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This article was published 03/03/2015 (4169 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

In three previous trips through the NHL’s trade deadline, the Winnipeg Jets did a good job masking their anxiety.

We know this now, hindsight providing some clarity and context about an improved 2014-15 team that seemed confident and low on stress in the locker-room Monday.

Their GM, Kevin Cheveldayoff, did nothing on this year’s deadline day but he had already been busy helping them, going back to December. It started with the addition of Jay Harrison, continued on Feb. 11 with a deal that added Tyler Myers and Drew Stafford, then again last Wednesday when Jiri Tlusty was acquired, and then finally again Sunday, when a deal was made for Lee Stempniak

Waiver claims had previously been the extent of deadline help provided, but none of those teams had made a case equal to that of this group, which has been in a playoff spot since early November. Winnipeg has 76 points in 64 games.

“There’s a sense that everyone has that confidence right now, which I don’t think was really there before,” centre Bryan Little said Monday. “We’re going out and playing L.A. and St. Louis and we all believe we can beat teams like that right now, whereas before, I don’t know if that was really inside us.”

Little agreed Cheveldayoff’s moves have done something for the team’s optimism and confidence.

“I think all the ingredients were there,” Little said. “Maybe it was the coaching change that we needed. Maybe it was a couple of key players that we got. But I think it was a combination of all that. Most of it’s taken us in the right direction and the core players have really stepped up and matured. The guys we just brought in, they were a big part of (Sunday’s) win.”

The Jets are 4-1-2 in their last seven and complete a four-game homestand Wednesday against Ottawa.

“I can speak for the guys in here — we have full confidence in our management,” veteran defenceman Mark Stuart said Monday. “It’s a process, especially in the league now, it’s hard to make trades. That’s not easy. People on the outside think you can just go grab this guy here, that guy there. I’m sure those discussions happen, but when it comes down to it, it’s a really, really hard thing to do.

“It’s been a good room but everything’s more fun when you’re winning and we’ve put ourselves in good position to do some things. We’ve got a long way to go, though, but it’s fun. This is the type of hockey and the time of year when you want to play. This is the most fun you have besides the playoffs. That’s our goal, to get in there and have some more fun in the playoffs.”

Cheveldayoff was asked Monday if he thinks he’s done enough to get his team that far.

“The guys have played their hearts out to this point,” Cheveldayoff said after staying out of the 24-trade fray on the final day. “I’m really proud of this group that competes in the Jets uniform and I’m really looking forward to moving forward.

“I tried to address some of the holes and the needs that we had because of injury, or because of situation and circumstance, and I feel comfortable moving forward that we’re a better team that we were a few days ago. It’s going to be an exciting race to the finish.”

Cheveldayoff said he made one, final afternoon call to his coach, Paul Maurice, on Monday, to sound him out.

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“I’m fine with our team,” Maurice said after Monday’s practice. “I think we’ve got good depth at all our positions and I really like the way our defence is rounding out. I’m good with where we’re at.”

With just a little rest, the Jets have looked re-invigorated for much of the last week. The coach said that, plus the urgency of coming games, should be enough to keep the Jets playing at the high level seen recently.

“Our schedule will dictate that for us, with the names of the teams coming in that we have in our stretch, that we have to play this way,” Maurice said. “And our group… they’ve been focused all year.”

tim.campbell@freepress.mb.ca

— with files from Ed Tait