Except translation, this story has not been edited by achinews staff and is published from a syndicated feed.
WINNIPEG – The Winnipeg Jets are focused on the regular season, but many of their fans will look beyond that to measure the team’s success.
After being bounced out of the NHL playoffs in the first round the past two seasons, a deep postseason run may be the only thing to satisfy their fans.
New head coach Scott Arniel knows the early playoffs linger in the minds of fans and some players, but he’s focused on a style that produces sustained strong play.
“I don’t (think) that far down the road. I’m worried about Edmonton and Game 1,” Arniel said of Winnipeg’s regular-season opener on the road against the Oilers on Wednesday.
“We’ve talked a lot about competing and making sure when we go into games that our level of competition is higher than the opposition. Hopefully on those tough nights and tough travel, tough back-to-backs or whatever they might be, that’s the difference in the game of hockey.”
Arniel, 62, was hired after Rick Bowness retired at the end of last season. He was an associate coach the last two seasons and went 15-7-3 filling in during Bowness’ absences for family or health reasons.
Winnipeg’s first-round loss to Colorado came in five games last season after the team finished fourth overall in the NHL with a 52-24-6 record. The Jets swept the Avalanche in their three-game season series but there were many more in the playoffs.
Jets veteran Connor Hellebuyck had his name engraved on the William M. Jennings Trophy for being the netminder on the team that allowed the fewest goals against.
He also won his second Vezina Trophy as the league’s leading goaltender, but struggled in the playoffs with a 5.23 goals-against average and .870 save percentage.
Winnipeg has not reached the second round of the postseason since 2021.
Second-year captain Adam Lowry likes Arniel’s emphasis on increasing the way the Jets compete, whether that’s fighting individually during five-on-five play or on special teams.
“(It’s) digging in and finding that extra way to create one more chance for your team or take away one more chance the other team is going to create,” Lowry said.
Winnipeg’s roster hasn’t changed much since last season, although there were some veteran departures and unexpected early injuries.
Defensemen Brenden Dillon and Nate Schmidt are gone, as are forwards Sean Monahan and Tyler Toffoli.
Early in camp, defensemen Ville Heinola (ankle) and Logan Stanley (knee) had surgeries and were expected to be out for at least a month.
“We’ve got some good depth here and we’re going to have to rely on that early,” star defenseman Josh Morrissey said.
He doesn’t anticipate counting on Hellebuyck any more than usual because of the injuries.
“We were the No. 1 defensive team in the league last year for goals against,” Morrissey said. “Of course, a lot of that goes on the goal, but a lot of that is on our five-on-five play and the special teams that we try to work on.”
Morrissey will be paired again with Dylan DeMelo. Dylan Samberg and Neal Pionk are the next duo, while Colin Miller is expected to skate with newcomer Haydn Fleury.
Winnipeg’s forward line consists of the top trio of center Mark Scheifele flanked by Kyle Connor and Gabriel Vilardi.
Schifeele led the team in scoring last season with 25 goals and 72 points in 74 games. Connor had a team-high 34 goals in 65 outings.
With Monahan not re-signed, Winnipeg’s second line has been running with center Vladislav Namestnikov and wings Cole Perfetti and Nikolaj Ehlers.
Morrissey has buried thoughts of a quick exit from the post-season now that the new campaign is here.
“The parity in the league is as good as it’s ever been,” he said. “So if you’re looking at the playoffs already, I think you’re in trouble.
“We’re trying to build on the things we improved last year.”
BE SPECIAL
Arniel brought in assistant Davis Payne to coach the forwards and power play, while newcomer Dean Chynoweth was in charge of the defense and penalty killing corps.
Winnipeg was 22nd on the power play last season and 21st on the penalty kill.
Ehlers has been moved up to the first power play unit while Scheiele and Connor have spent time working on the kill.
NEXT MAN IN NET
Hellebuyck had a 37-19-4 record last season with five shutouts while Laurent Brossoit, who signed with the Chicago Blackhawks this season, was 15-5-2 with three shutouts.
Kaapo Kahkonen and Eric Comrie are the backup options this season.
On Monday, the Jets announced that forwards Nikita Chibrikov and Brad Lambert have been assigned to the AHL’s Manitoba Moose.
This report was first published by The Canadian Press on October 8, 2024.
(Except translation, this story has not been edited by achinews staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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