Winnipeg Free Agents

[Jets GM]

The new WPG GM, former TB GM, returned with a bang. The explosion caused a serious shake and has the new GM under the spotlight.

After leaving the helm of the Lightning after 3 Stanley Cups and retiring, only to return less than a a year later, WPG GM did not stop with the erratic behavior upon arrival in Winnipeg. It was a fire sale not seen since 2011 in Tampa Bay. "He's a bad actor" one EHEC assistant GM said off the record "he creates this short term volatility nonsense by creating a panicked atmosphere...that it's a going out of business sale".

Nearly $30 million dollars of net salaries lost after it was over. "I've never seen anything like it, he lost his mind" said a anonymous head coach from the Eastern conference "and then this non-sense with the 2025 draft picks, its unethical". This source alludes to the controversy about some of the futures exchanged in the majority of transactions.

When contacted for a statement surrounding the events, WPG GM stated that under the advice of his counsel, he could not comment at this time. While the league ultimately approved the transactions, the organization is being sued in civil courts by their three former insurance providers regarding some of the traded contracts and their policies.

However, it was not long after until Winnipeg began acquiring some marquee names. Ilya Kovalchuk and Rick Nash were acquired via trade; Kovalchuk was extended for the league maximum and acquired for a minor league prospect. Jordan Staal and Andrew Ladd were other veterans acquired via trade. Winnipeg also signed the top D of the UFA class, Dion Phaneuf, to a one-year deal. They also signed Corey Perry, Mike Forney, Jonathan Huberdeau, Patrice Bergeron and Phil Kessel among others.

Finally, Winnipeg has acquired a substantial amount of 1st round draft picks in 2023 (3), 2024 (8) and 2025 (5). Of note, Winnipeg owns over 25% of the 2024. This has created more complaints regarding lack of governance at the Winnipeg organization. "How can a team own so much of a draft? It should be illegal" said an anonymous EHEC scout "He should be required to divest some of the picks". It's unclear whether WPG GM would look to convert some of his long dated futures into assets producing today or whether there would even be a market for such futures.

Top prospects at camp this year are Connor Zary. Cam York, Roni Hirvonen and Kasper Kotkansalo. Winnipeg also appears to be under the cap by 5 million dollars and looking to potentially utilize some of the space. The new rules surrounding salary retention are provide the opportunity to financially engineer salaries.

"We are open for business" said the WPG GM in a prepared statement "the opportunity to achieve our on ice goals through creatively advancing our team through financial engineering is vast".