NIKU CONTINUES TO SHOW OFFENSIVE SKILLS
Play-making defenceman scores pair in OT win over Flames, writes Ken Wiebe.
The most intriguing competition remaining in Winnipeg Jets training camp is on the blue line.
Barring an injury, you can pretty much write down five of the six defencemen that will dress on opening night against the St. Louis Blues, but one spot remains up for grabs and the competition for that spot is fierce.
A player unlikely to be on the opening-day roster had another strong showing, especially in the offensive zone, as Sami Niku scored twice and the Jets earned a 5-4 overtime victory over the Calgary Flames on Monday at Scotiabank Saddledome.
Niku has an incredibly high ceiling and is a good bet to get some games in with the Jets this season, but unless he’s playing regular minutes at the NHL level, he needs to continue his development by getting plenty of ice time in the minors.
Niku’s skating, puck-moving ability and offensive instincts are all NHL-ready, but there are still questions about his defending at this point, which is why it’s most likely he’ll start the season with the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League.
Niku showcased his talent once again Monday, taking a pass from Ben Chiarot at the left point before walking in and beating Mike Smith with a wrister with 11.7 seconds to go in what had otherwise been a flat period for the Jets.
It’s worth noting Niku, who scored a goal in his NHL debut against the Montreal Canadiens last April, made a strong defensive play earlier in the same shift he scored his first goal on.
Niku wasn’t done there, either, firing home another shot from the high slot that appeared to change direction off Flames forward Spencer Foo at 15:20 of the second period.
Nikolaj Ehlers scored a pair of goals for the Jets, first a power play marker that tied it 2-2. He then provided the overtime winner by ripping a shot past Smith.
C.J. Suess added a goal early in the third period as he continues to have a strong training camp.
Suess, who should play an important role with the Manitoba Moose, is up to a goal and three points in three pre-season games.
Suess, who joined the Moose at the end of his senior season with Minnesota State — Mankato, skates well and has showcased his hockey sense as he prepares for his first full season of pro hockey.
ON THE DEFENSIVE
The plan is for Jacob Trouba and Josh Morrissey to play together on the shutdown pairing, Dustin Byfuglien will be on the second pair, but it’s unknown if Tyler Myers or someone else will start on Byfuglien’s left.
Dmitry Kulikov, provided he continues to feel strong after offseason back surgery, is a strong candidate for the third pairing, though it remains to be seen if he’ll play on his natural side (left) or on the off side (right).
And that is where things get interesting.
Joe Morrow and Chiarot are guys who have played alongside Byfuglien with various levels of success.
They both can play the left side or the right (if necessary) and bring ample experience and a big shot from the point.
Chiarot spent the bulk of the first quarter of last season as a healthy scratch, but then carved out a role for himself, thanks to the edge he plays with.
Jets head coach Paul Maurice has said he prefers to not carry eight defencemen, provided the seven guys he does have are healthy.
That could work against Tucker Poolman, who is the only member of the competition (of the eight) exempt from waivers this season.
But Maurice could change his mind and start with eight blueliners or Poolman could win the job outright.
Things are still up in the air. “Because you’re talking about veteran guys, you have a vision in your mind of how they’re supposed to look,” Maurice said earlier this week.
“I can tell you, if everybody is healthy, who the four are that are in, and then there’s competition for those last two jobs. We’re going to need them all, (I’ve) got lots of respect for all of them, but come early October, somebody is probably going to be going a little better than somebody else and that guy gets to play.”
BROSSOIT STRUGGLES
Laurent Brossoit, the expected backup goalie for the Jets, got his second start of the pre-season on Monday and it didn’t go quite as smoothly.
There wasn’t much Brossoit could have done on the Flames’ first goal as Andrew Mangiapane found defenceman Juuso Valimaki along in the slot, but the wrister through the five-hole from a bad angle by Ryan Lomberg is the type of marker that can deflate a team.
Flames captain Mark Giordano beat Brossoit with a shot high to the glove side with 5:35 to go that made it a one-goal game.
A minute and 19 seconds later, Brossoit mishandled the puck and turned it over in the slot and Morgan Klimchuk promptly tied the contest.
Brossoit is expected to get one more pre-season start, either on the road Wednesday against the Minnesota Wild or at home Thursday against the New Jersey Devils.