ANALYSIS: New Jets Shaw, Fleury set to strengthen Winnipeg’s depth

The archetypal play of the pre-season is present successful the rearview reflector for the Winnipeg Jets, and arsenic overmuch arsenic surprises person been minimal to this point, a fewer things were learned astir a mates of caller faces successful the mix.

Hands up, Jets Nation, if earlier grooming campy began past Thursday, you could person held your ain successful a trivia contention connected the pro careers of guardant Mason Shaw and defenceman Haydn Fleury.

Take Shaw, for example. The 25-year-old from Wainwright, Alta., endured 4 large genu surgeries during his six years with the Minnesota Wild. If Ville Heinola is successful request of a “big brother” who has been there, done that erstwhile it comes to battling done the latest setback for the young Finnish defenceman, there’s nary uncertainty Shaw tin beryllium that guy.

And portion Shaw committed the turnover that led to Minnesota’s 5th extremity connected Saturday night, helium besides blocked a changeable connected the PK, won immoderate cardinal antiaircraft portion faceoffs, and adjacent dropped the mitts.

As caput manager Scott Arniel said afterwards, the versatile guardant “played to his identity.”

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And past determination was Fleury. The Saskatchewan-born, Edmonton area-raised rearguard was not lone playing his archetypal crippled successful much than five-and-a-half months connected Saturday nighttime aft getting injured successful an accidental collision with referee Steve Kozari successful aboriginal April, but helium was besides suiting up conscionable aft the commencement of his 2nd lad earlier that aforesaid day.

The seasoned bluish liner was fixed the enactment of taking the play disconnected — but was having nary of it. And pursuing the latest misfortune for Heinola, the 28-year-old erstwhile No. 7 wide prime by Carolina is present precise overmuch successful the speech for a starting occupation successful the D rotation.

While neither of these Prairie boys figures to marque oregon interruption the fortunes of the Winnipeg Jets this season, some should beryllium much than susceptible of making contributions that fortify the depth, the character, and the civilization of the organization.