Dawson Mercer and goaltender Nico Daws have touched down in Winnipeg, and the Jets need whatever these two can give them right away.
The arrival photo says plenty. Both newcomers stepped off the plane smiling, stopping to pose before heading off to meet their new teammates.
They're part of the return in the Connor Hellebuyck blockbuster. And they're walking into a room that hasn't won in four games.
Sunday's home date with Montreal is the first test. Florida visits two nights later.
Mercer, 24, arrives without a goal through 10 games this season. That's not the kind of number that turns a skid around.
All four of his assists came over his last five games, though. One of them came shorthanded.
His $4,000,000 cap hit is manageable. Kevin Cheveldayoff gets a young forward on a reasonable number, which matters for a team suddenly rebuilding its crease.
Nico Daws steps into a Jets crease without Hellebuyck
Daws is the more intriguing piece. The 25-year-old netminder has 59 NHL games under his belt.
His .874 save percentage in four appearances this season won't calm anybody down in Manitoba.
Stuart Skinner has been the steadier option with a .912 mark. Clay Stevenson sits at .893.
Replacing Hellebuyck with this group is like trading in a luxury SUV for a used sedan and a couple of bus passes. You'll still get there, just not the same way.
Up front, the Jets need scoring help badly. Kyle Connor has nine of the team's 26 goals.
Injuries make the timing tighter. Josh Morrissey is out until at least November 1, and Vladislav Namestnikov until at least October 30.
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Nino Niederreiter is day-to-day with an upper-body injury. That could open a spot for Mercer right away.
This return doesn't come close to replacing a three-time Vezina winner, and nobody in Winnipeg should pretend otherwise.
Scott Arniel needs Mercer to start finishing and Daws to steal a game or two. A smile at the airport is nice, but a win Sunday would mean a lot more.
Did the Jets get enough for Connor Hellebuyck with Dawson Mercer and Nico Daws leading the return?
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