21-year-old Winnipeg Jets’ right winger Pat Elynuik is gambling on himself.
The following THN Archive story by Grant McGinnis takes a thorough look at second-year Winnipeg Jets player Pat Elynuik from the 1989 season.
(You can read all of THN’s new Archive by subscribing to the magazine.)
Gambler Elynuik Rolling Sevens
October 27, 1989 – Vol. 43, Issue 06
By Grant McGinnis
"Pat Elynuik has decided to roll the dice.
The 21-year-old Winnipeg Jets’ right winger is gambling on himself. After scoring 26 goals in 56 games as an NHL rookie lasts eason, Elynuik figures he’d rather place a wager on his own performance than sign the contract Winnipeg Jets’ general manager Mike Smith has offered him.
As a result, he’ll play out his option this winter in search of bigger and better things next summer.
“I think this year we had good, constructive talks on the contract,” said the native of Foam Lake, Sask. “I think both sides agreed that I had to prove myself a little bit longer and we’ll see what happens this year.
“I sat back and thought about it in the summer. No matter which way you look at it, for it to work out I have to have a good year and the team has to do well. It’s a gamble but I’m willing to take that gamble.”
Smith knows Elynuik could reap huge rewards from a big season. Elynuik knows he’s capable of such play. And both sides agree he’s taking a risk.
“He’s in a situation where he’s only played part of one year in the NHL,” said Smith, who managed to get all his players who were entering their option years to sign new deals except Elynuik and Fredrik Olausson. “We were talking about a contract that would move him to the next level.
“Now, by electing to play out his option, it could be much higher. The risk for a young player playing out his option is you could get hurt and you don’t have much previous experience to fall back on. But he understands the risks completely.”
If the season’s first five games are any indication, Elynuik’s wager may pay off in a big way. The 6-foot, 195-pounder was leading the Jets in scoring.
Through five starts, he had four goals and four assists and had a rating of plus-3. He recorded at least a point in every game.
“Offensively, he’s been very good,” said Winnipeg coach Bob Murdoch. “He can improve in his intensity in getting loose pucks but offensively he’s been good.
“I like him.”
“Yeah, I’m pretty happy with the first five games but I think I can play a little better,” said Elynuik. “There are some things I’ve got to improve on as a winger but, hopefully, it’ll come for the rest of the season.""