This is a special edition of the Free Press. Recently Curt McBagel sat down with Jets GM Mike Walsh to get the low down on his Jets, the long term plan and goals of the Winnipeg Jets.
WFP-When did you first put your name into the running for Jets GM job?
MW-It was a few weeks after the CPHL announced that expansion would take place. I had enjoyed my first year in the swamp but I won’t joke around it was tough, we just could never get things going. As a management group we had numerous philosophy changes throughout the season none of which ever reached the end result. I thought the Jets job would be a great but yet fun challenge. Running the Devils was very similar to running an expansion team except with the Jets I got to choose every single player that came into the system and with the Devils I didn’t get that choice.
WFP-Explain to everyone what it is like preparing for the expansion draft, and what it is like to fill a roster of team that had no players.
MW-Well to be honest, there was some up roar about the expansion teams coming into the league, several GMs were concerned that there would be a lack of solid CPHL players to go around because of expansion, when in reality it turned out that Rob and I only had 5 players over 70 OVs to pick from. I had really had to do my homework, I couldn’t just pick the players with the highest overall numbers. I had to look at all ratings and decide which player would best fit. It was an exciting time, especially when we realized that DiPietro was left off either list, which made him available to us. We wouldn’t be where we are without him. I spent endless hours looking for solid European who were still eligible to play this season as well.
WFP-Tell us about your short term goal for the Jets.
MW-We as everyone can see, we are not holding back. We are definitely trying to make the playoffs this season. After spending that year in Jersey I realized that rebuilding can take longer then expected and no one really knows about the future. I GM for today not tomorrow and I will worry about tomorrow when we get there. I want to win now because I don’t know if I would be around in 5 years from now. The commitment to this short term goal has left us a little thin for along term goal. We have traded most of our picks, and we don’t have top prospects in the system. It is up to me to get this team into the playoffs I think we are headed in the right direction.
WFP-Are there any long term plans?
MW-Sure there is. We want to become a consistent playoff team. We want players to want to come to Winnipeg. It’s a great little city, the fans here are among the best.
WFP-Currently, are there any deals in works?
MW-Obviously I cannot mention names but it’s no secret that I am actively seeking another top 6 forward, and I always want to make some minor adjustments. If I can make one big deal before the weekend is over I would like to give the team a handful of games to gel so I can sit back and really figure out what we need.
WFP-Thanks for taking the time to sit down with us.
MW-No problem, just before I go I wanted to mention that in a week or so when we play the Bruins we will open up the MCI center to all our fans and have free sushi for everyone and when the Bruins come to visit us near the end of the season Wendy’s has agreed to come aboard and have all you can eat Junior Bacon Cheese Burgers for everyone in honor of my good friend and Bruins GM KevanGuy.
Here is a list of the players Walsh took in the expansion draft. Of this list only DiPietro, Mironov, Vandermeer, Koreis, and McLean remain with the Jets organization.
List:
Rick DiPietro (Avs-CPHL)
Mark Eaton (Buffalo-CPHL)
Jason Wiemer-MTL
Boris Mironov-ATL
Karlis Skrastins-Kings
Scott Young-Flames
Jaroslav Bednar-NYI
chris clark-stl
Rico Fata- NJ
Jim Fahey-Nash
brian savage - ducks
Jim Vandermeer - CHIC
Kyle Brodziak- TOR-(AHL)
Martin Prusek - Buff
Tyler Wright-ATL
Jakub Klepis-Phil(AHL)
Jakub Koreis-LA(AHL)
Nathan Dempsey-FLA
david hale-CHIC (AHL)
Jarkko Ruutu-Van
Andrei Medvedev-CAR(AHL)
Josh Langfeld-DAL
Brett McLean-Ott
Darius Kasparaitis-NJ
Ivan Ciernek-PHX
brian holzinger-boston
