WINNIPEG, MANITOBA
After days of speculation, the Winnipeg Jets have found their man. Early this afternoon, forward Mikhail Grabovski was acquired along with a 2017 3rd round pick, in exchange for a 2016 1st round pick, and center prospect Nic Petan. According to Jets General Manager Sean Croft, while Petan was viewed as a favorable prospect, Travis Zajac, Brock Nelson, and Sam Reinhart are the three reasons why he viewed Petan as expendable. Sean Croft broke the news to the team during this afternoon's skate. I happened to be there waiting for Croft to ask about his final trip to Nassau Coliseum.
"Hey guys, gather around," said Croft as he headed out onto the ice. "Great job last night against the Isles. Two big points for us. Obviously we've needed some scoring, you all know that. Just so that you know, you'll have a new teammate tomorrow, but don't worry, none of you have been dealt. A few minutes ago, we traded for Mikhail Grabovski."
The players on the ice started high-fiving, and there were nothing but smiles on the ice. Coming off the ice, Brent Seabrook grabbed me and said, "Hey! We got Grabo! Did you hear?" One player who had seemed relieved was rookie forward Brock Nelson. The young forward has had some difficulty transitioning into an NsHL role, and wondered if he had played his way out the door.
"It's been frustrating for sure," commented Nelson after this morning's skate. "I haven't been able to get it going, and to make matters worse, you get some people in your ear telling you that the team is looking to replace you on the line and that you're on your way out. I'm just glad they believe in me and are keeping me around."
What Nelson is referring to is the post made earlier this week by the anonymous hockey blogger known as, "Seklund". On Tuesday, Seklund wrote on his blog:
I've heard Sean Croft has been working the phones to get some more offense for the Jets. My sources tell me he has grown sour on Brock Nelson, and is looking to deal the youngster in exchange for a more proven player, in order to not make himself look foolish for trading a first round pick during this so-called "rebuild" last year.
Then last night he wrote the following:
Sean Croft spotted talking to Chris Hessel during the second intermission at Nassau Coliseum. Trade winds are whipping. I'm hearing Brock Nelson is on his way to the Islanders, along with a number of high draft picks and Travis Zajac, in exchange for John Tavares and James Wisniewski. "The Wiz" is viewed as a long term solution for the Jets, as Sean Croft believes that Kevin Bieksa will waive his NTC to go to a contender. Tavares is viewed strictly as revenue, a jersey to be sold before he rejects every contract offer in the league to sign with Jade Graber's Toronto Maple Leafs, because my cousin knows a guy who drives a cab in Rome who once gave Pope Francis a ride, and he said inside the Vatican, there is a scribe signed by Jesus stating that Tavares is destined to be a Leaf. It sits on a shelf between Kim Kardashian's soul, traded for fame (S5) and a copy of Blue Swede's "Hooked On A Feeling" (it's his favorite).
"I have no clue where he gets this stuff," said Croft after the game. "Of course I was at the game, I'm always at the games! I saw him as I was heading down to the locker room, I told him he had no integrity. His response was, "No, I actually bought "Insanity" instead, check out these abs". Then he asked me for five bucks to get a Snickers from the vending machine, which in fact was a soap dispenser in the utility closet."
Paul MacLean was equally as annoyed.
"It's not ****ing right," barked MacLean when asked about the blogger. "He's a kid, he's trying. He's putting a lot of pressure on himself, and the last thing he needs is this clown in his head. His press pass is bogus! It's got macaroni elbows and glitter on it."
Either way, Nelson is staying, but will be demoted to the third line in favor of Grabovski with Olli Jokinen and Jaromir Jagr. The Jets have lost only by small margins, for the most part, and it is the team's belief that with the added scoring, those games could have been won. They recognized the opportunity to add early in the season and close the gap in the Western Conference playoff picture. Grabovski adds the scoring, checking, speed, puck handling, and passing that the Jets have lacked on the second line. He is also sound defensively. He will be under contract for the rest of this season, as well as the three that follow, at a cap friendly $4M per year.
Before the deal was made however, there was a game played at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, NY. It has been the home of the New York Islanders since the NsHL's inception, and had been a Long Island staple since 1972. Next season, the Islanders will call the Barclay's Center in Brooklyn home. Sean Croft made sure to get to the building early, and take in one last game in his old stomping grounds. His final game was truly his swan song, as his Jets defeated the Islanders in the shootout 2-1.
"It's a very weird feeling," said Croft as he walked through the stands prior to last night's contest. "I've spent countless hours here, both as a kid and as an adult. I started my NsHL career here."
He then felt water on his shoulder, and realized it was raining outside, which means it was raining inside as well.
"Forget it, I won't miss it."
Jay Trotter
Jet Fuel
