The Winnipeg Jets were one of the big winners in Saturday night’s NHL Draft Lottery. The Jets moved up four places, winning the second overall selection behind only the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The second overall selection will be the highest pick for the Jets franchise since the Atlanta Thrashers selected Kari Lehtonen second overall in 2002. It’s the best draft slot for a Winnipeg based team since they took Dale Hawerchuk first overall in 1981. The last time a Jets team drafted at number two they took Dave Babych in 1980.
“From what I’ve seen of the players at the top end of the draft, these are players that can make an impact over a period of time.” Jets General Manager Kevin Cheveldayoff said. “No one player is going to come in and change a franchise overnight.”
With the Leafs expected to use the first overall pick on Auston Matthews, it will leave Cheveldayoff a choice between two Finnish born prospects. Patrik Laine is the number two ranked prospect with Jesse Puljujarvi ranked third. Either way the Jets have had some success with players from Finland in the past.
“Teemu (Selanne) is still someone that is revered for what he’s done in the city and the community and how he embraced it.” said Cheveldayoff.
Both Laine and Puljujarvi helped Finland win the gold medal at the World Junior Hockey Championships earlier this year and Puljujarvi also won gold at the IIHF Under-18 World Championship.
“I had the opportunity to go over to the World Junior Championships and watch them be a big part of winning a championship and any championship at any level is certainly very important.” Cheveldayoff said. “I watched Puljujarvi play at the World Under-18’s the other day in Grand Forks and I’ll be heading over to the World Championships as well to get a chance to see Auston and Laine play as well.”
The 2016 NHL Draft will be on June 24-25 in Buffalo, New York.
WATCH: Jets G.M. Kevin Cheveldayoff reacts to the Jets winning the second overall pick
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