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1 Winnipeg Free Press html Jets open camp today at Iceplex By: Ed Tait THE Winnipeg Jets begin their quest for another playoff spot -- and, they hope, much more -- this morning at the MTS Iceplex with 55 players in tow. Yes, now the real fun begins for the 30 forwards, 19 defencemen and six goaltenders as the club announced Thursday its training camp roster. Among the faces are two players on PTOs (professional tryouts): goaltender David Leggio, a 31-year-old pro who has spent all of his career in the AHL since starring at Clarkson University, and Austrian winger Thomas Raffl, the older brother of Michael Raffl of the Philadelphia Flyers. Leggio, who hails from Williamsville, N.Y, has been a part of four NHL organizations, first signed by the Buffalo Sabres, then Washington Capitals, New York Islanders and Arizona Coyotes. He was splitting time with Bridgeport and Portland in the AHL last season. Raffl, who is 29, stands 6-4 and weighs 234 pounds, was granted a leave from EC Red Bull Salzburg of the Austrian Hockey League to attend Jets' camp. He has been a member of the Austrian national team since 2007 and was the captain at last spring's world championship. Last season in Salzburg, he had 32 goals and 29 assists in 60 games, including playoffs. Not included on the training camp roster are five players from the 2015 draft class: first-rounders Kyle Connor and Jack Roslovic, third-rounder Erik Foley and sixth-rounder Mason Appleton are all attending college in the U.S., while Sami Niku will remain in Finland. The 2015 picks who are attending are Jansen Harkins, Michael Spacek and Matteo Gennaro. Camp will run today and until Oct. 3, with the regular-season opening with the Jets in Boston Oct. 8. Sessions at the Iceplex are open to the public, those at the MTS Centre are not.

2 Fan-friendly promotions Moose, Jets supporters will benefit from numerous giveaways in By: Ed Tait Hockey fans big on goodies, take note: the Winnipeg Jets and Manitoba Moose announced their gamepromotion schedules for the upcoming season, including giveaways. The Jets, in a partnership with the NHL, will hold their Hockey Fights Cancer awareness night when they play host to the Philadelphia Flyers Nov. 7. The Jets will again skate in their pre-game warm-up wearing special-edition jerseys, which will be auctioned off in support of CancerCare Manitoba after the game. As well, the Jets -- along with the True North Foundation's Project will raise awareness to mental illness through Hockey Talks when the Dallas Stars are in town Feb. 23, while the Canadian Armed Forces will be honoured March 6 when the Edmonton Oilers pay a visit. The Jets will wear military-themed jerseys in the warm-up that will be auctioned off, with proceeds going to Canadian Armed Forces charities. The Jets schedule will also feature six giveaways, including a Bryan Little bobblehead night on the final game of the season April 3 vs. Minnesota. The first giveaway is scheduled for Oct. 16 vs. Calgary when fans receive a glow wand and fridge-magnet schedule. There will be a poster giveaway Jan. 26 that will recognize the player who will participate in this year's NHL All-Star Game. Other giveaways include Winnipeg Jets Upper Deck cards, a player pennant and Jets scarves, courtesy Scotiabank.

3 The Jets are also planning two fan events this season: FanFest at the MTS Iceplex Saturday and the annual Skills Competition at the MTS Centre Dec. 3. The Moose also have major plans, including four specialty-jersey nights and other giveaways. It begins on their return to the MTS Centre Oct. 15 vs. the Ontario Reign when the first 6,000 fans will receive commemorative LED wristbands celebrating the first Moose game in Winnipeg in four years. Fans will also receive a collective fridge-magnet schedule. The Moose are getting in on the bobblehead craze as well, with the first 3,000 fans at their Jan. 3 game vs the Grand Rapids Griffins receiving a Connor Hellebuyck mini bobblehead. A second Moose bobblehead is planned for April 9 against the Rockford Icehogs, with the player to be announced at a later date. The Moose are also planning to wear a throwback jersey from the 1996 season Feb. 13 when the Chicago Wolves are in town, with the first 3,000 in attendance receiving an Upper Deck hockey card giveaway. Other Moose promotional plans: -- Jan. 9: Polar Bear Jersey Night presented by Assiniboine Park Zoo. The Moose will wear special polar bear jerseys in their game against the Toronto Marlies. -- Nov. 20: the Moose will wear a wilderness camouflage jersey against the Bakersfield Condors and an autism awareness jersey March 26 in their game against the Charlotte Checkers. -- The Teddy Bear Toss night Dec. 12 against the Milwaukee Admirals. Fans are encouraged to bring new stuffed animals to the game and throw them on the ice during the first intermission. All teddy bears will be collected and then donated in support of the Christmas Cheer Board. -- Moose fans will be encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item in an effort to 'Shutout Hunger' in support of Winnipeg Harvest for the New Year's Eve game Dec. 31 vs. the Iowa Wild.

4 There will be a team photo puzzle giveaway to the first 3,000 fans Dec. 13, with a full-team autograph session to follow after the game; and a beach towel giveaway to the first 3,000 fans on a 'Beat the Winter Blues Night' on Feb. 6 against Toronto. Winnipeg Sun Ex-Jet Slater looks to Europe BY KEN WIEBE Jim Slater has come to terms with the fact he s no longer the longest-serving member of the Winnipeg Jets. But that didn t mean it was easy to swallow when the veteran centre wasn t among the many players showing up for medicals as NHL camps opened in most cities on Thursday. My agent (Mike Liut) called me (Wednesday) around three and he was talking to a few teams but just kind of said there is not anything going on for you over here, Slater said in a telephone interview from his off-season home in Michigan. Last night was a tough night, I didn t get much sleep. I kind of tossed and turned, I was thinking, my mind was racing. This morning was tough, but I still went in for my workout and skated here. It s been very stressful, for sure. You go through a couple different feelings along the way as the summertime goes. But I wasn t the only one going through it this summer, I m sure. As the Jets look to add a bit more youth to their lineup this season, Slater was one of the casualties. An unrestricted free agent, Slater had hoped to remain with the Jets but was confident he would land somewhere else if the team decided to move on.

5 It was a strange off-season that seemed to be happening for a lot of guys and I was included in that. It s something you ve got to roll with, said Slater, who has 67 goals and 138 points in 584 NHL games. I had an offer on the first day of free agency and didn t want to take it, I wanted to see what else is out there. We were talking to about eight to 10 teams throughout free agency and nothing really came about. Then you see a lot of guys unsigned and you re thinking, geez, this isn t supposed to be how it is. Then you get later and see the guys that are accepting PTO s that are established players and you know it s a different type of summer when that starts happening. Slater, 32, is ready to regroup and has turned his attention to playing in Europe this season and is considering offers from teams in the Kontinental Hockey League, Switzerland, Germany, and Sweden. I m still positive that I m going to go over to Europe and do well over there and hopefully next year, maybe come back and see what happens, said Slater. I m going to go to a good league over there and play well and live a good quality of life over there and hopefully have a good year and open up some eyes back over here in North America. It s going to be a great experience. I just want to get going now and get playing. I prepared like I was getting ready for NHL training camp and now when I do go over to Europe, I m going to be getting right into games. It s a different transition for me, but it s one I look forward to. I m going to enjoy myself and there s a lot the European teams offer. I ve heard good things from guys who have gone over there. Slater is confident he s got plenty of gas left in the proverbial tank. You know you can still play and you still want to play, said Slater, who was chosen in the first round (30th overall) by the Atlanta Thrashers in the 2002 NHL Draft. When that opportunity isn t there for you, you kind of reflect and wonder what do you do. But I feel I can still help a team. I m one of those guys who still loves the game and wants to play. Wherever I end up, I m going to do my best to help the team win. As the conversation continued, Slater also took some time to discuss his time in Winnipeg, a place that was dear to his heart as he spent a lot of time getting involved in the community. I loved my time in Winnipeg, said Slater. When we came from Atlanta to there, I was really stoked and excited to play for a Canadian city. It met every one of my expectations. Had a great time there and

6 met a lot of great people. The city wasn t too big, wasn t too small. The community was wonderful, the people there were very nice and kind and open-hearted. Nothing but good things to say about the city. It s tough. You grow to be a part of it and then you re not there anymore. You ve got to be strong mentally and try to move on and smile because it happened. Don t cry because it s over. I look back and we had great memories, what more do you want. Helping the Jets qualify for the playoffs and being part of the first white-out since 1996 stand out as a few of the highlights. Playing in Winnipeg, I got to do some things not a lot of people get to do, said Slater. Obviously, the first year coming back was amazing, the buzz around the city. That was really cool. Then realizing our goal of making the playoffs last year, that was something that was big for the city, big for the fan base and big for us. It s one of those memories that will stay with me for a long time. No surprises on Jets' training camp roster There were no surprise additions as the Winnipeg Jets unveiled the 55 players attending training camp this fall. Among those 55 players, there are six goalies, 19 defencemen and 30 forwards and the camp will be broken down to two groups, at least to begin with. Goalie David Leggio and winger Thomas Raffl, the brother of Philadelphia Flyers forward Michael Raffl, are in camp on pro tryout offers. Otherwise, those taking part in the camp, which opens with the first on-ice sessions at MTS Iceplex on Friday, include players under contract to the Jets, draft picks of the Jets, and those under contract to the Manitoba Moose, the American Hockey League affiliate. The Jets will play seven pre-season games, beginning next Tuesday, when they host the Minnesota Wild.

7 Training camp and the pre-season schedule comes to a close on Oct. 3 when the Jets travel to Calgary to take on the Flames. Earlier on Thursday, the Jets announced their promotional schedule, which includes Hockey Fights Cancer night on Nov. 7 against the Philadelphia Flyers, Hockey Talks night to raise awareness for mental illness goes Feb. 23 against the Dallas Stars, and Armed Forces night on March 6 against the Edmonton Oilers. The Jets also announced that centre Bryan Little will be the latest player to have a bobblehead with his likeness given away. That takes place on April 3 before a game against the Minnesota Wild. Time is now for Winnipeg Jets prospects to step up and win jobs BY Ken Wiebe The real work for the Winnipeg Jets starts now. Following another long off-season, the goal of reaching the Stanley Cup playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time in franchise history officially begins with the first on-ice sessions of training camp on Friday at MTS Iceplex. Now that the Jets had a taste of how tough the post-season can actually be after being swept by the Anaheim Ducks last spring, the goal is to get back to the playoffs and take the next step as a franchise. Jets head coach Paul Maurice was adamant during his season-ending address that it won t be about just getting back to the level the team was at, noting the Los Angeles Kings didn t even get a chance to defend their 2014 title after failing to qualify for the playoffs last spring.

8 Maurice is a master at managing expectations, but it s obvious this core group believes its best days are ahead of them, not behind them. The Jets worked hard last fall to implement a better defensive system and ultimately found results, improving to a tie for 10th in goals against, a steady rise from the past several seasons. But the playoffs proved that the Jets need to take another step in the process of becoming an even more responsible team. That should give them a leg up at training camp this season as they work to raise the standard of work even higher and do the things necessary to keep things even cleaner in the defensive zone. Up front, the Jets feature a strong top-six of Andrew Ladd, Bryan Little, Drew Stafford, Mark Scheifele, Blake Wheeler and Mathieu Perreault and have some intriguing pieces in camp that could lead to some stiff competition for jobs among the bottom six. There s lots of options on the back end and the goaltending depth is deeper than its ever been for this franchise. While it was a relatively quiet off-season for the Jets, it s obvious that general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff believes that some of his young players are ready to make the jump. And that s what could make this training camp a little more interesting than the past several. Sure, there were some jobs open in each of the past four camps but more often than not, they were on the fringes of the roster. For a draft-and-develop franchise, there comes a time when the youngsters must get to the point where they can push some veterans out of work. That time could be now, but we ll have a better idea after seven pre-season games and three-plus weeks of on-ice sessions before the Jets face the Boston Bruins on Oct. 8.

9 FIVE STORYLINES TO WATCH How long will the contract stalemates last? Captain Andrew Ladd and Dustin Byfuglien can become unrestricted free agents on July 1 if they are not signed to an extension. The longer it takes to get this situation resolved, the greater potential it has to serve as a distraction. However, the Jets have shown they can block out the outside world and focus on hockey. It says here that at least one of the two gets a long-term deal and don't rule out both men signing on the dotted line just yet. Can Ondrej Pavelec hold off the competition? The competition in the crease has never been stiffer and the returning starter got a first-hand look at one of his competitors in the bronze-medal game at the 2015 world men's ice hockey championship. Pavelec also watched Michael Hutchinson make eight consecutive starts late last season before reclaiming his status as the No. 1 guy and helping his team make the playoffs. Pavelec is poised to build on his breakout season. Is Nikoalj Ehlers ready to make the jump? The 2014 first-rounder has put up consecutive 100-point seasons in the QMJHL and he brings the type of dynamic presence and goal-scoring ability the Jets could use, provided he's able to play within the structure, be responsible defensively and make smart decisions with the puck. He's likely to start on third line and see some second-unit power-play time. Where does Alex Burmistrov fit in? After spending the past two seasons playing for his hometown team in the KHL, the skilled Russian is back for another crack at the NHL. He's got the talent and drive to succeed, provided he buys into the system and the role he's given. Look for Burmistrov to show his versatility as a third-line winger and to do a nice job on the penalty kill. Don't expect him to replace the 19 goals and 45 points Michael Frolik put up last season though.

10 Who will be the training camp surprise? A year ago, forward Adam Lowry forced his way onto the team with a strong training camp when many (myself included), figured he could use an extra few months of seasoning in the minors before he was ready to do so. Brendan Lemieux and Joel Armia are the prime candidates here, while 29-year-old Thomas Raffl is a bit of an unknown after putting up good numbers in Austria. THE BIG POSITION BATTLES Goaltenders Who s the backup? Ondrej Pavelec is coming off the best season of his career and is determined to show that he is trending upward and not ready to regress. He s still No. 1 on the depth chart, while Michael Hutchinson is the incumbent back-up and coming off a solid, 21-win season that saw him steal the starting job for a time before Pavelec wrestled it back. With a full NHL season under his belt, it s hard to imagine Hutchinson losing the job. Connor Hellebuyck is coming off an excellent season as a rookie pro, but if he can t unseat Pavelec for the top job, the best place for him to continue his development is as the starter with the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League, with Eric Comrie serving as his backup and pushing for work. Defence Who s No. 6, 7 and 8? There s no shortage of experience on the back end and the top battle will likely be for the sixth, seventh and eighth jobs. It would be a surprise if the Jets don t keep 13 forwards and eight blue-liners on the opening-day roster. The Jets are well aware about the need for depth on the back end, given the injury woes they endured last season. Ben Chiarot is coming off a strong rookie season and has a leg up in the competition, especially given how well he played alongside Dustin Byfuglien. But Adam Pardy, Jay Harrison and Paul Postma all figure to push for an enhanced role and more playing time, while rookie Josh Morrissey would like to work his way into the discussion as well, though it seems likely he ll start the campaign in the AHL where he can be used in all situations as he makes the transition to the pro game.

11 Forwards Who rounds out the fourth line? Rookie Andrew Copp is the front-runner to replace Jim Slater at centre and it s likely Chris Thorburn will be used on one of the wings but there s a number of players who bring different elements to the table in this competition. Anthony Peluso would like to show he can do more than just be an enforcer, Matt Halischuk seems to keep working himself into the mix, Joel Armia has the talent to get himself a longer look, Matt Fraser has been a prolific scorer in the minors, Patrice Cormier is a steady depth guy and Brendan Lemieux brings the combination of skill and sandpaper that could be enticing for head coach Paul Maurice to keep him around for a longer look. Nic Petan, a natural centre, has said he s willing to move to the wing to bolster his chances of making the roster but like Morrissey, he figures to need some seasoning at the AHL-level before he s ready for the full-time jump CBC.ca things to watch heading into Jets camp this weekend By Brett Purdy, CBC News It's September in Winnipeg and that means Jets fans are getting ready to gear up for the fifth season of NHL hockey and hopefully another playoff run. Here are the things to look for from this weekend's training camp: 1. Biggest opportunity for prospects It was a relatively quiet summer for Jets brass on the free agent front. Versatile and productive forward Michael Frolik signed a five-year deal with the Calgary Flames on July 1.

12 Fourth-line centre and a consistent force in the faceoff circle, Jim Slater wasn't re-signed. Wingers Jiri Tlusty and Lee Stempniak, who were added late in the season to help bolster the squad on their way to the playoffs, were also not given new contracts. The holes left from those four departures have left what is arguably the biggest opportunity for prospects to make the team since this management team has taken over. Junior players and young guns from the AHL affiliate Manitoba Moose or Junior Jets, as I think they will affectionately be called will be itching to earn a spot as camp gets underway this weekend. The prospects include: Andrew Copp, the former Michigan college centre who got his first NHL assist in his first NHL outing. Creative centre Nicolas Petan, who has great hands and competes aggressively for his smaller size. Brendan Lemieux, the son of former NHL agitator Claude Lemieux, has been said to be a key piece coming back in the Evander Kane trade with Buffalo. Nikolaj Ehlers, 2014's first-round draft pick. 2. Jets or go home Ehlers, the 19-year-old left winger from Denmark, is one of the most skilled prospects in the Jets' cupboard. He's fast, creative, skilled and can start and finish plays. Ehlers tallied 101 points in 51 games in Halifax last year. But there is an agreement between the NHL and the junior leagues that if a player isn't playing at the NHL level, while they are junior aged, they go back to their junior club. If Ehlers doesn't stick with the Jets, they will either need an exemption to allow him to play on the Moose or he could very well end up heading over to an elite league in Europe. 3. From Russia with love

13 Another of the roster holes will likely get filled with speedy forward Alexander Burmistrov. The 23-yearold Russian native left the Jets organization to play in the KHL. Burmistrov is fast and creative but also plays smart defensively and can play at any forward position. If things go well, he could be a great asset after the team lost Michael Frolik in the off-season. 4. To Pav or not to Pav It's perfect timing to start Winnipeg's favourite debate should Ondrej Pavelec be the starting goaltender? Pavelec is coming off arguably, the best season of his career. Playing in 50 games earning his highest ever save percentage of.920, lowest goals against average with 2.28 and his most shutouts in a season with five. His impressive play down the stretch was a big reason the Jets were able to eke into the playoffs last year. The issue for Pavelec seems to be consistency. While his goals against average was better than the league average, 26th on that list was Michael Hutchinson, who had 21 wins while playing 12 fewer games than Pavelec. Muddying the frozen water even more is that the Jets boast one of the best goalie prospect pools in the league Eric Comrie, 20, and Connor Hellebuyck, Abundance of defencemen General manager Kevin Cheveldayoff is entering camp with an abundance of defencemen. This league punishes defencemen. Dustin Byfuglien missed nine games last March. Jacob Trouba missed just over a month of action and 16 games. Grant Clitsome went down in early December, needed back surgery and missed the rest of the season and playoffs. In two different stretches, Toby Enstrom missed 22 games. Even workhorse Mark Stuart missed 11 games.

14 Teams know you need depth or injuries like that could cripple post-season aspirations. The Jets, though, are entering this camp with so much depth it could lead to some interesting choices at some point. It all points to what should be an interesting camp and another great season of hockey for fans in Winnipeg. TSN.ca The future could be now for the Jets by Scott Cullen Cheveldayoff: Playoff success not a given The Winnipeg Jets reached the playoffs last season for the first time since returning to the NHL, only to be swept away by the Anaheim Ducks. Then, the Jets didn't do much of anything in the offseason. They brought Alexander Burmistrov back from the KHL, but their relative inactivity leaves the impression that if the Jets are going to improve in , it's going to be a result of prospects making the jump and performing well. The riskiest spot on the Jets roster is goaltending. For years, Ondrej Pavelec has performed at a below-average level and was a big part of the reason that the Jets weren't making the playoffs, but after his career-best season in , there has to be hope that he can do it again. If not, Michael Hutchinson or prospect Connor Hellebuyck should be ready for a shot. Winnipeg's blueline is overstocked with NHL defencemen, especially now that Dustin Byfuglien has moved back (where he's much more effective), so there is room to make a deal, if need be. Up front, Andrew Ladd, Bryan Little and Blake Wheeler are the underrated mainstays while Mathieu Perreault and Mark Scheifele are solid contributors, so there are some pieces in place, but there are jobs to be taken. Nikolaj Ehlers is the most highly-touted Jets prospect and should be a regular from the start, but Andrew Copp, Nicolas Petan, Joel Armia and Brendan Lemieux could all be in consideration for roster spots. That's exciting, but leaves the Jets with an element of uncertainty heading into the season. TSN'S PROJECTED LINES LW C RW Andrew Ladd Bryan Little Drew Stafford Mathieu Perreault Mark Scheifele Blake Wheeler

15 Alex Burmistrov* Adam Lowry Nikolaj Ehlers Chris Thorburn Andrew Copp Anthony Peluso Matt Halischuk Fighting For Jobs: RW Joel Armia, C Patrice Cormier, LW Matt Fraser, C Nic Petan TSN'S PROJECTED PAIRS LD Toby Enstrom Mark Stuart Ben Chiarot RD Tyler Myers Jacob Trouba Dustin Byfuglien Jay Harrison Fighting For Jobs: LD Adam Pardy, LD Paul Postma TSN'S PROJECTED GOALIES NO. 1 NO. 2 NO. 3 Ondrej Pavelec Michael Hutchinson Connor Hellebuyck Off-season Departures: RW Michael Frolik, LW T.J. Galiardi, D Keaton Ellerby, C Eric O'Dell KEY QUESTIONS 1. Will Nik Ehlers and/or other prospects make the team or will the Jets open the season with some fringe veterans in the lineup? 2. Can Alex Burmistrov replace the solid two-way game of Michael Frolik which was lost in free agency? 3. Ondrej Pavelec and Michael Hutchinson helped lead the Jets to a Top 10 finish in goals-against last season. Does this trend continue or does the club regress? CRAIG'S LISTS Winnipeg's Top Prospects 1. Nikolaj Ehlers (Halifax, QMJHL): High end skill and creativity who can both excite and dazzle. 2. Josh Morrissey (Kelowna, WHL): Excellent skater who passes well. Best D prospect in the organization.

16 Top 5 Long-Term Prospects 1. Connor Hellybuyck (St. John's, AHL): All the capabilities of a No. 1 goalie. Smart, poised and competitive. 2. Kyle Connor (Youngstown, USHL): Excellent offensive skills with an ease to his play both physically and mentally. 3. Brendan Lemieux (Barrie, OHL): Hard winger who can score. Always challenging opponents in some way. 4. Andrew Copp (Michigan, NCAA): Complete player who can contribute in multiple ways and play in various spots in the lineup. 5. Nic Petan (Portland, WHL): Diminutive centre is highly skilled, smart, can make plays and is extremely competitive. * Listed with teams BY THE NUMBERS THREE-YEAR BREAKDOWN (LEAGUE RANK) Points 87 (18th) 84 (22nd) 99 (14th) Goals For 2.6 (T-16th) 2.7 (15th) 2.7 (T-16th) Goals Against 2.9 (T-9th) 2.8 (22nd) 2.5 (T-10th) Power Play 14% (30th) 15% (25th) 18% (T-17th) Penalty Killing 80% (24th) 83% (T-9th) 82% (13th) SAT% Possession 49.5% (16th) 50.1% (16th) 52.6% (8th) * points: Pro-rated lockout-shortened total ESTIMATED PAYROLL vs. CAP - $58.2M/$71.4M The Jets are putting together a team on a budget, and with a deep crop of prospects, inexpensive help will continue to work its way through the system. How the club deals with Ladd and Byfuglien could go a long way to determining their future financial flexibility.

17 10 prospects to watch at training camp By Craig Button Nikolaj Ehlers (RW) Winnipeg Jets He is not the Finnish Flash, but this dashing Dane will excite Jets' fans in similar fashion. His skills are sublime and, with a creative flair and determination, he can make significant contributions in a game