Brock Boeser Confirmed to Have Refused to Sign With One Specific Canadian Team

This has left the team with a hole to fill. While they signed Jonathan Toews to a bonus-filled one-year deal, he hasn't suited up in the league in over two years, and is far from a sure bet to be an impact player.

It has now been confirmed that the Winnipeg Jets tried to address this need in free agnecy, offering rich contracts to both Brock Boeser and Andrew Mangiapane.

Boeser, 28, opted to continue his career with the Vancouver Canucks, who drafted him 23rd overall in the 2015 NHL draft. He signed a seven-year $50.75 million deal with the Canucks early on July 1st, but not before the team took a reported 'big swing' to sign him.

Ken Wiebe, of the Winnipeg Free Press brought light to the Jets' bold attempts on the players:

'During the press conference, Cheveldayoff said that Ehlers informed the team he wasn't coming back on July 2, the day before he officially agreed to terms with the Carolina Hurricanes. That didn't prevent the Jets from taking a big swing on Day 1 at bringing in right-winger Brock Boeser, but he never really wanted to leave the Vancouver Canucks, so he stayed.

The Jets also made an offer to middle-six winger Andrew Mangiapane, but he took a bit less money for the opportunity to potentially ride shotgun with one of Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl. Mikael Granlund got a three-year deal with an AAV of $7 million and that was probably too steep a price for the Jets at this stage of his career, even with his versatility of being able to play centre or wing.'

This report equally confirms that, despite offering more money, Andrew Mangiapane was not interested in coming to the Jets, opting to join Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl in Edmonton on a two-year $7.2 million contract.

It isn't easy for Winnipeg to attract talent, but with their core of Connor Hellebuyck and Mark Scheifele getting older, and Kyle Connor being only a year away from unrestricted free agency, it's now or never for the Jets.