This article is part of our Team Previews series.
Although the Jets finished last season with a middling record, there is reason for optimism in Winnipeg. Following two straight lackluster seasons and a disappointing start to the 2013-2014 campaign, head coach Claude Noël was given the boot in January. Paul Maurice was brought in to serve as his replacement, and provided an obvious lift to the team, leading the Jets to wins in his first four games as head coach. The organization rewarded Maurice for his performance by removing his interim tag and signing him to a four-year extension in April. While it appears as though the Jets may have found their head coach of the foreseeable future, some questions still remain when one takes a look at the team's roster.
The strength of the Jets last season, and likely in 2014-15, will be at forward. Blake Wheeler is coming off an impressive campaign, as he posted career-highs in goals (28) and points (69), while suiting up for each of the team's 82 games. The Jets also received important contributions from the rest of a well-rounded top-six crew. Bryan Little finished the season as the team's second-leading scorer (64 points), while Andrew Ladd and Michael Frolik also registered respectable stat lines (54 and 42 points scored, respectively). However, the offense could still stand to benefit from a bounce-back year from Evander Kane, who may need to return to the 57-point form he showed in his first season if the Jets hope to make good on their playoff aspirations.
Although the Jets finished last season with a middling record, there is reason for optimism in Winnipeg. Following two straight lackluster seasons and a disappointing start to the 2013-2014 campaign, head coach Claude Noël was given the boot in January. Paul Maurice was brought in to serve as his replacement, and provided an obvious lift to the team, leading the Jets to wins in his first four games as head coach. The organization rewarded Maurice for his performance by removing his interim tag and signing him to a four-year extension in April. While it appears as though the Jets may have found their head coach of the foreseeable future, some questions still remain when one takes a look at the team's roster.
The strength of the Jets last season, and likely in 2014-15, will be at forward. Blake Wheeler is coming off an impressive campaign, as he posted career-highs in goals (28) and points (69), while suiting up for each of the team's 82 games. The Jets also received important contributions from the rest of a well-rounded top-six crew. Bryan Little finished the season as the team's second-leading scorer (64 points), while Andrew Ladd and Michael Frolik also registered respectable stat lines (54 and 42 points scored, respectively). However, the offense could still stand to benefit from a bounce-back year from Evander Kane, who may need to return to the 57-point form he showed in his first season if the Jets hope to make good on their playoff aspirations. If the former first-round selection continues to show little in the way of improvement, he could be shipped elsewhere at the trade deadline.
Winnipeg will also hope that fellow first-round pick Mark Scheifele can continue to build on his promising rookie season. If Scheifele demonstrates further growth during his second full season in the NHL, his linemate Kane may stand to benefit by osmosis. In addition, the Jets will attempt to cover for the loss of Olli Jokinen to free agency with Mathieu Perreault, who mirrored Jokinen's production last season exactly, totaling 18 goals and 43 points with the Ducks.
While the forward ranks don't present much of an issue for the Jets, concerns still remain for the team at the blue line and in net. For the fourth straight season, Zach Bogosian had a tough time staying healthy, forcing the team to shuffle the pairings more than was ideal. The Jets still believe the 24-year-old has the potential to be a lockdown defender, but in order to do, so he'll have to stay on the ice. Meanwhile Bogosian's likely defensive partner, Tobias Enstrom, tallied the second lowest point total of his career last season. The Jets will hope that the veteran defender can enjoy a scoring recovery in 2014-2015, as the team's offense as a whole would undoubtedly benefit as a result. And another step forward from last season's star first-year blueliner, Jacob Trouba, could further help lift the Jets' defensemen from a so-so unit to an above-average one.
The team's situation in goal is probably a graver concern for the Jets. No. 1 netminder Ondrej Pavelec's .901 save percentage last season was good enough for 42nd place out of the 47 goaltenders that played at least 25 games in 2013-2014, a massive letdown for a player the Jets committed $19.5 million over five years to in the summer of 2012. Backup Al Montoya performed better than Pavelec and pushed him for playing time frequently in 2013-14, but after he signed with the Panthers in the offseason, the Jets will turn to Michael Hutchison as their No. 2 goalie. Hutchinson has only three games of NHL experience on his resume, but if Pavelec struggles early on, Hutchinson may find himself between the posts much sooner than the team would like.
The Big Guns
Blake Wheeler, RW (RotoWire Position Rank*: #11): Wheeler is fresh off his best statistical season as a pro and at age 27, he shouldn't slow down anytime too soon. His 28 goals, 69 points and 63 PIM were all career bests, and his plus-4 rating was also perfectly acceptable. He's expected to line up next to Mark Scheifele and Evander Kane on the Jets' second line again this season, which should allow the trio once again benefit from the Jets' top line assuming the toughest matchups night in and night out. Wheeler skated in all 82 games last season and all 48 the year before, so his durability shouldn't be an issue when considering whether or not to draft him.
*RotoWire Position Ranks reflected for points-based leagues*
Bryan Little, C (RotoWire Position Rank: #21): Little had a fantastic year in 2013-14, racking up 23 goals, 41 assists, 58 PIM and a plus-8 rating, all of which matched or set career highs. He showed he has what it takes to be a No. 1 center in the NHL, but still has a little more work to do before ranking among the league's elite pivots. It's certainly plausible that he could take another jump in production in 2014-15, given his age (26) and capable linemates (Andrew Ladd and Michael Frolik). The Central Division is shaping up to be the toughest in the NHL next season, so there's a good chance lots of fantasy owners will overlook players on teams like the Jets. As a result, players like Little could be available later than they should be, so keep an eye out for him as a potential value pick.
Dustin Byfuglien, RW (RotoWire Position Rank: #17): Of all the Jets' skaters, Byfuglien is probably the hardest to project. He has been a productive fantasy defenseman during his time in Winnipeg, but will reportedly move to forward full-time for the 2014-15 season. He'll likely play on either the second or third line, although his lack of speed might hinder his ability to play with fleeter guys like Evander Kane and Mark Scheifele. The biggest problem with Byfuglien's move to forward is that it muddles the team's power-play units. One would assume that Byfuglien would remain on the point because his big shot is one of his best assets, but there's no way of determining as much with any certainty. In any event, drafting Byfuglien should be considered something of a risk in 2014-15. His last full season at forward in Chicago resulted in just 17 goals and 17 assists in 82 games, which is 22 points fewer than his total from last season.
On the Rise
Mark Scheifele, C (RotoWire Position Rank: #64): Scheifele's first full season in the NHL ended rather abruptly when he went down with an MCL sprain in March, but there's a lot to like about the young center. He managed to put up 13 goals and 21 assists in 63 games before getting hurt and figures to be a key piece for the Jets again in 2014-15. He was drafted seventh overall in 2011 and will only be 21 years old when the season starts, so it's reasonable to expect his numbers to trend upward. After all, he drastically improved in the second half of last season, posting 10 goals and 13 assists in his last 31 games. The only question is how much will his production increase. He's expected to be the man in the middle on a line with Evander Kane and Blake Wheeler, and if the enigmatic Kane can unlock his full potential as a net crasher, Scheifele could take off.
Jacob Trouba, D (RotoWire Position Rank: #34): In his first season as a pro, Trouba was able to crack the Jets' Opening Night roster and never looked back. He quickly worked his way into a top four role on defense, and at just 20, he should be a staple of the Winnipeg blue line for years to come. He wasn't a top-tier fantasy defenseman last season, collecting 10 goals and 19 assists in 65 appearances, but he was certainly serviceable and should be even better heading into his sophomore campaign. What does give us some pause are his recent issues with his neck. He missed more than a month of last season with a neck sprain and pulled out of the IIHF World Championships this offseason with more neck issues. The team has stated that his exit from the tournament was just precautionary and that he should be fully healthy heading into the season, but Trouba's health is definitely something worth monitoring.
Andrew Ladd, LW (RotoWire Position Rank: #21): Ladd will return for his fifth season with the Winnipeg franchise as their team captain, despite still just being 28 years old. He's already won Stanley Cups with the Hurricanes and Blackhawks, and is coming off one of his most productive seasons statistically. He finished 2013-14 with 23 goals and 31 assists in 78 games, and also chipped in 57 PIM. Perhaps his most impressive accomplishment, however, was finishing the season tied for third on the team with a plus-8 rating. The line of Ladd, Bryan Little and Michael Frolik often took on the toughest matchups night after night, so it's encouraging that they were able to keep their heads above water in the NHL's toughest division. Ladd missed the last four games of the season due to an elbow injury, but fantasy owners can be comfortable drafting him -- he's had the entire offseason to recover and has only missed five total games over the last six seasons. His consistency and durability make him a solid piece for any fantasy roster.
Two to Watch
Evander Kane, LW (RotoWire Position Rank: #20): By all accounts, Kane's 2013-14 campaign was a disappointment. The talented winger posted just 19 goals, 22 assists and 66 PIM in 63 games, and was even a healthy scratch a couple times throughout the year. Yes, he did have trouble battling through a hand injury, but the Jets and fantasy owners alike expected more out of Kane by this point. The former No. 4 overall pick is now 23 years old and after five full seasons in the NHL, he should be entering his prime production years, not trending downward. There's been speculation that both he and the Jets may be unhappy with their current relationship, but fantasy owners will just have to accept him for what he is until the team pulls the trigger on a trade. He should line up next to Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler this season, giving him every opportunity to show why he's still considered one of the elite scoring talents in the NHL, despite his recent lack of production. Fantasy owners should be careful not to reach for him in their drafts, but he certainly holds a lot of potential if he can be picked up in the right spot.
Mathieu Perreault, C (RotoWire Position Rank: #45): Perreault was a nice pickup by the Jets in the offseason, as his addition gives the team three solid centers all under the age of 27. He could be in line for a breakout season in Winnipeg, since the team's deep stable of forwards should at least afford him some quality linemates. Perreault will be relied on to score a lot more than he was in Anaheim, but the increased opportunities could make him more valuable as a fantasy player than he was in prior years. Look for him and Mark Schiefele to battle for second-line centering duties, though a third-line role wouldn't be disastrous for Perreault either. The Jets may not make a dramatic leap in the standings in 2014-15, but Perreault could be a key piece to any fantasy lineup if he takes his game up a level.
Don't Overrate
Ondrej Pavelec, G (RotoWire Position Rank: #19): Just about any way you look at it, Pavelec has underachieved since signing a five-year, $19.5 million contract with the Jets two summers ago. After a middling 2012-13 campaign, he qualified as an even bigger disappointment last season, finishing with a 3.01 GAA, .901 save percentage and a record of 22-26-7 in 57 appearances. He's never been a great NHL netminder, but last year's numbers were some of the worst of his career. Add to that the fact that he mysteriously didn't start in net for the Czech Republic team in their opening game during the Sochi Olympics, and it's difficult to be bullish about Pavelec's chances of staging a dramatic turnaround. He enters training camp as the Jets' starter in goal once again, but with a defensive corps that's essentially the same, Pavelec may be hard-pressed to emerge as anything more than a middle-tier fantasy goalie. In fact, if Pavelec struggles out of the gate, it wouldn't be a surprise if coach Paul Maurice chose to pull the plug on the veteran, particularly with up-and-coming backup Michael Hutchison representing an intriguing alternative in goal following his impressive run in light action with the Jets at the tail end of last season.
Tobias Enstrom, D (RotoWire Position Rank: #48): Enstrom had an underwhelming season in 2013-14, collecting 10 goals and 20 assists while appearing in all 82 games for the Jets. Many pundits thought Enstrom could make the jump to becoming an elite fantasy defenseman after putting up back-to-back 50-point seasons in 2009-10 and 2010-11, but injuries limited his game over the next two seasons and his production dipped accordingly. That's not to say that he's worthless to fantasy owners, though. He posted a career-high 56 PIM last year and after just barely cracking 30 points last season, he should be available late in most fantasy drafts. Considering that he racked up eight points in seven games near the end of the season, there's reason to believe that Enstrom still has that 50-point ability in his back pocket. Fantasy owners should be careful not to reach on him, but in the right round, Enstrom could end up being a high-value pick.
Top Prospects
Nikolaj Ehlers, LW (RotoWire Prospects Rank: #15): Ehlers lit up the QMJHL for 104 points in 63 games last season, winning Rookie of the Year honors in the league while often outperforming Halifax teammate and Lightning top prospect Jonathan Drouin. The performance rocketed him up the board at the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, with the Jets more than satisfied to select him at ninth overall. The 18-year-old's calling card is his explosive speed, and he could slot in as an annual top scorer on the wing once he adds a little more bulk to his slight 5-foot-11, 165-pound frame. Since the 2013-14 campaign marked Ehlers' first full season in North America, expect the organization to proceed slowly with the Danish dynamo, whose ultimate destination for the upcoming season should be determined during training camp. While he's unlikely to claim an NHL roster spot this fall and thus provide limited single-season value, Ehlers represents a salivating foundational piece for those in dynasty leagues.
Josh Morrissey, D (RotoWire Prospects Rank: #40): Morrissey seemed to fulfill the lofty expectations placed upon him after the Jets selected him 13th overall in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, finishing as one of the top scoring defensemen in the WHL in 2013-14. After registering a whopping 29 goals and 47 assists in 59 games for Prince Albert, Morrissey earned a promotion to AHL St. John's during the postseason, where he fared well against advanced competition. His successes last season will put him in the mix for a nine-game taste of the NHL coming out of training camp, but he'll then head back to the junior level for some additional seasoning. Once he arrives in Winnipeg, Morrissey could have an immediate impact as a scorer, much like Jacob Trouba provided for the Jets as a rookie last season. Roster him in dynasty leagues -- he could be riding the planes as early as next season.
Connor Hellebuyck, G (RotoWire Prospects Rank: #46): Hellebuyck, 21, has been honing his craft at the college level with UMass-Lowell the past two seasons, producing back-to-back campaigns with a sub-2.00 GAA and a total of 12 shutouts during that time. The winner of the inaugural Mike Richter Award given to the nation's top collegiate goaltender, Hellebuyck has evolved from a fringy prospect drafted in the fifth round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft to the likely No. 3 goalie on the Jets' organizational depth chart. The simultaneous rise of fellow goalie prospect Michael Hutchinson might be a potential roadblock to No. 1 duties in the long-term, but with a strong debut season at AHL St. John's, it wouldn't be out of the question for Hellebuyck to ascend to the top of the heap by 2015-16.
Nicolas Petan, C (RotoWire Prospects Rank: #56): The 19-year-old Petan turned in his second straight 100-point season at WHL Portland in 2013-14, helping to quiet some of the skeptics that believed his 5-foot-9 frame would inhibit his success as a player. During his four seasons at the junior level, Petan's elite offensive instincts, speed and puck skills have been on frequent display, pointing to real potential once he reaches the NHL. Still, the jump from juniors to the NHL is quite sizeable, and even top-level prospects such as Petan could benefit from some more development time. He's probably about two seasons away from becoming a regular skater for the Jets.
