It's over and by now Jets fans should once again have had time to digest the feelings that come along with hope and aspirations of the beginning of each season. Now it's a matter of looking forward, something only the most level headed fans could do with any sense of objectivity for this 48 game season.

Make no mistake, many fans with hopes and dreams for their team are also objective and impartial but when discussion comes into play those two areas become very blurry.

Gary Lawless has already written about what many have discussed in their 'arm chair GM' positions- the trading of Dustin Byfuglien. Others have gone on to second guess the value of Bryan Little and then there is Evander Kane.

Did the controversial winger have a season worthy of his salary- one his agent argued should be on parr with John Tavares? Did Kane even have the help an investment of his size deserved?

How interesting is that on so many nights Kane looked a lot like Iginla in many of his years in Calgary- a pure raw force with no complimenting talent.

Then there is the bottom 8 forwards that was waiver-wire rotation as injuries beset so many of them. The Olli Jokinen experiment can only be viewed as a failure in terms of on ice performance. Miettinen, Wright, Peluso and finally Tangradi (a trade not a waiver claim) all provided moments of satisfaction no matter how brief but they were no up to the task-that being building better depth in bottom six group.

Adding depth to Thorburn and Slater, that of improved play over players set free like Stapleton and Ponikarovsky seemed an easier goal. In reality that goal was unachievable.

With core players, of Wellwood and Antropov needed to anchor the bottom lines if not the second the formula for success with the Winnipeg Jets seemed backwards. These players are not core pieces who a GM can build around and in truth they might never have been. They are the accent pieces and capable ones in that role.

While Wellwood was brought back by choice and one can hardly find a negative word said about Antropov from anyone in the Jets' organization their value was not what the Jets needed. They needed more than what they got last year. This was wash, rinse, repeat.

The defense showed promise of improvement particularly from the improved play of Bogosian but once again, after the top four who could enjoy what the fans saw night in and out?

Even in that top four the polarizing figures of Ron Hainsey and Dustin Byfuglien made many a fan and probably a coach crazy from angst at their play at any given point. Moments of brilliance were often preceeded or followed by periods of indifference and sometimes incompetence.

The story of Zach Redmond, before and after his horrific injury remains a bright spot for the Jets and certainly so does the arrival of Jacob Trouba despite not playing a game. Still, the questions about the capability of this group and what it's identity is remain, does the group actually fit together in their play and skill set?

Finally one can look between the pipes and see almost the same scenario with Ondrej Pavelec as some of the defense and the depth of the forwards. Periods of great, stretches of good, and ill-timed lengths of frustrating play through out another season but at a much higher price.

Anyone can suggest that change has to be made with the Jets- that's obvious but now the task is making meaningful change that allows the organization to improve. Two years now they have been close enough to know they should have been a bit better at times throughout the season but weren't. By now Noel and Chevy should have a pretty good understanding of why.

There are 14 contracts, RFA and UFA, expiring on the Jets this season. There are teams with cap problems facing a shrinking salary cap for next season and the Jets have some players that might be in demand. They also have 6 draft picks in the first 4 rounds of the 2013 draft.

In summary they have many options as they enter the draft, free agency, and the off-season to change the team. The fans know what this group cannot be improved by waiver wire pickups, trades of 7th round picks, or bargain basement shopping. It's time for Chevy to put his stamp on the team and build what the strategic plan has called for since it was built by TNSE.

Bold and decisive moves now have to be made if this team is to get better and make the post season. Wash, rinse and repeat only gets you so far and to date, that's all we've seen from the GM.

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