The National Hockey League (NHL) will start the 2022/2023 season on October 7th. After the Tampa Bay Lightning’s reign was broken by the Colorado Avalanche, the Denver Avalanche is the new prey! In the annual preview series Hockey-News.info a different team in focus every day.
After four consecutive playoff appearances, the Winnipeg Jets missed the postseason last season. The Canadians ended up in sixth place in a strong Central Division, which also ended up having both wildcards in the west. Injuries, an extremely weak penalty kill (75% and thus rank 29 in the NHL-wide comparison) and a certain unrest within the team were the reasons for the end of the playoff series. For General Manager Kevin Cheveldayoff there was a lot to do in the summer – above all, the team had to be calmed down again. The team from the Canadian province of Manitoba kept their feet still on the transfer market – with backup David Rittich, Kyle Capobianco, Saku Maenalanen and Sam Gagner they only provided depth – there were no real game changers. The Jets had two first-round picks in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, securing the rights to US scorers Rutger McGroarty and Brad Lambert. The latter is an extremely interesting personality: for a long time he was traded as a top prospect for the draft of 22, but last year he lost focus and delivered only ten points in 49 liiga games – too little for Lambert, who was hyped very early on. But the potential is definitely there, Lambert “just” has to rediscover his love for ice hockey. But there was one important change: Paul Maurice resigned as coach in December 2021, Dave Lowry succeeded him, but never really got the team under control. In the summer, the former starhead coach Rick Bowness committed – with a new system, Winnipeg should now go back to the playoffs.
| Winnipeg Jets Infobox | |
|---|---|
| Additions: | David Rittich, Kyle Capobianco, Saku Maenalanen, Sam Gagner |
| Departures: | Eric Comrie, Paul Stastny, Zach Sanford |
| 2022 1st Round Pick: | Rutger McGroarty (14) & Bad Lambert (30th) |
| Top 3 Prospects: | Chaz Lucius, Rutger McGroarty, Brad Lambert |
Mark Scheifele publicly criticized his team, but rowed back during the summer break – the waves are said to have calmed down again. It was also the Canadian center who was not one of the usual strong performers last year. Although he delivered 29 goals and 70 points, his -17 was the worst value in the entire team. Also Blake Wheeler didn’t really find the season defensively. The Jets captain scored 60 points, but -15 certainly reflects the problems. A real dream season Kyle Connor out, who now finally seized the scoring scepter of the Jets. 47 goals and 93 points – he improved his personal best by 20 (!) points. With a little more than seven million US dollars Cap Hit, it is really cheap in a league-wide comparison. By 2025/26, the US crack seems to have a place in the Jets’ top line. Wheeler and Scheifele will also appear in the first two lines of attack – whether together or separately will be decided by the coaching staff. In the last year, the station wagon often seemed “worn”. The Dane Nikolaj Ehlers has its place in the first two lines of attack as well as in the bag Pierre-Luc Dubois, who was the third-best Jets scorer with 60 points. However, the Canadian’s contract only runs until the end of the 2022/23 season and he still makes no secret of wanting to play for the Montreal Canadiens “one day”. The aforementioned Ehlers, at just 26, is already Denmark’s second-best NHL crack in terms of points. Only Frans Nielsen is ahead of him, who with 473 points still has a lead of 115 points over Ehlers – although Nielsen, who ended his active career this year, also played more than 400 games more.
Kyle Connor (#81) was often seen in a jubilant pose last season! Image: https://www.facebook.com/nhljets/
creates Cole Perfetti the breakthrough this year? For the 10th Overall Pick 2020, a place in the top six could look out this year, but the Canadian has the offensive qualities for it. The 20-year-old has gained experience in the AHL over the past two years, where he has 41 points in 49 games. He made his debut for the Jets last season and delivered seven points in 18 games – this year it should be enough for a place on the opening night roster. “Behind” the Jets send a lot of solid “role players” into the race: Adam Lowry is one of the better 3rd line centers in the league, Jansen Harkins has also found a good place in the league and with Mason Appleton and Dominic Toninato you have good options for the bottom six. They all have to cushion the departures of Andrew Copp, who left the team by the deadline, and Paul Stastny – it won’t be an easy task.
| Winnipeg Jets Lineup | ||
|---|---|---|
| striker | ||
| Kyle Connor | Pierre-Luc Dubois | Cole Perfetti |
| Nikolaj Ehlers | Mark Scheifele | Blake Wheeler |
| Jansen Harkins | Adam Lowry | Mason Appleton |
| Morgan Barron/Sam Win | Dominic Toninato | Saku Maenalanen |
| defender | goalkeeper | |
| Brenden Dillon | Neal Pionk | Connor Hellebuyck |
| Josh Morrissey | Nate Schmidt | David Rittich |
| Logan Stanley/Kyle Capobianco | Dylan DeMelo | |
The three defensive pairings of the Jets should be completely unchanged. All top performers are back on board and will be supported by the 27-year-old Josh Morrissey listed. The Canadian is in his seventh season with the Jets. With 166 points, he is also the Dman with the highest points in the Canadian franchise at the moment – “all time” he is third behind Dustin Byfuglien and Jacob Trouba. The same age as Morrissey is Neal Pionk, who has fitted in splendidly with the team since moving from New York. In three seasons, the American delivered 111 points. Along with the physically very present Brenden Dillon and Nate Schmidt Pionk and Morrissey will make up the top four on the Jets defensive line. These pairings have everything it takes: skills, hockey IQ, but also the necessary sandpaper to nail opposing lines to the boards. The D-Squad is completed by Dylan DeMelo and the 2m chickens Logan Stanley. newcomer Kyle Capobianco will be the logical #7, junior defenders like Ville Heinola and Dylan Samberg are available in the event of injuries – both were on NHL ice for a few games last year.
I also have to improve Connor Hellebuyck a little in the coming season! Image: https://www.facebook.com/nhljets/
Connor Hellebuyck has always been a terrific backing for the Winnipeg Jets in recent years, but his stats have taken a serious hit over the past season. His 91% save rate was the worst since the 2016-17 season, and his 2.97 goals-against average was the worst of his NHL career. Although the 29-year-old American has won 29 games, 27 losses are also a career high. The contract with the goalkeeper runs for two more years and a potential successor is not exactly in sight, at least in his own ranks. In the summer the Finns were brought in Oskari Salminen from the liiga, it remains to be seen how he will find his way in North America. If Winnipeg wants to fight for the playoffs again, Hellebuyck has to improve his numbers – but of course he also needs support from his front men. For the Czech David Rittich the Jets become the fourth employer after Calgary, Toronto and Nashville. He has won 70 of his 151 appearances so far, the 30-year-old is a viable option as a backup, but there are definitely better goalie tandems in the league, yes, even in their own division.
Hockey-News Projection: Many cracks need an increase in performance and switching to a new trainer is not always a guarantee of immediate success. In addition, the Central Division presents itself as very hard fought. Things are likely to be tight for the Jets this year as well, and an early summer break seems more likely than a return to the playoffs.
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