The Jets' Thomas Milic Has Something Pretty Big to Play For

Thomas Milic got the start against Edmonton on Saturday. He gave up four goals in a 5-2 loss to the Oilers. Normally that would be one of those preseason things we look at for about five minutes and then move on. This one is a little different. Milic has something pretty significant to play for.

The Winnipeg Jets suddenly have a very different goaltending situation. Connor Hellebuyck has asked to be traded, didn't report to training camp and has been suspended by the team. He hasn't been traded yet, and Winnipeg says it is still working through the situation.

For now, Stuart Skinner is expected to be the No. 1 option in the Jets’ crease.

With Hellebuyck suspended, that leaves an opening behind Stuart Skinner. Milic would love to grab it. The 23-year-old had a pretty solid season with the Manitoba Moose last year, going 20-13-6 with a 2.64 goals-against average and a .905 save percentage in 41 games. Those aren't numbers that guarantee an NHL job, but they're certainly good enough to get a young goalie into the conversation.

And that's really where Milic is right now. He's not being asked to replace Hellebuyck. That's an entirely different conversation. They're asking him to show the Jets they can trust him. That's a much more manageable job.

The interesting thing about a backup goalie is that you don't necessarily know how valuable he is until you need him. The starter can play 60 games, handle most of the workload, and make everybody feel comfortable. Then one night he gets hurt, gets sick or simply needs a night off.

With the Jets this season, the backup goalie will matter.

Milic has spent enough time in the AHL to know what it means to play regularly. Now he gets a chance to show Winnipeg that he can handle the other part of the job — sitting for a while and then being ready when the call comes.

Other goalies are in the Jets' camp, too. Domenic DiVincentiis is another young goalie who had AHL experience last season, so this isn't Milic's job simply because Hellebuyck isn't around. He's going to have to earn it. But that's what makes this interesting.

A year ago, there wasn't much room for a young Winnipeg goalie to dream about an NHL job with Hellebuyck in front of him. Now there is. Maybe Milic takes advantage of it. Sometimes opportunity doesn't knock very loudly.

Sometimes it just gives you the start on a Saturday night and tells you to see what you can do.