"I'd Love To Stay"; Haydn Fleury Hopes To Remain A Jet Despite Log Jam Of Defensemen

Haydn Fleury mentioned during his end-of-season press conference that he’d like to remain a Winnipeg Jet despite the log jam of defensemen the Jets currently employ.

The Jets went into the playoffs with nine defensemen on their roster, dressing eight at some point during their two series. The only defenseman not to dress for a game was 24-year-old Ville Heinola. Fleury played in eight playoff games, recording two assists while averaging 15:16 of ice time, gaining the trust and increasing his role as the playoffs went on.

During the regular season, the 28-year-old played in just 39 games, registering seven assists and averaging 15:56 of ice time. He dealt with a long-term lower-body injury in the midst of the season, but when he returned, he served as a healthy scratch behind Luke Schenn and Logan Stanley. 

Of the nine defensemen the Jets brought to the playoffs, Fleury is one of the two defensemen in need of a contract and the only defenseman who is an unrestricted free agent. Dylan Samberg is the restricted free agent the Jets will need to come to a deal with. 

To create space on the backend, the easiest thing for GM Kevin Cheveldayoff to do would be to let Fleury walk, but the following season will require him to work out contracts with UFAs Schenn, Stanley and Colin Miller, as well as RFA Ville Heinola, running the risk of losing multiple contributing defensemen. Re-signing Fleury would provide insurance, especially with a defenseman who wants to remain in Winnipeg. 

“Being able to play in a city where hockey matters for me is huge,” said the 6’4 defender. “And just to be able to show my kids how much a sport can do for a community is something that I’m really proud that I got a show my son this year.”

The Jets need upgrades offensively, with glaring needs for a second-line center and more depth scoring in their bottom six. Allocating 30% of their salary cap towards defensemen makes achieving that very difficult, adding more to the plate of Cheveldayoff, who needs to find a way to add offence without sacrificing defence. 

Fleury’s speed and puck-moving ability proved to be a valuable asset in the playoffs and a trait they may be inclined to keep instead of Stanley’s size. 

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