• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
Winnipeg Jets

Nic Petan: Jets’ Outside Man Once Again

By Declan Schroeder December 8th, 2018

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp


For what seems like the millionth time, Nic Petan is on the outside looking in with the Winnipeg Jets. Petan has been a victim of the organization’s depth and long list of prospects in years past, and has been just that once again this season.

Petan Buried by Forward Depth in Years Past

The 23-year-old has struggled to make his mark in the NHL and been buried by the Jets’ myriad of top-six options since being selected 43rd overall in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. In 106 career games, the Delta, B.C. product has tallied 5 goals and 17 assists for 22 points, mostly in bottom-line checking roles.

Nic Petan Winnipeg Jets

Nic Petan has often been on the outside looking in for the Jets. (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

He suited up for 52 games with Manitoba Moose and 15 for the Jets in 2018, down from 54 in 2016-17. Last year especially, the Jets’ undeniable riches up front — with players such as Mark Schiefele, Blake Wheeler, Patrik Laine, Kyle Connor, Bryan Little, Paul Stastny, and Joel Armia at their disposal — quashed any chance Petan had of logging any meaningful minutes. It led The Hockey Writers’ own Rob Mahon to question whether Petan’s time had simply run out in Winnipeg.

Petan has undeniable levels of creativity. The undersized forward put his crafty puck-moving skills, penchant for power play production, and good vision on display in the AHL last year, and was a key contributor to the Moose squad’s 42-26-0-8 record.  His 15 goals and 37 assists represented both a point per game clip and a career high.

Michael Spacek. Clutch.
The @ManitobaMoose take down the reigning #CalderCup champs in Game 1! #GRvsMB pic.twitter.com/hv3ikVKMR1

— AHL (@TheAHL) April 21, 2018

As the Jets’ offseason rolled around and Stastny and Armia, Matt Hendricks, and Shawn Matthias all departed, it presented Petan with a renewed chance at success with the Jets.

Petan Keeps Getting Vaulted By Others

However, the trend of other Jets prospects leaping over Petan for steady gigs has continued into this season. He’s played 11 games and has been a healthy scratch for the Jets’ past four.

In 2017-18, it was Kyle Connor, who began his season with the Moose, but quickly became one of the Jets’ most dynamic and dangerous players, producing 31 goals and 26 assists on a terrific line with Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler.

Related: Kyle Connor Set For Sustained Success With Winnipeg Jets

Also in 2017-18, it was Jack Roslovic, who made the most of his post-Christmas recall and evolved into a confident player, who’s hard shot, good hands, and foot speed benefitted the Jets down the stretch last year and have made him a full-timer this year (though he hasn’t gotten enough ice time to truly shine yet, again, caused by the shortage of top-six minutes).

Winnipeg Jets Bryan Little Jack Roslovic

Jack Roslovic (right) is one of many players who have advanced at Petan’s expense. (Dennis Schneidler-USA TODAY Sports)

This year, one player keeping Petan in the press box is Brendan Lemieux. The sandpaper forward, a totally unique commodity in the Jets’ organization as someone who can hit, grind, and agitate while still chipping in offensively, has played 14 games to Petan’s 11. Lemieux offense hasn’t materialized yet, with just one garbage goal thus far, but the fact he’s a natural left winger is keeping him in the lineup.

The fact Lemieux is drawing in over Petan despite Lemieux’s penchant for playing an undisciplined, wild-man style — he was suspended after delivering a head shot to Vincent Trocheck in the second of the 2018 NHL Global Series games against the Florida Panthers in Helsinki last month — shows the Jets’ brass feels dressing Lemieux gives them a better chance to win than dressing Petan.

Lemieux Spurgeon Dubnyk

Brendan Lemieux, despite not generating much offence thus far and continuing to have issues with discipline, is drawing in over Petan. (James Carey Lauder-USA TODAY Sports)

More recently, Mason Appleton has taken a bite out of Petan’s chances. The reigning AHL Rookie of the Year demolished all expectations last year, leading the Moose with 66 points. Appleton was called up in late November and has looked very comfortable so far, receiving more responsibility with each passing game. The 2016 sixth-round pick has found chemistry with Roslovic, his old Moose bosom buddy.

He accumulated plenty of points for Manitoba last season with Roslovic, a defensively responsible, intelligent puck-distributor patrolling the middle of the ice. The reunion with the big club over the weekend — with feisty veteran winger Mathieu Perreault also aboard — was a productive one, with promise of even better days ahead,” the Winnipeg Free Press’ Jason Bell wrote recently (from ‘Rolsovic, Moose buddy Appleton bring buzz to fourth line with Perreault,’ Winnipeg Free Press, 12/3/2018.)

Congratulations to Mason Appleton who made his #NHL debut with the @NHLJets over the weekend collecting his first NHL point with an assist! Appleton had appeared in 95 @TheAHL games with the @ManitobaMoose collecting 84 points over that span! Congrats Mason! #GoJetsGo pic.twitter.com/YEBeKiy9Nj

— PHPA (@thephpa) December 3, 2018

Appleton is a dogged player and a strong puck handler who possesses offensive instincts and a maturity beyond his years. He drew into his fourth straight game on Friday, and his strong play makes it tough to justify taking him out in favour of Petan.

Jets Should Part Ways With Petan

Petan is on a one-year contract and the trend of others surpassing him looks likely to continue into the future. One player likely to do so is Kristian Vesalainen — the 19-year-old began the year with the Jets and played six games before being sent down to the Moose.

Kristian Vesalainen Winnipeg Jets

Highly-touted prospect Kristian Vesalainen is just one of many promising player in the Jets’ pipeline. (Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports)

In mid-November, he activated a clause in his contract that allowed him to return to Europe and is currently with Jokerit of the KHL. The first-round pick will return to North America next year, a year older but still with three years left on his entry-level contract. The big-bodied Finn is undoubtedly one of the Jets’ top prospects and another player whose stock is rising.

Meanwhile, Petan’s stock diminishes with every game that he’s not on the ice and with every year he fails to make his mark in the NHL. The logical thing for the Jets to do is trade him while he still has some value.

Nic Petan Winnipeg Jets

With Petan unlikely to ever find a full-time role with the Jets, they should explore trading him. (Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports)

In the summer, we explored some possible trade partners the Jets could target. While those team’s landscapes and needs have all changed since then, the two most likely to desire Petan’s services would be the Los Angeles Kings and Dallas Stars, as they could both use an injection of youth and more depth up the middle.

The Jets likely won’t get much in return — possibly only a mid-round pick — but getting even a pick would be better than placing Petan on waivers or letting him walk at the end of the season and getting nothing.

Petan is not without upside and could find steady work on a team with fewer prospects waiting in the wings and more space up front to give him meaningful minutes. Despite having his chances at permanently cracking the Jets’ lineup briefly revived a number of times, it appears as though his chance of ever being a regular in Winnipeg has finally flatlined for good.

  • Tags
  • Nic Petan
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 17th 6:35 PM
Columbus Blue Jackets

Blue Jackets Hope Early Start Leads to Bounce Back

Jan 17th 5:50 PM
New York Islanders

Islanders Loss Can’t Be Pinned on Sorokin Entirely

Jan 17th 5:15 PM
Detroit Red Wings

Red Wings: Zadina’s Start Sparks the Imagination

Jan 17th 5:05 PM
Archives

Jacques Plante: The Man in the Fiberglass Mask

Jan 17th 4:25 PM
Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs Make Tough Decision in Waiving Spezza and Dell

Jan 17th 4:05 PM
Toronto Maple Leafs

Joe Thornton’s First Maple Leafs’ Goal: Just a Little Trickery Out There

Jan 17th 3:55 PM
St Louis Blues

Blues’ Winter 2021 Prospect Pyramid

Jan 17th 3:40 PM
Column

Senators News & Rumours: White, Batherson, Stützle & More

Jan 17th 3:30 PM
Boston Bruins

First-Year Islanders Shocked Big, Bad Bruins 48 Years Ago

Jan 17th 2:55 PM
Detroit Red Wings

NHL Rumors: Maple Leafs, Oilers, Canadiens, Flyers, Red Wings, More

Editor’s Picks
World Junior Championship All-Time Leading Scorers

World Junior Championship All-Time Leading Scorers

2021 Guide To the World Junior Championship

2021 Guide To the World Junior Championship

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information