The good, the (not) bad and the ugly in Jetsville

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This article was published 23/02/2017 (3159 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Winnipeg Jets are in the midst of their NHL-mandated five-day break. Heading into Thursday night’s action, they sit two points out of a playoff spot, but give up at least three games in hand to their main competition.

At the start of the season, I thought they had a shot at making the playoffs. So I decided this was a good time to look back at my expectations for each player at that point and see how they’ve measured up after 63 games.

While it’s not the player’s fault if they’re injured, I’m looking at expected production on a full-time basis. You can’t predict significant injuries; expectations are made on presumed good health.

I’ll slot them into one of three categories — did they meet, exceed or not meet expectations?

GOALTENDERS

Met expectations 

• Ondrej Pavelec: There weren’t any expectations after he started the year with the Manitoba Moose. His play since being called up doesn’t change anything; Jets got what I expected from him. (.888 save percentage)

Not met expectations 

• Connor Hellebuyck: While hoping he’d grab the No. 1 role and run with it, overall consistency hasn’t been there. He’s still the man in the here-and-now and future.
• Michael Hutchinson: He’s failed to deliver as a competent backup.

 

DEFENCEMEN

Exceeded expectations 

• Jacob Trouba: I expected a lot but he’s been the Jets’ best defenceman and has moved from a good defenceman into elite territory since ending his contract holdout. He needs to continue to progress to earn a permanent spot in this category.
• Josh Morrissey: He’s landed in a top-four role as a rookie by grabbing the opportunity afforded him by Trouba’s early absence. He’s been consistently steady throughout the season in a tougher role than I envisioned him having at the start.
• Paul Postma: I expected nothing from him because he was always in the press box. He’s a puck-mover; a refreshing change in the bottom pair, although he’s got his warts.

Met expectations 

• Ben Chiarot and Mark Stuart: They are lumped together because they are similar in that they make hits that take them out of the play, struggle moving the puck and try hard. I expected all of that.

Not met expectations 

• Dustin Byfuglien: Expectations were large with his new contract in hand. He can still be a beast — he definitely doesn’t play as well when he’s loaded with the most ice-time of any skater in the league.
• Tobias Enstrom: He’s had a tough year — definitely not the same player from previous years, but hopefully rebounds.
• Tyler Myers: He’s been out since Nov. 11 with injury.

 

FORWARDS

Exceeded expectations 

• Mark Scheifele: I expected 65-70 points while he faced the best opposition players for a full season. With 62 points in 60 games, he should blow right past that.
• Patrik Laine: I thought 30 goals would be reasonable — he’s hit that with 19 games left, having missed eight with his concussion. His improved defensive play adds to his known passing skills.
• Nikolaj Ehlers: He’s a crowd energizer every time he touches the puck and has notched 48 points in 63 games, great numbers for the sophomore.

Met expectations 

• Blake Wheeler: He sits third in Jets scoring after playing with many different linemates, even switching to centre for a bit. You get everything he’s got in the tank, every game. Expectations were high, meeting them says volumes.
• Adam Lowry: He’s had a solid season with Matthias and Armia, who have been limited to 38 games due to injury. He hits, battles and cycles the puck well with the other two.
• Nic Petan, Andrew Copp and Marco Dano: The trio started the season with the Moose, so expectations were minimized. All of them have enjoyed time in the top-six group with the Jets as injury replacements. Petan has flashed his brilliant puck-handling and passing skills and gets some power play time along with his regular fourth-line duties. Copp has displayed some offensive skills but seems destined for a regular fourth-line role while killing penalties. Dano is a pesky battler who has a good skill set. While injured, he still meets expectations; they were low with him starting in the Moose lineup.
• Brendan Tanev: He surprisingly made the Jets at season’s start and has played 42 games so far. You get all he has to give.
• Chris Thorburn: I expected that he’d work hard and fight, and he has.

Not met expectations 

• Bryan Little: He’s been terrific in the games he’s played but he got injured so here he is. Remember, this is about 63 games of production.
• Mathieu Perreault: The combination of injuries and less point production than expected have put him in this category, although he’s heated up lately.
• Shawn Matthias: He has been solid, but was injured.
• Joel Armia: Despite some dazzling offensive and defensive plays, it hasn’t added up to large production yet. (38 games, 12 points) — getting injured puts him here.
• Drew Stafford: He’s a goal-scorer, but has only played 39 games due to injury and has a paltry four goals.

 

CONCLUSION

The group who haven’t met expectations stand out here — two goalies, three of their top five defencemen, two top-six forwards and three solid bottom-six forwards.

Fortunately, the defence answers with two of them exceeding expectations — both play in the top four. Up front, they’ve got three top-six forwards who have risen above expectations.

When you consider that the Jets have decent depth at forward, it almost becomes a wash as to the good and the bad this season, other than the goaltending.

It seems clear that a strong stretch drive by Hellebuyck could see the Jets continue their recent run.

Starting Tuesday, Jets fans go on another ride — let’s hope it’s a goalie-driven, fun one.

 

Chosen ninth overall by the NHL’s St. Louis Blues and first overall by the WHA’s Houston Aeros in 1977, Scott Campbell has now been drafted by the Winnipeg Free Press to play a new style of game.

Twitter: @NHL_Campbell