is the group that earned the opportunity to be battling at this point in time for a playoff position and will continue to battle moving forward," Cheveldayoff said. His team is at 38 points and in a tight race in both the Southeast Division and the Eastern Conference.

Cheveldayoff wouldn't comment on how close he came to making any deal, or which players he may have targeted.

The GM said that the team’s current injury plight should start to ease soon. He expected that winger James Wright may be the first back off the injured-reserve list shortly.

"We have to find a way to fight through that," Cheveldayoff said.

Cheveldayoff didn’t deny that there is risk in not making a move or moves at the deadline.

"Essentially you make your choices by not doing that," he said. "The risk of not making a move, I guess you take the reverse of it and that becomes your move. Unless you have something that can absolutely replace what you’re giving up in your lineup in the situation that we’re in right now, it’s about the messages your send to your group."

The GM also said that the price for other teams’ assets is always high at the deadline.

The Jets had the cap space within which to operate had they chosen any moves today. Winnipeg is at about $58 million this season according to capgeek.com.

For next season, with the NHL cap coming down to $64.3 million, the Jets have just 10 players signed, with a commitment of $33.8 million to those players.

Free agents like Blake Wheeler, Bryan Little and Zach Bogosian will need to be re-signed for 2013-14.

Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 04.04.2013

667999 Winnipeg Jets

Santorelli 'super-excited' to join Jets

By: Ed Tait

Posted: 1:43 PM

MONTREAL -- It hardly qualifies as a trade-deadline blockbuster, but the Winnipeg Jets have made a move to bolster their lineup.

The Jets have picked up Mike Santorelli off waivers from the Florida Panthers, most likely to replace Nik Antropov after he was injured in Tuesday’s 5-2 loss to the New York Islanders. The Jets confirmed today that Antropov will be out for two weeks – a good chunk of what is left of the regular season – with a ‘lower-body’ injury.

A 27-year-old centre from Vancouver, Santorelli has two goals and one assist in 24 games this year with the Panthers and was on the ice when he was informed by Panthers management he was switching jerseys. He will be en route to Montreal tonight and is expected to be in the lineup tomorrow when the Jets wrap up their three-game road trip against the Canadiens.

"I’m super-excited," said Santorelli in a phone interview. "The Jets have a great team and it’s that time of the year when you’re right in the mix of things and I’m looking forward to coming there as much as I can. Each game is so meaningful and that’s exciting."

He was originally drafted by the Nashville Predators in the 6th round of the 2004 NHL entry draft and has appeared in 198 NHL with the Preds and Panthers. Santorelli also has a connection with Jets captain Andrew Ladd, having played Junior B with him with the Port Coquitlam Buckaroos.

In his best NHL season, 2010-11, he had 20 goals and 21 assists.

"I like to play a high-tempo speed game and get pucks to the net," said Santorelli. "I think a change of scenery can be good for players. I’ll come there and work hard and try to bring it every night."

Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 04.04.2013

668000 Winnipeg Jets

Trouba arriving Thursday

By: Tim Campbell and Ed Tait

Posted: 11:22 AM

WINNIPEG — Jacob Trouba, the Winnipeg Jets’ first-round pick of the 2012 draft, said this morning that after a few days’ deliberation, his heart told him he was ready to turn pro.

"I’m not going to get any better without challenging myself," Trouba, 19, told reporters this morning.

The University of Michigan defenceman, a CCHA all-star in his freshman season, was the ninth overall pick last June. He agreed to an entry-level contract on Tuesday, ending his college eligibility after one year.

"I want to learn as much as I can, being around the Jets," said Trouba, who will be in Winnipeg Thursday, preparing to meet and join his new teammates.

Trouba said he had no idea if he’ll be in the lineup anytime soon.

"That’s up to the coaches," he said.

Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 04.04.2013

668001 Winnipeg Jets

Sticking to his BLUE

By: Gary Lawless

Posted: 1:00 AM

Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff would have been foolish to pay the price being asked for players on Wednesday.

And for what? To maybe get the Jets into the playoffs? To see them get bounced out of the first round? Cheveldayoff has preached patience and is less than two years into a long-term plan. Now is not the time for rash manoeuvres.

If the Jets, losers of six of their last eight and four in a row, were more than a .500 team (18-18-2) with real post-season potential, one could understand Cheveldayoff flipping some of his picks to bolster his roster. But the Jets are a bubble team at best, despite the mirage of being the Eastern Conference third seed as a result of their tenuous grip on the Southeast Division.

No, this group hasn't earned the right to have Cheveldayoff waver from his blueprint. They've earned the right to stick together and Cheveldayoff gave them their due by not packaging off impending free agents for draft picks.

If they get in, it will be on their own steam and not at the expense of the organization's future

This franchise has seen that movie and is still paying for it today.

"There is a vacuum in our organization that ties back to what transpired on a day just like this," said Cheveldayoff. "The Atlanta Thrashers organization made a conscious decision, they were leading their division (in 2007) and the lead was beginning to slip away, so they made a choice to acquire several players at the deadline. The end result was they won the division and got into the playoffs (they were swept in four straight by the New York Rangers).

"They traded for Keith Tkachuk giving up a first-, second- and third- round pick. They traded younger players (Braydon Coburn) for older players (Alexei Zhitnik). Those deals had an immediate impact. But the long-term and long lasting effect is what we are dealing with today."

The only way for Cheveldayoff to improve his team immediately was to trade draft picks and he simply wasn't willing to pay that price. Those picks may not seem very valuable today in the midst of a playoff race but in Cheveldayoff's plan they are the very lifeblood of the organization's future.

"The hardest thing for me is to try and accelerate a process that can't be accelerated," said Cheveldayoff. "It's a vicious circle. If you don't draft players and develop them into assets, then you can't do anything on a deadline day. If you choose to trade your draft picks for assets for the now, you forgo the opportunity to build a sustainable system with a sustainable flow of players."

Cheveldayoff did field offers on Alex Burmistrov but wasn't able to make a match. So now it's time for Claude Noel to coach him.

Noel and Burmistrov don't have to like one another but they must figure out a way to coexist. Burmistrov needs to bend a little and play the way Noel wants him to and the coach needs to promote him from the fourth line, giving him the ice time and linemates needed for production.

Burmistrov is a talented but mercurial youngster who fights with his coach.

"Noel yells and swears at Burmi and if you know Burmi, he can't be pushed around. He yells right back at him," said a source Wednesday.

Maybe this rift all fell on Burmistrov's shoulders at one time but the longer it goes, the more responsibility Noel must share. It's not like the Jets have an abundance of players with Burmistrov's skill set in the organization.

The player simply can't be wasted. The Jets need to get whatever they can from him and the current approach isn't working.

Burmistrov's style of play is frustrating. He gets the puck and holds it but little develops from his flash. He needs to play a simpler game within the structure of the system laid out by Noel.

It's Noel's job to make that happen. Parking him on the fourth line or in the press box isn't doing the player or the team any good.

Is the player stubborn? Sounds like it. But the prospect of bigger minutes and time with Evander Kane might be enough to move him off his stance.

The Jets have 10 games to go and still own a playoff spot. It's time to get wins and forget everything else. Deal with the big picture in the summer.

Burmistrov is one of Noel's very limited offensive options right now. Use him.

This is the team Noel has been left to coach and he has to get them turned around or this will be another long summer.

Cheveldayoff has the luxury of planning for the future. Noel does not. He must live in the here and now and Burmistrov is the present.

Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 04.04.2013

668002 Winnipeg Jets

Jets talk but make no deals at deadline

By: Ed Tait

Posted: 1:00 AM

MONTREAL -- It's inactivity disguised as a vote of confidence. And it comes at a most-peculiar time -- with the Winnipeg Jets in a four-game losing streak and battling both fatigue and a growing infirmary.

The NHL trade deadline came and went Wednesday with the Jets not making any deals, other than to claim Mike Santorelli off waivers from the Florida Panthers, shipping Patrice Cormier to the St. John's IceCaps and recalling Aaron Gagnon.

Now, it's not that GM Kevin Cheveldayoff and his management team weren't trying to jazz up their roster -- the most-discussed rumour had them in discussions with the Buffalo Sabres for Drew Stafford -- it's just that the asking prices were too steep.

"There are some teams that are in their cycle where they feel they have to win right now, feel they have what it takes to win right now and are willing to do whatever it takes to win right now," said Cheveldayoff in a conference call from Uniondale, N.Y., where he and his scouts remained for the deadline. "At some point in time that's obviously our goal, to be one of those teams that feel they are one piece away from being a Stanley Cup contender."

The move to land Santorelli, a 27-year-old forward from Vancouver who once played junior B hockey with Jets captain Andrew Ladd, fills a hole left by the loss of Nik Antropov, who will be out for two weeks with a lower-body injury. A former 20-goal scorer who was originally drafted by the Nashville Predators, Santorelli will be in the lineup tonight against the Montreal Canadiens.

"I'm super excited," said Santorelli in a phone interview. "The Jets have a great team and it's that time of the year when you're right in the mix of things and I'm looking forward to coming there as much as I can. Each game is so meaningful and that's exciting.

"I like to play a high-tempo speed game and get pucks to the net. I think a change of scenery can be good for players. I'll come there and work hard and try to bring it every night."

The recall of Gagnon comes just days after he was named the American Hockey League's player of the month for March and cost Cormier his spot with the big club. As well, James Wright is close to coming off the injured-reserve list, but is unlikely to suit up against the Habs.

The Jets had a number of players who are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents this summer, key among them Antropov, Ron Hainsey, Kyle Wellwood and Grant Clitsome. But after not being able to pull the trigger on a deal, Cheveldayoff also said the lack of moves should send a message to the men in the room: management still has faith they can hang on to top spot in the Southeast Division and secure a playoff spot.

"This group of players, although we're on a streak that we don't like right now, they earned the opportunity," said Cheveldayoff. "They got us to this point. I looked at it and said if I did do something and moved one of them out or did something to take away without adding something right now... I just didn't feel that was the right message to send to this group that had earned this."

Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 04.04.2013

668003 Winnipeg Jets

TaitJetsHabsGD

By: Staff Writer

Posted: 1:00 AM

ABOUT THE HABS

The Habs return home after Wednesday's game in Phildadelphia to begin a three-game stint at the Bell Centre: Thursday vs. the Jets followed by meetings with Boston and Washington.

Canadiens rookie Brendan Gallagher is among the top freshmen in the NHL this season, trailing only Florida's Jonathan Huberdeau and Cory Conacher, now of Ottawa, in scoring by a first-year player.

P.K. Subban scored seven goals in March, the most by a Canadiens defenceman in a month since Mathieu Schneider had the same total in February 1994. The franchise record for goals in a month by a D-man is 10, set by Guy Lapointe in February 1976.

The Jets will face Peter Budaj in the Habs net, as Carey Price started against the Flyers in Philly. Budaj is 5-1-1 with a 2.47 GAA and .906 save percentage.

WINNIPEG JETS

31 Ondrej Pavelec

35 Al Montoya

4 Paul Postma

5 Mark Stuart

6 Ron Hainsey

7 Derek Meech

8 Alex Burmistrov

9 Evander Kane

12 Olli Jokinen

13 Kyle Wellwood

15 Mike Santorelli

16 Andrew Ladd

18 Bryan Little

20 Antti Miettinen

21 Aaron Gagnon

22 Chris Thorburn

23 Arturs Kulda

24 Grant Clitsome

26 Blake Wheeler

27 Eric Tangradi

33 Dustin Byfuglien

39 Toby Enstrom

44 Zach Bogosian

MONTREAL

CANADIENS

30 Peter Budaj

31 Carey Price

8 Brandon Prust

11 Brendan Gallagher

14 Tomas Plekanec

20 Colby Armstrong

21 Brian Gionta

22 Tomas Kaberle

24 Jeff Halpern

26 Josh Gorges

27 Alex Galchenyuk

32 Travis Moen

44 Davis Drewiske

45 Mike Blunden

51 David Desharnais

53 Ryan White

55 Francis Bouillon

67 Max Pacioretty

68 Yannick Weber

73 Michael Ryder

74 Alexei Emelin

76 P.K. Subban

79 Andrei Markov

81 Lars Eller

(Lineups subject to change)

-- Tait

668004 Winnipeg Jets

WAIVER WIRE PICKUPS

Tim Campbell

Posted: 1:00 AM

PLAYERS the Winnipeg Jets have claimed off waivers since the franchise transferred from Atlanta:

Brett MacLean: Played five games for the Jets last season, taken back via waivers by the Phoenix Coyotes before a month of the season had gone by.

Ben Maxwell: Signed by the Jets in summer of 2011, lost to Anaheim via waivers, claimed back by Jets a month later; played nine games for the Jets; with St. John's this season

Antti Miettinen: Signed by Tampa Bay last season but grabbed by the Jets on waivers; the 32-year-old winger had five goals and 13 points last season, two goals and four points this season.

Grant Clitsome: Claimed by the Jets from Columbus at last year's trade deadline to help fill the void left by trading Johnny Oduya.

James Wright: Just 23, claimed by the Jets at the start of this season from Florida; has one goal, two points in 29 games in checking role.

Anthony Peluso: Just 23, claimed by the Jets from St. Louis at the start of the season; tough guy has played five games, is currently out with an injury.

Mike Santorelli: Unrestricted free agent at end of season, claimed from Florida Wednesday; the 27-year-old centre has two goals, three points in 24 Panthers games this season.

Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 04.04.2013

668005 Winnipeg Jets

Trouba takes big leap from college to NHL

By: Tim Campbell

Posted: 1:00 AM

After a few days' deliberation, Jacob Trouba's heart told him it was time to try the NHL.

"It's definitely going to be a challenge," said the Winnipeg Jets' newly signed defenceman, the 19-year-old who was the ninth-overall pick at the entry draft last June. "I'm not going to get any better if I don't challenge myself. It's my goal to play in the NHL and I feel like I'm ready... for the change."

His one season at the University of Michigan yielded a selection to the Central Collegiate Hockey Association's first all-star team and the league's offensive defenceman of the year award after 12 goals and 29 points in 37 games.

The Wolverines didn't have the greatest of regular seasons (10-15-3) but streaked in March and made it all the way to the CCHA's championship game, where their season ended with a 3-1 loss to Notre Dame.

In the middle of the season, Trouba was at the world junior championship in Russia, where he was named the tournament's top defenceman and his United States squad won gold.

"It didn't change too much what I was thinking," Trouba said of the tournament. "I knew... to me, we got pretty lucky that tournament. Everything kind of fell right for us.

"Playing against those guys that are the best under-20-year-olds in the world, seeing how you compare to them, then go back to playing college and playing against older guys, seeing how you compared to them... it's tough to worry about how the NHL's going to be but it's something you've got to try to do and try to adjust to it."

The adjustment will begin in Winnipeg sometime today, when Trouba arrives.

Trouba has agreed to a three-year, entry-level contract. It's a two-way deal, as all entry-level contracts must be, and it's been reported it's for the maximum salary of $925,000 each season, plus a $92,500 signing bonus for each season. The deal ends his college hockey eligibility.

The Rochester, Mich., native is likely to be on the ice here in the next day or two but Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff said there have been no promises of playing time.

"We'll see how everything unfolds but there's no guarantee of games played but having said that we'll still have an opportunity to assess as we move forward," Cheveldayoff said.

The GM wants expectations to remain low, but realistic would be more accurate.

"There really is no expectation from within," Cheveldayoff said. "There are no expectations being put on Jacob. This is a pleasant opportunity, certainly something we are very pleased when Jacob had indicated there was thought of wanting to turn pro.

"We welcome it as an opportunity to get him acclimated to our organization on a more day-to-day, intimate basis.

"How it plays out from the playing standpoint, we've been very clear with everybody that this isn't something we're trying to create any expectations."

Trouba said he's simply going to be here to get started with the next phase of his career.

"I want to learn as much as I can being around the Jets and just trying to soak up as much information as I can about what it's about and what it takes to play there and what I need to do this summer to put myself in a position to be with the Jets next year," Trouba said Wednesday.

Will he play for the team this season?

"That's not up to me," he said. "That's up to the coaches. I'm just going to come in and work as hard as I can, just try to get better as a player and as a person, just learn and kind of take it all in. Whatever happens, happens.

"They're in the heat of a playoff race and I just want to come and try to help and do what I can. That's up to the coaches."

He was clear that despite the decision to leave school, he enjoyed his freshman season at Michigan.

"There's a lot. I mean, it's been a great year on and off the ice, just being a part of Michigan, being part of this university," he said. "It's pretty cool. It's a pretty special place. That's definitely something I'm going to miss but this is a goal of mine, to play in the NHL."

PROSPECT UPDATE: Cheveldayoff said Wednesday he hopes to soon have an agreement with 2011 third-round draft pick Adam Lowry, 20, to join the AHL's St. John's IceCaps for the rest of the season. Lowry had 45 goals and 102 points for Swift Current of the WHL this season but his junior days are now likely over. "We've had quite a bit of discussion with Adam Lowry's group," Cheveldayoff said. "We're trying to work out a deal. I think there is an opportunity for Adam to make his way to St. John's on an (AHL) contract and hopefully that's something that can happen here very shortly."

tim.campbell@freepress.mb.ca

The best of the bunch

Jets' top prospects, after first-rounders Jacob Trouba and Mark Scheifele, both of whom are signed:

1. Patrice Cormier: 22, second-round pick of '08, much-injured banger has played just 40 NHL games including 10 this season with the Jets. Reassigned Wednesday to St. John's.

2. Ivan Telegin: 21, fourth-rounder of 2010, sparked much hope with a superb final junior season but the left-winger has been so-so (3 G, 7A, 34 games) in St. John's as a rookie.