The MTS Centre is the smallest venue in the NHL with a seating capacity of 15,015. (Tucker Photography, Calgary, Alberta)

The Defensive Defenseman

The Winnipeg Jets are returning home and licking their wounds after dropping the first two games of the best of seven series versus the Anaheim Ducks. Fingers are being pointed and critics are weighing in on the factors that led the Jets to back to back losses in California. For once the blame isn’t being thrown on Pavelec but the recent struggles of some of the Jets’ top guns, has opened up the door for contributions from more depth players. Enter Adam Pardy.

The Winnipeg Jets signed Adam Pardy on July 6th, 2013 after he split the previous eight seasons with the Calgary Flames, Dallas Stars and Buffalo Sabres’ organizations. The hulking defenseman from Newfoundland, who stands at 6’4, 220 pounds was originally drafted by the Flames in the sixth round, 173rd overall in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. He was signed as a top six defenseman who brought size and depth to the Jets’ backend. He did just that in 2013-2014, racking up six assists in 60 games to go along with three fighting majors and a +/- rating of plus 4.

The 2014-2015 season has been nothing short of chaotic for the Winnipeg Jets’ backend. Between trades, injuries and Byfuglien being used as a forward, the defense core has been a revolving door. Throughout the entire season, Pardy has remained steady dressing in 55 games and putting up 9 assists while improving to a plus 9. As playoffs grew closer and other defensemen became healthy, Pardy found himself on the outside looking in. Pardy and fellow healthy scratch, Jay Harrison, could do nothing but watch as their team dropped the first game in Anaheim, 4-2.

Statement Maker

Heading into last night’s contest, Maurice decided to shake things up and give Pardy, a veteran of six NHL playoff games, the nod. The result was Pardy scoring his first goal since January 26th, 2011. He would go on to set up Lee Stempniak with a gorgeous feed which was diffused by Ducks’ defenseman, Clayton Stoner. For many Jets’ fans, Adam Pardy would have been the last player they guessed would score in the playoffs. With that being said, not everyone shares the same view of Pardy being strictly a meat and potatoes type of defenseman.

More Than Meets The Eye

Bob Janosz is the goalie coach for the Rochester Americans of the AHL and also owns Janosz School of Goaltending. He has coached the likes of Craig Anderson, Jacob Markstrom and Drew MacIntyre. Coach Janosz was in Rochester the year before the Jets signed Pardy, when the pride of Bonavista, Newfoundland was playing with the Americans. Janosz describes a different Pardy than what most Winnipeggers are used to, speaking to the offensive role he filled with Rochester, scoring nine points in 21 games during the 2012-2013 campaign. “He probably played a little more of an offensive role when he was at the AHL level compared to when he’s up in the NHL”, explains Bob, “He also moved the puck well and joined in the offense without being a liability defensively”. Sounds more like the player who toe dragged Anaheim’s Kyle Palmieri before pulling off a beautiful wrap around to beat Frederik Andersen.

Nobody can predict the fate of the Jets in their first ever playoff appearance since relocating from Atlanta. However, as much as the playoffs are about winning the Stanley Cup- it also offers players a final chance to showcase their skills before the end of the year. With Pardy’s contract expiring after this year and a boatload of defensemen waiting in the weeds, I believe he is doing just that.