Scheifele Sent Back

  In the wake of the poorly start the Winnipeg Jets have had this season, the decision has been made to return first round draft pick of 2011, 7th overall, Mark Scheifele to the Barrie Colts of the OHL where he will continue to develop with the club.

"I think he took it great. He's a humble person. He worked hard and he took nothing for granted. That's his mentality." GM Kevin Cheveldayoff said.

  The 18 year-old broke into the NHL after a mesmerizing pre-season in which he led the club through five games posting four goals and four assists. Scheifele impressed the Winnipeg brass, but his regular season debut was not enough to earn him a permanent spot on the roster – yet.

  The Winnipeg Jets had just nine regular season games to make the call before the first year of his three-year entry-level deal kicked in as per National Hockey League rules and regulations regarding entry-level deals. Scheifele was given seven games to prove he should stick, and despite just scoring one goal and no assists, he truly did impress, and very well could have stayed on for the rest of the year.

"The way he played in Penticton (rookie camp) and the exhibition season, the way he handled himself at the National Hockey League level, we"re ecstatic," GM Cheveldayoff told TSN1290 in Winnipeg.

"He's going to be an impact player in junior. I think with that comes the pressure of leading a team and the expectations of producing all the time. I think those are the type of things, that when he comes to be an NHL player, will be his responsibility all the time. It's a development process. 18-years-old, that a big feather in his cap to have earned the right to play seven games here."

  The good thing for Scheifele and Winnipeg is actually in the fact that he did not stay. Scheifele obviously presents the current roster with a viable option on the ice, contributing in ways that Winnipeg needs contributions, but the fact is that there is a problem in the city of Winnipeg in the early stages of the season, and keeping Scheifele around for it would not have benefited anyone involved.

  Chalk it up to the excitement factor of the move from Atlanta to Winnipeg, the crazy schedule having placed the team in the Southeast Division while the team resides in Western Canada, or perhaps the new coach and new general management situation. Possibly the team still suffers from lack of chemistry, or overall experience. At the end of the day; none of it matters when you’re dealing with an 18 year-old that still has to learn and develop.

  And develop he will. Last year Sheifele played 66 games and tallied 22 goals and 53 assists for 75 points. His return should do nothing but bolster the confidence that the club has in the player, as not many 18 year-old get the chance to stick around off the hop. He will continue to grow in Juniors, especially in terms of overall strength and defensive responsibility – something that could really bring Scheifele full-circle into a complete hockey player.

  Scheifele brings size and strength at 6’3 184lbs to the center position. His play is smooth and awareness is primed for the NHL at only 18 years of age. As he proved in Juniors last year, and at the NHL level in pre-season this year, he has great skill in puck moving and a knack for scoring.

  When in fact Winnipeg comes to rely on Scheifele’s talents, he will be a force to be reckoned with in the NHL – as will the entire club that was built by former GM Don Waddell (who did a fine job by the way) in the city of Atlanta. Young talents in Evander Kane, Ondrej Pavelec, Alexander Burmistrov, Tobias Enstrom, Zach Bogosian, and the rest of the promising youth will come into their own as top notch players in the league. That combined with the proven veteran leadership already established may just in fact return the city of Winnipeg to glory, something that was taken from the club before it could ever come to fruition.

- Kendall Grubbs