Youth lifting Jets to new heights

Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 26/02/2015 (3865 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Yeah, the price of tickets will go up if there are playoff games here, but if there is more to come of what we saw last night, it will be worth it.

The Jets fell 2-1 in the shootout to the visiting St. Louis Blues and while the home side picked up a critical point in their pursuit of a post-season berth the fans got all they had come for but a win.

Fast, physical and entertaining. Right up there with the best games of the year for the Jets.

Winnipeg had looked slow in their last few outings but they had their pace back, and leading the way were the kids. It’s one thing to have draft picks in the lineup. It’s another to have them grow and force their way on to the roster and become effective NHLers that can win games and be part of a playoff push.

That’s what we’re seeing from the young Jets.

Second-year centre Mark Scheifele was the best skater for the Jets and rookie goalie Michael Hutchinson had his best game in some time stopping 30 of 31 shots.

Still driven by veterans such as Bryan Little, Andrew Ladd, Toby Enstrom, Dustin Byfuglien and the injured Blake Wheeler, there is another engine beginning to rev in Winnipeg.

Scheifele, Hutchinson, Jacob Trouba and Adam Lowry are asserting themselves and excelling. The playoff environment the Jets are now in is bringing the best out of the youth movement.

The Jets have been searching for an answer in goal and Hutchinson has now provided it. He’s played in five of the last six games for the Jets and is 3-0-2 collecting points in every outing.

Jets coach Paul Maurice won’t name him the No. 1 with words but he has with actions. This is now Hutchinson’s team and he’ll get the crease in the majority of the remaining 19 games.

Winnipeg now has 74 points and holds the No. 1 wild-card berth in the Western Conference. They cannot slow down and Hutchinson has proven consistent in his ability to pick up points. Maurice can’t and won’t ignore what Hutchinson is now supplying.

Scheifele has two goals and two assists in his last three games and is skating better than he ever has. Speed often stems from confidence and that’s what Scheifele has right now. He knows where he’s going and his routes are instinctive.

Maurice tacked newcomer Jiri Tlusty onto Scheifele’s line with Drew Stafford on the other wing and the three played with pace all game. Tlusty has wheels and he was able to match Scheifele’s rate and the two clicked immediately.

Right about this time a year ago, Scheifele was felled with a knee injury and the Jets season stopped like it hit a wall. Scheifele seems intent on kicking that wall down right now.

This was a game against one of the Western Conference’s best and biggest teams and Scheifele rose to the occasion. He’s developing into a two-way centre who provides offence and handles his business in his own zone. As good as he’s been, Scheifele is still far from grown. He’s likely just scratching the surface of what he’s going to be. This is a player. Someday soon his offensive game will gain consistency and his strength will catch up to his mind.

Scheifele is a going to be a force and we’re seeing him take his next step.

Lowry’s game has been raised with the heat of the current environment. He’s Winnipeg’s most consistent physical presence and leads the club with 183 hits on the season.

Lowry has a 56.1 Corsi percentage along with seven goals and nine assists. He’s an effective two-way player anchoring the Jets third line.

Trouba is the most advanced of the group. He’s a top-four defenceman in just his second season. He can rush the puck, he tracks well in his own zone and he’s physical. Like, Scheifele there is much more to come from Trouba. But he’s already good and on his way to great.

It’s the most promising of things to see. The young Jets like the heavy going. They like the push and pull and emotion of winning and losing in the important time.

The Jets are being built to be a playoff team. Not one that flashes in and out from year to year. One that slowly builds and goes deeper and deeper.

These are the players that will get the Jets into the playoffs. And keep them there. How long?

Put it this way: It’s going to be expensive.

gary.lawless@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @garylawless