Jets season preview: is a return to contender status on horizon?

WINNIPEG — The window to win was supposed to be wide open.

Just over two seasons removed from a trip to the Western Conference Finals, the Winnipeg Jets have endured some bumps in the road since that time, but believe they’re ready to regroup and take a run in the North Division.

After consecutive early exits from the post-season, the Jets are counting on a Vezina-winning goalie, a highly skilled forward group and some stability and internal growth on the back end — after a drastic overhaul prior to the 2019-20 season — to help push them back to where they would like to go.

2019-20 regular season record: 37-28-6, 80 points

2019-20 season finish: 20th overall in points percentage, fifth in Central Division, lost in four games in qualifying round to Calgary Flames

Top 2020 draft pick: C Cole Perfetti, Saginaw Spirit, OHL, 10th overall

Additions: C Paul Stastny (Vegas Golden Knights), D Derek Forbort (Calgary Flames/Los Angeles Kings), C Nate Thompson (Philadelphia Flyers/Montreal Canadiens), RW Trevor Lewis (Los Angeles Kings)* on a pro tryout offer but a good bet to make the team.

Subtractions: C Cody Eakin (Buffalo Sabres), D Dmitri Kulikov (New Jersey Devils), D Carl Dahlstrom (Vegas Golden Knights), D Anthony Bitetto (to New York Rangers), C Nick Shore (to Europe), LW Gabriel Bourque (free agent), RW Logan Shaw (Ottawa Senators), C Mark Letestu (retired).

Outlook

The Jets are viewed by many observers as a wild card among the Group of Seven, a team that could finish anywhere between second and sixth.

During a compressed schedule, goaltending becomes even more important than usual and the Jets happen to have the best goalie in the NHL in Connor Hellebuyck, so that’s an obvious plus.

Having a capable backup is also essential, even for a team that has a bona fide starter who prefers to play the bulk of the games.

Laurent Brossoit was excellent during the 2018-19 campaign before suffering a groin injury, but his play dipped last season, so the onus is on him to return to form.

Average goaltending from the Jets tandem won’t be enough, they need to perform at an above-average to elite level in order to be a playoff team — especially with only four spots available.

The Jets gave up far too many high-danger scoring chances last season and the focus for this group will be to buckle down defensively.

Even with a full commitment, that’s going to be a process, not a simple overnight fix.

“I understand what we have. What our defensive challenges are,” said Jets head coach Paul Maurice, who is back for a seventh full season behind the bench. “The defensive one is going to be a season-long improvement. We gave up clearly way too many high-end chances, but our compete level was really, really good. So we’ve got to make some adjustments with that. We’re going to work real hard to get marginal returns defensively, but we’re going to do that. I think there’s lots of room offensively that we can grow — it’s just with a smaller amount of adjustments.”

The Jets have the potential to be a high-octane offensive group with one of the most dangerous top-six forward sets in the NHL, let alone the division after the addition of Paul Stastny.

“(Stastny) is cut from a different cloth, more of an old-school mould,” said Jets captain Blake Wheeler. “The way he plays the game, mentally he’s a step ahead of everyone else out there. He’s incredibly reliable on faceoffs and he’s the type of centre that makes the people around him better. You can put any players on a line with him and they’re going to flourish. He’s just a steady presence in the lineup.”

Top-line centre Mark Scheifele has been operating at a point-per-game level for the past four seasons, but has room to grow and will have every opportunity to take that next step as goes head to head with some of the best pivots in the NHL.

Kyle Connor is coming off three consecutive 30-goal campaigns, including a team-high 38 goals in 71 games.

Wheeler remains an elite passer and he’s notched 20 goals in seven consecutive seasons (and eight times in his career), while Nikolaj Ehlers and Patrik Laine have taken their respective games to another level but have not reached the ceiling yet.

Having Dylan DeMelo for a full season after retaining his services and bringing in Derek Forbort to add some size and stability should provide a boost for a defence corps that is led by Josh Morrissey and Neal Pionk.

“There’s no secret there’s some serious star power in this division. Even if you just look through the centre of the ice, there’s a lot of good players on every team,” said DeMelo. “It’s going to be our job to eliminate chances, get the puck out of our zone as quick as possible, get it to the forwards.

“Just working as a unit. Coaches have been harping on eliminating chances right in that house area, in the slot. Hopefully, we can do that. That’s going to be a big part in helping our goalies out, too. They faced a lot of pucks last year, and we can do a good job, not just the D, everybody on the ice. It’s going to be a five-man unit. Everybody needs to realize who we’re out against at certain times, and just play smart.”

If the defence corps doesn’t hold up, Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff will be tasked either with making a move to bolster the back end or hoping one of the defence prospects like 2019 first-rounder Ville Heinola will force his way into the lineup.

Fans of the Jets should be cautiously optimistic going into a season that could be filled with surprises.

Given how things have gone during the past two seasons, it’s natural to have some skepticism.

However, if a few things fall into place, it wouldn’t be the least bit surprising to see the Jets force themselves into the playoff mix.

X-Factor: Patrik Laine

There are a number of players who fall into this category, but the storyline that dominated the off-season revolves around the future of Laine, so he gets the nod here.

Although it was awkward and occasionally uncomfortable for him at times as he addressed the trade speculation for the first time Monday, the Finnish sniper let it be known that he didn’t want to be a distraction and that he would be channelling his energy toward his pursuit of becoming a dominant player.

With one year left on his bridge deal, Laine (a pending restricted free agent that has arbitration rights) understands the best way to boost both his contract value or trade value is to deliver a breakout season.

After watching the strides he took last season, it would surprise no one if Laine worked his way back into the Rocket Richard Trophy discussion and produced at a point-per-game rate for the first time in his young career.

Player who could surprise: Mason Appleton

With RFA Jack Roslovic still unsigned, Appleton has the inside track to start the season on the third line with Adam Lowry and Andrew Copp.

Although best known for being dependable defensively, Lowry and Copp have excellent chemistry and have the ability to create plenty of chances while piling up offensive-zone time.

Two seasons ago, Brandon Tanev set career-highs with 14 goals and 29 points in 80 games while playing primarily alongside Lowry and Copp before cashing in as a free agent with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Appleton’s skill set features many of the qualities required to mesh with the third-line duo and he could be on the verge of his first double-digit goal season.

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