GDHQNHL15_2pg-Winnipeg Jets 2

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Bogosian had only 11 points (3 goals, 8 assists) as he had multiple injuries nagging him throughout the season. The Jets will need him to overcome these injury issues and start to develop into the toppair defenseman the Jets thought they were drafting with thirdoverall pick in 2008. While Bogosian is developing slower than expected, the Jets were forced to play another young defenseman because of his impressive play. Jacob Trouba played very well in his rookie season as he accumulated 29 points (10 goals, 19 assists) in 65 games played. While his offensive statistics are impressive enough for a rookie defenseman, he also showed the ability to keep the opposition from scoring has he had a positive plus/minus in his first year in the league. If the 20-yearold continues to develop at this pace, the Jets could have a future star on their hands. Although the Jets are hinging their hopes on developing their young blue-liners, they have one of the more consistent defenseman throughout the NHL in Tobias Enstrom to lead by example. Leading the team in ice time and playing all 82 games for the fourth time in his career, the 30-year-old Enstrom has proven himself as a dependable and durable player for the Jets. Goaltending Part of the reason may have been the defense played in front of him, but Ondrej Pavelec did not have a very good season in 2013-14. With a goals-against average of 3.01 and a save percentage sitting at .901, those numbers will not bring the team any closer to a playoff spot. The former second-rounder in 2005 has the ability to be a top-notch goaltender, he just needs to put everything together, but the clock is ticking. While last year’s backup Al Montoya has left the team, Pavelec will be pushed by other options within the organization if he does not succeed. Michael Hutchinson will be Pavelec’s primary backup this year after an impressive run in the AHL playoffs last season as he led St. John’s to the Calder Cup Final. If Pavelec should falter at some point during the year, Hutchinson will get the first crack at the top-spot in goal despite limited experience at the NHL level. Power Play Without a proven player to run the point on the power-play, it should be no surprise that the Jets finished among the worst performing teams in the NHL last season. The team converted on only 15.4 percent of their opportunities in the 2013-14 campaign, better than only five teams in the NHL. Part of the reason for the lack of success could be the lack of opportunities as well. With only 259 opportunities on the manadvantage, the Jets finished 19th in the league. With that number they finished the year just above the bottom-third of the NHL in that category. Paul Maurice will have to figure out what players will thrive in that position. If he finds himself needing to use Evander Kane on the power play, he will also need the 23-year-old to overcome his struggles in that area of his game as he has only 26 power-play points in 324 games. Penalty Kill Despite their struggles on the power play, the Jets have shown a penchant for killing off penalties. Winnipeg killed off penalties to a tune of 83.2 percent, good enough for a top 10 finish in the league. A huge Dustin Byfuglien Don Smith/NHL/Getty Images surprise is how successful they were given the fact that they gave up the ninth-most goals in the entire league last season with 231. One area where they could improve in their shorthanded-play is by instilling fear in the opposition that they can also score while on the kill. As good as the Jets were killing penalties, they finished tied for 19th in the league in shorthanded goals scored with five. While it’s nitpicking, it would add a dimension to their kill. Prediction The Central Division is way too tough for the Winnipeg Jets, who are still retooling their team and have questions at critical positions, to make the playoffs this year. If they can figure out their goaltending situation and key players develop, a playoff season could come as early as next season. Scoreboard 2013-14 2012-13 2011-12 2010-11 2009-10 PLAYOFF FINISH DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ REGULAR SEASON 37-35-10 24-21-3 37-35-10 34-36-12 35-34-13 POINT TOTAL 84 51 84 80 83 SHOOTOUT RECORD 8-6 2-3 4-4 5-7 4-6 GOALS SCORED 227 128 225 223 234 GOALS ALLOWED 237 144 246 269 256 POWER PLAY % 15.4 13.8 18.0 18.3 16.1 PENALTY KILL % 83.2 79.7 80.1 77.5 82.2


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