Winnipeg Jets

Lowry vs Perreault: expansion draft edition.
March 27, 2017, 12:22 PM ET [8 Comments]
Peter Tessier
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Lowry vs Perreault: expansion draft edition.


It appears that the Jets fan base is in a state of conflict over two players when it comes to their value and how it relates to the future and the upcoming expansion draft. Both players are popular and fans see both value or cost depending on what the side of the fence they may sit. In some ways given their physical statures this has become a David vs Goliath debate.

Perreault has come on quite well the last quarter of the season with 21 point in 20 games. He’s been playing top line minutes with top line talent and the production has been noticed. Adam Lowry has also been trending up a bit 10 points in the same 20 game period but nowhere near to Perreault’s rate.

In his 76 games this year Lowry has eclipsed his rookie season goal with 14 (11) and matched his assists with 12 and has 26 points. Perreault now has 38 points in only 58 games and could tie his point totals from the previous two seasons at 41 by season’s end.

For some he is the straw that stirs the drink and for others he’s the guy who succeeds despite his injury history and pay cheque. Lowry also draw criticism and praise as a player who can’t produce well for the power play time he’s given and not playing to his size while being the best player for a team that has struggled for six seasons to field quality bottom six forwards.

Speak of Lowry and eventually the argument shifts to justifying him over Nic Petan or Marko Dano or even Andrew Copp. Ask this question; if the team had to keep one of those three who do you keep?

That’s the funny thing about the upcoming expansion draft, the choice isn’t about Lowry or Perreault. It’s about either of the players vs who the Jets really want the Golden Knights to take.

As the debate/discussion rages in the blogs and social media there’s a question being overlooked: why can’t the Jets have both players? That’s an entirely different question than which player is better to keep? It’s also different than which player is better to keep?

All of these questions end up in the discussion pool regarding Lowry vs Perreault but that’s what the expansion draft has done to fans. It’s made them compare players that have no business being compared because of the idea that protecting or exposing them means they are comparable.

Lowry and Perreault are not the same player and it should not even be a discussion.

The key issue that seems to be creating a debate around these two players is ‘usage’. Player usage is not necessarily an indication of their value, at least as it relates to the expansion draft, the variable that is driving this discussion. In fact player usage is a tactic employed by coaches and perhaps that is what is driving the confusions between these two players.

If it were a true measure of value then look at Perreault’s usage and he’s a clear choice over Lowry. Case closed. Period. Dot. The end.

However, Lowry has value but not as a top six forward. That’s where the real discussion needs to happen, other than the next four year’s of Perreault’s contract, what reason is there to protect a bottom six forward over a top six forward?

Remember the Jets extended Perreault knowing that they would face this hurdle with protection. They also knew it with Lowry too but I don’t think it matters to them as there are options. What we do know is that there could and should be a 72 hour window of chaos before the expansion draft takes place as George McPhee and his team review their options.

Teams may offer trades for other teams respectively unprotected players and they may also offer trades to not pick one of their own players. Basically, there’s deal to be made and had. As it relates to Lowry and Perreault would it be easier to replace Lowry or Perreault?

The answer to that question should be obvious too all. Teams strive to find deals like Perreault’s for that production and affect on play. The Jets fan base is a bit enamoured with Lowry because there may still be some upside to his numbers. But what if there isn’t? If Lowry takes the same pay scale as Perreault in his next deal would fans comfortable paying 2.5 million for his output if used in bottom six?

Again, there is no real reason to choose one over the other because they are not in the same category. Go back to the earlier idea above of keeping both players. It can be done and might be something Jets management considers. However, they should only consider it based on what Lowry is for this team and likely most other teams and that is a bottom six forward. He’s a player who is a solid depth talent to shore up the bottom lines.

These are supposed to be the players that are easier to find and cheaper to sign. The problem is the Jets have done such a poor job in six seasons filling those lines that once they get a player who fits that role fans, and maybe the coach, have confused Lowry for something he’s not. Oh, there’s that ‘usage’ issue again.

This is why there’s debate because there’s too many issues confusing the real one. They aren’t the same type of player and the expansion draft variable should not be something that makes anyone compare them.