In June 2011, eight days after the Winnipeg Jets completed the transfer of the Atlanta Thrashers to the Manitoba capital, Kevin Cheveldayoff was hired as the Jets first, and so far only, general manager. Cheveldayoff had a history with both owner Mark Chipman, dating back to their days competing against each other in the AHL, and with Jets’ assistant GM Craig Heisinger, going all the way back to Cheveldayoff’s junior playing days as a hard rock defenceman for the Brandon Wheat Kings. A former New York Islanders’ draft pick – 16th overall in 1988 – Cheveldayoff’s professional career ended because of a knee injury in the 1993-94 season.



The Jets have adopted a draft-and-develop philosophy under the Chipman-Cheveldayoff-Paul Maurice triumvirate, which often involves absorbing short-term pain to produce long-term gain. The Jets have been competitive in their first five years in Winnipeg – a 176-156-44 record under Cheveldayoff – but...