Reflection leads to turnaround

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This article was published 17/04/2024 (581 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Some eye-opening video sessions. Some candid conversations. And plenty of long looks in the mirror.

Members of the Winnipeg Jets say those were the main ingredients to a late-season turnaround which has seen a six-game slide followed up with a seven-game streak.

“We were all searching in our own games like, ‘What could I be doing differently?’” goaltender Connor Hellebuyck admitted earlier this week.

“And then we had a really good video session at the very end of that that instead of guys being mad at themselves or mad at each other, it was more of a monkey off our back. ‘Oh, that’s what we’re doing wrong. And that’s what we need to be doing differently.’ At least for me, that’s what it felt like and ever since that moment, it was all smooth sailing from there.”

Yes, the good ship Winnipeg finds itself in calm waters right now, charting a course players hope ends with a Stanley Cup championship.

Turns out a little adversity may have been the best thing in the big picture.

“Absolutely. I don’t think you can look at a single team in this league and say they had a perfect season. You have ups and downs all the time,” said Hellebuyck, who appears to be a lock to win his second Vezina Trophy.

“Playoffs is one of those things where you want to be hot at the right time. Our main focus is on ourselves right now. Feel right and don’t lose it.”

A return to what made them so successful earlier in the year — attention to defensive details and sound structure — ultimately helped them from taking on too much water.

“We lost our way a little bit, but we were able to get it back,” said defenceman Dylan DeMelo.

“It (shows) our resiliency as a group and our leadership, everybody buying in. There’s going to be ebbs and flows throughout the season. We lost it for a little bit. We’re happy to get it back. I’d like to think we got it back at the most crucial time.”

Forward Kyle Connor, who has points in eight consecutive games (four goals, eight assists), said it boiled down to everyone digging a little deeper.

“Personally, I think everybody kind of looked themselves in the mirror at that point, realizing that we needed better from everybody and we’re just as hungry as everybody right now.”– Kyle Connor

“We took a deep look at our game and what was working and what wasn’t working,” he said. “Personally, I think everybody kind of looked themselves in the mirror at that point, realizing that we needed better from everybody and we’re just as hungry as everybody right now.”

Jets head coach Rick Bowness said a combination of continuity and maturity from a group that has largely grown together allowed for some quick course correction.

“Now, when things aren’t going well what do they have to do? It’s a little easier now to see it for themselves, because we’ve been doing that for two years. It’s a little bit easier to recognize and, again, they have to buy in and they’ve done that,” he said, while also giving credit to his coaching staff.

“They’re here early in the morning and they’re all very intelligent. They’re good hockey people and they’re good people. They all have good rapport with the players and that’s important. That communication, you have to have with your players. The whole staff is very good at that.”

Now the key is carrying it over into the playoffs, where everyone starts with the same 0-0 record and the 16-team sprint to 16 wins.

“It’s a really exciting time. Obviously a lot of work went into this year, ups and downs throughout. To get to where we are now, it’s a great accomplishment,” said DeMelo.

“We know it’s just the first step of the ladder for us. We want to go as far as we can and have a nice long run.”

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Defenceman Josh Morrissey is the Jets’ nominee for the 2023-24 King Clancy Memorial Trophy, awarded annually “to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community.”

The winner will be chosen by a selection committee consisting of Commissioner Gary Bettman, former winners of the trophy and the NHL Foundation Player Award. The committee will consider the criteria of a nominee’s inspiration, involvement and impact to positively benefit his community.

The winner receives a $25,000 donation to benefit a charity or charities of his choice and be eligible to elect that his club receive a grant from the NHL, up to $20,000, to help organize an event related to his humanitarian cause.

Morrissey is active in the community on a number of fronts, including his annual Dream Factory golf tournament for children battling life-threatening illnesses.

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Jets forward prospect Brad Lambert has been selected to the 2023-24 AHL All-Rookie Team.

The 20-year-old has 52 points (20G, 32A) in 62 games this season, which is second among first-year players and third-most all time by a Moose rookie.

Lambert, a 2022 first round pick from Finland is the seventh player in franchise history named to the all-rookie team after Kevin Bieksa (2004-05), Eddie Lack (2010-11), Eddie Pasquale (2011-12), Brenden Kichton (2013-14), Sami Niku (2017-18) and Mason Appleton (2017-18).

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

X: @mikemcintyrewpg