NHL Rumors: Jets Finding It Even Tougher To Attract Players To Play For Them

Things are appearing to go from bad to worse in Winnipeg as it was revealed the team can't even attract lower tier free agents to their team. Ken Wiebe reported that multiple free agents elected to sign for less money in different markets rather than joining the Jets. Two players revealed were Calle Jarnkrok and Danton Heinen.

Jarnkrok signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs for four year at $2.1 million AAV while Heinen signed back with the Pittsburgh Penguins for one year at just $1 million. There is a chance that the Maple Leafs offered Jarnkrok a longer term so he would earn more guaranteed money overall while becoming a member of a contender, but he took a step back from the previous two seasons scoring just 12 goals and 30 points in 66 games with the Seattle Kraken and Calgary Flames.

Heinen becomes underpaid next season from the contribution he made to the Penguins in 2021-22. He put up 18 goals and 33 points in 76 games while playing less than 13 minutes a night. Whether it's another case of betting on himself or staying with a contender, typically players who are in the bottom-six of a lineup will go where the money is.

This is concerning for the Jets as they already weren't a preferred destination due to the weather and country, but it doesn't make things better that they missed the playoffs last season, haven't made any upgrades, and are at the risk of losing other top players soon since they don't want to commit long-term. The Jets are in shambles and next season could start the destruction of a team that recently had lots of hope.