The Winnipeg Jets fans have a plethora of things to be excited about ahead of next season, but the signing of the organization’s 2011 first round pick is something to really be pumped about.
"He's showing great potential," said Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff. "Certainly we're very excited about his training camp and very happy to have him signed to a contract."
Mark Scheifele, 7th overall pick of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft agreed to terms with the Winnipeg Jets on a three year entry-level contract on Monday. Though the terms of the deal were not disclosed in the conference, CapGeek.com reports that Scheifele will earn $575,000 in each of his three years at the bottom, and is eligible (with bonuses) to make $1.625 million per-year.
The 18 year old had a massively impressive preseason in which he led the team in points. In his five games at the NHL level in preseason he notched 4 goals and 4 assists, something that has undeniably earned him the right the start the season with the club in the regular season. Kevin Cheveldayoff confirmed with the media the Scheifele will in fact start the season with the main team, but admitted that nothing is guaranteed beyond that.
"There really are no expectations. He'll be in the lineup opening night and we'll take it day-by-day in those regards. There are no guarantees of anything. I met with him this morning and we're all on the same page in that we know it's an accomplishment of where he's gotten to at this point and we're just going to evaluate on a daily basis, on a game by game basis."
Scheifele surprising slipped to 7th by the time he was drafted by the Winnipeg Jets, the first draft choice since the team returned to Winnipeg this year. 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 preseason this year, he has great skill in puck moving and a knack for scoring. If he can keep up the offensive ability, he will most definitely stick with the club after his nine game NHL debut. The club will have only nine games to decide whether he will stick with the Jets for the remainder of the 2011-2012 season, or if they will instead return the young talent to the Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League.
"It was unreal, "said Scheifele."I don't think I've had that big of a smile on my face for signing anything in my life. It was an unbelievable moment, definitely a big difference from junior.”
"To play hockey for a living is an unbelievable feeling and that's what drives me and what motivates me to always have a smile on my face. I'm always happy to be at the rink. I get to do what I love everyday and get paid for it, I'd do it for free."
Scheifele is an NHL player, and has NHL caliber talent and potential. He is probably at the top of the list of things for the city of Winnipeg to get excited about.
For the Barrie Colts last season Scheifele put on a show, raising his draft-class status game by game. In 66 games he tallied 22 goals and 53 assists for 75 points. During the year he recorded 35 penalty minutes, and had a slightly disappointing -22 rating. Scheifle made his way to the top of the charts in Winnipeg’s prospect rankings in HockeysFuture.com’s rakings as he fell short of only Dallas’ Mike Ribeiro in terms of total preseason points, and finished in a six-way tie for the lead in goals scored.
With such stats in his very early pro-level experience, the new focus league-wide on Scheifele will be his ability to handle the pressure at the NHL level. Though he is getting the shot he wants and deserves so badly, with it comes a great deal of pressure in those first nine games.
"I think the microscope is always going to be on him," said Captain Andrew Ladd. "I think especially for that first nine games, everybody is going to be watching and judging, obviously knowing that there is a big decision on that tenth game. He does a great job of staying away from that and just playing hockey. He has a great head on his shoulders, that's one of the things that's pretty impressive about him, he's smart and just plays hockey."
Scheifele is a true talent that will help the Winnipeg Jets for many years to come. He could certainly afford to bulk up a bit, but with the cast assembled around him in a mixture of youth, talent, size, and maturity Scheifele is sure to come out an elite scoring forward in the National Hockey League.
- Kendall Grubbs
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