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Temper Expectations with Kyle Connor, but not too much.

October 5, 2016, 11:16 AM ET [23 Comments]
Peter Tessier
Winnipeg Jets Blogger •Winnipeg Jets Writer • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Temper Expectations with Kyle Connor

The story that is coming out of Jets training camp as it winds down is the play of Kyle Connor, the Michigan player who recently turned pro this past spring. Connor was a Hobey Baker Award finalist and led the NCAA in scoring this past year. Only Jack Eichel and Connor had reached the point levels that had been set by former NCAA star Paul Kariya.

To say that Connor comes with pedigree is an understatement but the question right now is this: is Connor’s performance overshadowing that of 2016 2nd overall pick Patrick Laine?

The simple answer is yes but Jets fans should temper their expectations for Connor. While many are suggesting Connor might find a spot on the third line, or perhaps higher when the final roster is set but his story this camp is much like that of a former number one pick for the Jets, Mark Scheifele.

If you recall the preseason of 2011, a frantic and energetic time for Jets fans and management, Scheifele came to his first professional camp and wowed everyone. As a rookie he came in and played 5 games scoring 4 goals that year, tied with Kopitar, Cammalleri, Jagr, Pirri and Simmonds.

What happened after that though was the what we formerly called reality but now often referred as regression. Scheifele was on the opening night roster and in his 7 games before being sent back to junior he totalled just one goal. So what happened?

As the game became tighter, the rosters were no longer full of peers to Schiefele rather they were filled with veterans and seasoned pros who intrinsically played the game with more awareness and experience. Even without stats it was obvious that Scheifele was not ready once the regular started and that was okay, yet it was hard to understand why.

Why?

Here’s why fans need to temper short term expectations with Connor just as they did with Scheifele 5 years ago. When Scheifele was in camp and preseason he was beating his peers, those in the same position as him. Rookies and prospects competing for jobs were those like Scheifele and he was better than them, he got points, he saw scoring chances, and he found success. It’s why they kept him into the start of the season, to see what was sustainable. Is Kyle Connor’s situation any different?

It is but not by much. Connor is older and he’s coming out of a league where he generally plays against older bigger players, there’s no 16-17 year olds in the NCAA. Connor is a better skater than Scheifele was at his age. In the slowly evolving NHL, a league that is transforming itself to a skating heavy style player this sets Connor up better than some of his peers. He can really move and as Paul Maurice has mentioned a few times, this Jets team is undergoing transformation that started a season and a half ago, or longer.

Connor is going to be a player in this league and it could happen sooner than it did for Scheifele but that does not mean it happens at the start of the season or this year. That’s what Jets fans need to accept or at least understand.

Should Connor make the team, and I believe he will, it’s not going to be as a traditional third line player and nor should it be Not only is that role near extinction in the NHL, as it should, it would put Connor and the Jets at a distinct disadvantage because he’d be doing something he’s not equipped to do- grind out opposition. Connor has a two way game that allows him to be defensively sound and capable. but it’s his speed, positioning and shot that is what the Jets need to capitalize on as he develops.

The Jets are lucky that they have Mathieu Perreault as he may be the ideal player to compliment Connor. Feisty, aggressive and a possession beast he’s the ideal line mate and pivot to get him the puck while Connor gets into position. Combine Perreault with anyone of Tanev, Dano, Armia or more and you have a line that presents skill and speed where none has really existed before for the Jets.

Go back five years and the third line was Glass Slater Thorburn. Oh how far we’ve come and that’s a good thing. What will be a better thing is if fans realize that Connor is likely going to be a good if not great player but it will have ups and downs until that point. The good news is the Jets are in the best position to let his talent shine since the Thrashers moved to Winnipeg. Be excited, be optimistic but more importantly be realistic with Kyle Connor it won’t come easy as that was also the case with Scheifele and that turned out to be not such a bad thing.
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