from Ken Wiebe of Sportsnet,
Although the full story on why things didn’t work out in the Motor City might need a bit more time to uncover, slowly but surely Svechnikov is inching his way toward a two-way NHL contract — and quite possibly a spot in the opening-day lineup on Oct. 13 when the Jets open a three-game road trip against the Anaheim Ducks.
No, his spot is still not assured but after the Jets are expected to announce a number of cuts and get down to more manageable numbers leading into the final two exhibition games, Svechnikov remains very much in the mix.
Where exactly he fits in remains unclear but it’s apparent that Svechnikov has caught the attention of Jets head coach Paul Maurice.
“I’ve moved him around and moved him up. I’ve liked his camp,” Maurice said. “He doesn’t mind going to the net. He’s got some hands on him and he makes some good plays and I think he understands the game. How he fits with other people will be a really important thing for him going forward but he’s had a good camp. He’s done what he could do.”
Maurice isn’t about to hand out a spot to a bubble player with more than a week before the season opens, but to this point, it’s hard to imagine Svechnikov not being right in the thick of things to win one of the battles for the four available spots up front.
And if he continues his progression, it’s easy to envision Svechnikov pushing his way into a bigger role with the benefit of some additional time to feel comfortable.
He’s been able to flash some offensive gifts, both in terms of finish and passing ability. His compete level is high and he’s been able to process the new system he’s becoming more familiar with.
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