2015-16 Central Division Preview: Winnipeg Jets
2014-15 record: 43-26-11 (99 points)
5th place in the Central Division, 7th place in the Western Conference
Goals For: 230
Goals Against: 210
Power Play: 17.8% (17t)
Penalty Kill: 81.8% (13)
Team Faceoff Pct: 48.9% (21t)
Key Offseason Moves
2015 Top Draft Pick: Round 1 – Pick 17 – F Kyle Connor
Additions: Alexander Burmistrov, Anthony Peluso, Paul Postma
Subtractions: Michael Frolik, Lee Stempniak, Jiri Tlusty
- Are the Jets better or worse heading into 2015-16? WORSE
Getting Burmistrov to come back from the KHL is a nice addition for the Jets, who invested the eighth overall pick in the 2010 Draft in the young center. Still only 23, Burmistrov could provide a boost to the Jets immediately; he played 194 regular season games for the Thrashers/Jets between 2010-13 before leaving for two years in Russia.
Unfortunately, the Jets are stuck between a playoff push with an aging core of Andrew Ladd and Dustin Byfuglien and a youth movement, led by forwards Nikolaj Ehlers and Mark Scheifele and defenseman Jacob Trouba. As their young, developing players start coming to restricted free agency, some older, more expensive veterans also have financial decisions coming.
This could be an interesting season for a Jets team that didn’t necessarily get better on paper, but the teams who finished below them in the Central last year – Dallas and Colorado – improved. Winnipeg will be a team to watch this season.
- Will Winnipeg be a playoff team this year? No
Given the improvements in Dallas and Colorado and more stability in Los Angeles this year (no more Voynov/Richards drama), it’s going to be an uphill climb for the Jets to get into the playoffs without the off-ice financial considerations hanging over the franchise.
There could be a lot of movement on the Jets roster this year.
Tab- barring injuries… I think the young kids mentioned- will make Jets better…
they should be a PO team
Jets are my darkhorse team. Not only will they be a playoff team they have a chance to win the division and capture home ice. This team goes 9 deep on forward and 4 deep on the blueline.
I dont love Pavelic, but I like Hutch and Helabyck. This team as all the making of a contender to me
This division is crazy strong. Everybody can make the playoffs or not. I see them at risk because there’s a great chance they might lose some of that enthusiasm from last year. Or the surprise effect. That means they might lose a little bit of focus… that’s a killer proposition for such an undisciplined-bully bunch.
If Hutchinson can shoulder the starting role (and be good), they have as good a shot as any team in the division (IMO). But, that still could result with them in 7th place.