The Winnipeg Jets are flying high and first class. They have propelled themselves to a 14-8-2 start this season and it seems like they are a legit contending team, after a weird season last year. They are currently sitting 3rd in the Central and have had great contributions all throughout their lineup so far. They are buying into Rick Bonus’ system and firing on all cylinders. They have a strong leadership core, after Blake Wheeler had his ‘C’ removed and then left in the off season to the New York Rangers. Even more recently, Kevin Cheveldayoff re-signed Nino Niederreiter to a 3-year, $12 million dollar contract extension (with an AAV of $4 million) to keep the winger. This comes after signing both Mark Schiefele and Connor Hellebuyuk over the summer, after lots of rumours swirled that both wanted out, and that no one big wanted to stay or play in Winnipeg, and that they would have had to rebuild or re-tool. There was some uncertainty in the market and it didn’t instil a lot of confidence.
But they avoided that debacle, and kept all the key pieces, and are now playing very well. What is of importance about all 3 of these signings, is that it shows not only the city, but the team that great players DO want to play in Winnipeg and want to play there long term. I personally have to state that I enjoyed my time there when I visited the city and went to an afternoon game at the Canada Life Centre vs. the Chicago Blackhawks. Although it was really cold (as it was November 2022), it was still a fun and vibrant atmosphere. This team is fun and continues to be competitive. They have some underrated talent on that team playing well, and play cohesively as a group. There isn’t one mega superstar on that team like a McDavid, Matthews or a Makar (but if you talk to die-hard Jets fans, there are some real gems).
For one, you have Mark Scheifele, the team’s current MVP. Scheifele, 30, who plays top line centre, currently has 8 goals and 19 assists in 24 games, after signing that extension. He is defensively sound and is averaging around 21:02 minutes of ice time each game, being very effective and going up against some of the best defenders in the game. He is an excellent 200 foot player who makes an impact each shift. The other is Kyle Connor, who I personally believe is one of the most underrated goal scorers in the game. Not only has he had 5 seasons with 30+ goals, but he is on pace to do it again this season, as he sits at 15 goals and 11 assists in just 24 games. He can put the puck in the net in all sorts of ways (wrister, slap shot, tap in) and has great chemistry with Scheifele, who sets up a lot of the play. Along with Nikolaj Ehlers, this is a solid top line to have. The other is Adam Lowry, who was named captain this off-season and even though he only centres the 3rd line, he brings grit, physicality, and passion to the team. He battles and he brings it each game and has been a great leader and mentor for the young guns like Cole Perfetti. He has been a strong captain.
The other reason for Winnipeg’s success is goaltending and as all fans of the NHL know, Connor Hellebuyck is an elite goaltender. In 18 games this season, he is 11-6-1 with a .912 SV% and a 2.49 goals against. He is playing very well after having a Vezina nominee season last year, and has helped the Jets stay strong. But it also helps that his backup 1B partner Laurent Brossoit has come in (after winning the Stanley Cup with Vegas last season) and helped take on the workload (playing 6 games with a.903 SV% and 2.65 goals). Everything you expect from a backup. It would be interesting to see if Bonus let’s Brossoit play a bit more moving forward as it can ease Hellebuyck and let him be ready for the postseason. But let’s not forget that they have a steady blueline with Josh Morrisey, Dylan DeMelo, Brenden Dillon & Neal Pionk in their top 4, which is pretty solid. They have been able to be effective on the ice especially against the big guns of any opposing team.
But like with any team, there are still some challenges, and Winnipeg is no different. Currently, their power play is 19th in the league, at 19%, while their penalty kill is tied for 21st in the league at 75% kill, which isn’t great. Both special teams need to be worked on in order to improve those numbers to be around top 10 to 12 so that they can be considered a true contender and go on a deep run, otherwise this may hurt them later on in the season. This isn’t a big problem, but it is something Bonus and his coaching staff will have to work on improving, unless management decides to bring a player in to boost those stats (powerplay or penalty kill specialist).
The other elephant in the room surrounding the Jets are the limited ticket sales this season, and some of the empty seats seen on tv. Thus far in the 2023/2024 season, they have the lowest attendance of any of the Canadian hockey markets (which is insane to think given how fanatic Canadian fans are about hockey). Although this was (and may still be) a concern for some (fans and management), there is no reason to panic immediately. According to Manitoba’s Chambers of Commerce president and chief executive officer Chuck Davidson, he personally doesn’t believe there is a need to hit the panic button. He notes in his interview that the reason for the low attendance is the “ongoing financial effects of the pandemic on individuals and businesses, as well as pressures due to inflation”. There are many challenges within the economy and a lot of fans (or Winnipeg residents) are feeling it and it has affected a lot of businesses. But when you have a solid and winning team who can give you a great A+ effort each night, then fans will want to come. There are certainly things that the Winnipeg Jets organization can do, but they need to reassess, connect with the community, build rapport, offer promotions and get fans excited again. It is important to note that Canada Life Centre has the second smallest rink in the league, (with the Arizona Coyotes’ temporary home of Mullett Arena being only 5,000).
But this starts by first putting a winning product on the ice, and when you win big, you will succeed. The Jet’s organizaiton is very involved with a lot of community initiatives such as Winnipeg Aboriginal Sport Achievement Centre (WASAC) and with True North Youth Foundation (TNYF), among other things. They are doing a lot of things right, and we only hope to see that continue. Certainly this is a big challenge, but I personally think the Jets are capable of the challenge and can improve things, especially if they make the postseason.
But what do you think? Will Winnipeg make the playoffs, and can they even finish first in the Central, beating out Colorado or Dallas? Is there anyone fans believe Kevin Cheveldayoff should bring in (as we all know he likes players with term). Would that be a forward or a defenceman, as goaltending there is solidified? Who’s your current reigning MVP? Let us know your thoughts. And remember to tune in each week to get all the latest news in the world of hockey.
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- Pawel ‘The Cat’