Where do tiny markets usually find their magic? Most years, they find themselves in the lottery for the top pick of the NHL Draft, and it takes some sly research to get the right choices.
Ever since the Winnipeg Jets were re-established in 2011, they have been no strangers to striking gold. Mark Scheifele, who was arguably the hero of the team’s lengthy playoff run in 2018, was Winnipeg 2.0’s first ever draft pick at seventh overall. Since then, they have drafted Adam Lowry (third round, 2011), Jacob Trouba (ninth overall, 2012), Connor Hellebuyck (fifth round, 2012), Josh Morrissey (13th overall, 2013), Andrew Copp (fourth round, 2013), Nikolaj Ehlers (ninth overall, 2014), Kyle Conner (17th overall, 2015), Jack Roslovic (25th overall, 2015), and Patrik Laine (second overall, 2016). Including several productive veterans (Blake Wheeler, Dustin Byfuglien, and Paul Stastny), the Jets have put together one of the most fearsome teams in the league and won their first two playoff series in franchise history.
That, however, was not enough to slow down the Vegas Golden Knights, who will represent the Western Conference in the Stanley Cup Finals in their inaugural season (Still trying to figure out how that happened). One dream season was bigger than another one, and the Jets will have to wait at least one more season to put their ghosts from Atlanta away for good.
Having said that, they do not have the luxury of a first round pick, and it would have been in the late 20’s even if they did not send it to St. Louis for Stastny. So how do the Jets take that final step to the Stanley Cup Finals?
Re-sign Paul Stastny
Kevin Cheveldayoff took a critical risk at the trade deadline when he shipped a first-round pick to St. Louis for veteran center Stastny. While the playoffs seemed realistic at the time of the trade, getting out of the first round was not. Nashville got so hot after the deadline that they stole the Presidents Trophy from Tampa Bay and Boston, and Winnipeg found itself in a border battle with the veteran-filled Minnesota Wild. As it turns out, the Jets had no problems disposing a team that has suddenly become snake-bitten in the playoffs, but their luck went even further when they shocked the Preds in seven games and locked up the series on road ice.
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That first-round pick now looks a lot less valuable for the Blues, and the Jets look really smart after Stastny’s performance in the playoffs. He finished fourth on the team in points (15), and 10 were in the thrilling series with Nashville. The only downside was that he had just one assist in the Western Conference Finals and was shut out in the four losses.
Still, the Jets are still flooded with young talent, and it would not hurt to have another veteran presence on the front lines with Wheeler. At 32, Stastny has continued to produce at solid levels, and this season was best output since 2013-2014, his final year with the Colorado Avalanche. As the only piece that the Jets picked up in the trade, Stastny should be a critical part of getting the team back into Stanley Cup contention.
Clean up the goaltending tandem
This seems silly because Connor Hellebuyck was likely the second-best breakout goaltender in the NHL (behind Andrei Vasilevskiy). The Michigan native had been one of the most underrated prospects back in 2015 (what else is new?), but he vanquished all of the issues that Winnipeg had in the crease over the past couple of years. He finished with a GAA of 2.36 in both the regular season and the postseason, and he looked unstoppable against Minnesota and Nashville in April and May.
Clik here to view.
The question lies in the backup. Even though he started Opening Night, Steve Mason struggled mightily in October, and injuries prevented him from being useful for the rest of the season.
He still has one more year left before becoming an unrestricted free agent, so the Jets may have to keep him as the backup to Hellebuyck in October. If he cannot be serviceable, however, Kevin Cheveldayoff cannot be afraid to pull the plug on him. Winnipeg is expecting a Stanley Cup in the near future, and Mason’s inconsistencies should not be tolerated moving forward.
That might open the door for Eric Comrie, who was Winnipeg’s second round pick in 2013 and won the gold medal with Canada in the 2015 IIHF World U20 Championship. After making his NHL debut in April 2016, he picked up his lone win of this season in an overtime victory over Los Angeles on March 20 by making 16 saves on 17 shots.
Stay focused
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Remember when the Edmonton Oilers were supposed to be Stanley Cup contenders this year? They did not come close. This year’s Oilers team is what the Jets need to avoid at all costs. The last thing they want to do to waste what was an incredible year.
Granted, this is not a team relying on one megastar to carry the team, as Laine is far from the only proven threat on either end of the ice.
This offseason will focus on keeping their restricted free agents. Stastny is the only unrestricted free agent who looks to be a must-sign, and Morrissey, Hellebuyck and Trouba, all of whom are RFA’s, were key in solving the team’s defensive struggles. Add on RFA wingers Lowry and Joel Armia, who plugged up the depth lines quite nicely, and the Jets are in position to keep most of their playoff roster for October.
In just two years, Winnipeg went from lottery reliant to Stanley Cup contenders. Another big year should seal the team’s place in the NHL’s elite for the years to come.
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