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With a Whimper not a Bang- Jets last game

April 8, 2017, 10:44 AM ET [10 Comments]
Peter Tessier
Winnipeg Jets Blogger •Winnipeg Jets Writer • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Whether you believe the recent six-game win streak means something or that it was simply a matter of chance of sequencing, that it finally happened and the 'now' means little the Jets season is coming to a familiar end.

On the outside looking in, the Jets will be watching the final round of the Masters on Sunday instead of preparing for the post season. In reality it should not be disappointment though, this was the most likely course of events given on how the season was starting with this roster.

Had this win streak come a month ago then their might have been a chance to make hay down the final stretch but alas it did not. But the win streak is not the problem, or lack of a win streak that is, the problem(s) were ones that were not anticipated or prepared for by either coach, management or both.

There's plenty of blame to go around if you want to point fingers. The targets may not be accurate, or justified but after six years of the same results does being accurate in accusation matter anymore? The team has not been in it's quest to become a playoff contender.

That is really the part that is irking many fans, what's different now than after the inaugural season when the Jets moved from Atlanta?

Back then there was a 20 year old kid who had 30 goals. This time it's an 18 year old but now there is more around him, a 20 year old in Nik Ehlers, an emerging top centre in the league with 32 goals in Mark Schielfele and of course the captain and top right winger in the league Blake Wheeler. Only the Leafs have as many players in the top 50 in the NHL as the Jets but cut that to top 30 and the it's only the Jets. What's the difference between the two? Look between the pipes, and in front of the net for that answer.

The Jets knew they would face challenges but was the failure of three goalies, and a dilapidated defence what they expected? Remember this was a team iced Laine, Tanev, Morrissey, and Kyle Connor to start the season while putting their only veteran goalie into the AHL. Four rookies and two inexperienced NHL goalies... what could go wrong?

What went wrong was not what the team planned on addressing, and when they had the problems they faced, there was no plan and now solution.

Certainly Tyler Myers' injury cannot be accounted for but that speak to organizational depth, and Brian Strait is not the answer. Imagine if the predicted problems, that of Morrissey and perhaps Laine not being ready for the NHL? How would that of compounded the extent of the problems that did happen?

The goaltending problem was not what the Jets felt was going to happen. When it did they addressed it how? They recalled Pavelec who failed to post an above .900 save percentage in the games that he played but he won. He won because the Jets scored more. Either of Hutchinson or Hellebuyck would have too but it caused confusion, or at least allowed the coach to confuse fans with what he saw in Pavelec. All you have to do is go back and see his comments about Pavelec during that time to see how fans might be concerned for the future.

That future is fast approaching after tonight's game agains the Predators. As Paul Friesen wrote yesterday this win streak might help quell some outcry from fans should contract extensions come to Maurice and Cheveldayoff.



What has fans up in arms is does this win-streak have the makings of influencing the role and value of Maurice? Is he now looked at as having the team turn the corner towards success? That's a pretty big bet based on what we saw from this group.

There's reason to be optimistic, the two six forwards can probably hold their own in the league. The defence needs help but between Trouba, Buyfyglien and Morrissey it should not be hard to fill in the other three spots to be better than what was iced this year.

Then there is the goaltending... what happens next? What does Cheveldayoff do to ensure he has better than .909 between the pipes? Give the Jets what the Leafs had and this is a playoff team right? Is the Jets defence with Myers and Enstrom in it and a goalie that plays to league average better than the Leafs in the same area?

That should be the measuring point as the Leafs with two game remaining need just a single point to make their first playoff appearance since 2013 and second since 2007. That would be the same as the Thrashers and Jets and if you looked back on where the Jets were six years ago, what they have had, should they not be ahead of the Leafs? Many fans would think so, and they are probably right.

It's no secret that attracting players to Winnipeg is going to be harder than any other team in the league. That's the sales job the organization has to do and what must be done this off season if anything is to change when it comes to March and April 2018.

For now fans can go and cheer the team to win seven games tonight. Go out on a high note feeling good about the future. The future though is not on the ice, it's what is done away from it that matters most and no win streak to finish the season changes that reality. That win streak does not make Chevy's job and challenges any less important nor will it make them less scrutinized. The heat is on, and it's about time more than that players in this organization feel it.
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