Peter Tessier: Can the Jets be 8 pts better this season? Taking a look at what kind of number the Jets need to be better and make the post season...if they can.

Yes.

Yes they can.

Give Connor the icetime he needs and watch as all the young players in Winnipeg produce like it's 1984.

15 - 18 points better this year...

1) The youth core will be more experienced by one year. (Add 5 wins)
2) Improved Power Play and penalty kill (Add 3 wins)
3) Goaltending - Helly working with goaltending coach all summer and Mason now here . (Add 5 wins ) ( we had many one goal losses -not counting EN goals.)
4) Kulikov, health Myers, Trouba not missing 20 games (holdout and suspension) ( add 3 wins)
5) Less injuries (we hope) and better schedule could translate into as many as 5 more wins

Thats 21 more wins ( 42 points) in a realistic scenario. However some of those reasons for wins overlap with the others so I reduced the number by at least 60%. It still gets us 15-18 more points.

Going to be a good year !

I think there will be more accountability in the room this year. Management went out and plugged the glaring holes on the roster so now its on the players. The schedule is a lot friendlier this year so that excuse is gone too. Wheeler has a year wearing the C under his belt and wants to win before his window closes. I'm looking for a lot bigger and better things this year.

If things go south right from the get go expect Maurice to be gone by US Turkey Day. Hopefully the Caps turf Trotz first though so he can come in and get er done.

15 - 18 points better this year...

1) The youth core will be more experienced by one year. (Add 5 wins)
2) Improved Power Play and penalty kill (Add 3 wins)
3) Goaltending - Helly working with goaltending coach all summer and Mason now here . (Add 5 wins ) ( we had many one goal losses -not counting EN goals.)
4) Kulikov, health Myers, Trouba not missing 20 games (holdout and suspension) ( add 3 wins)
5) Less injuries (we hope) and better schedule could translate into as many as 5 more wins

Thats 21 more wins ( 42 points) in a realistic scenario. However some of those reasons for wins overlap with the others so I reduced the number by at least 60%. It still gets us 15-18 more points.

Going to be a good year !
- jetsnation

Yeah, 61-14-7 feels right.

Winnipeg def gonna make the play offs

Winnipeg should be better this season. They still have a bad Colorado team to siphon points from and Chicago's defense got weaker. The young O maturing with some declining defense in the division should help add points. Much like the Canes, goalie play will be a big deciding factor. If the Hellebuyck & mason combo can keep it to 2-3 GA regularly, y'all will have a chance with that O.

I look forward to watching the Jets play against other teams. The young core will begin seriously challenging the western conference this season. I think they will challenge SJS for the final wild card slot. The Central will be tough, like the Metro, but y'all have a well rounded, skillful team to do it.

If I were to guess:
Nashville, Chicago, STL, and Minnesota will make it in in the Central.
Calgary, Anaheim, and Edmonton make it in Pacific.
The last slot is a battle between Dallas, SJS, and Winnipeg.

They can finish 1st in the Central if they play the way they're built to.
But with Maurice and the rest of that bench? No. They might scrape into a wildcard spot unless they clear the bench.

Yeah, 61-14-7 feels right.
- jcragcrumple

the realistic 128 point season

though, i could see the jets top 4 in the conference if mason plays well.

15 - 18 points better this year...

1) The youth core will be more experienced by one year. (Add 5 wins)
2) Improved Power Play and penalty kill (Add 3 wins)
3) Goaltending - Helly working with goaltending coach all summer and Mason now here . (Add 5 wins ) ( we had many one goal losses -not counting EN goals.)
4) Kulikov, health Myers, Trouba not missing 20 games (holdout and suspension) ( add 3 wins)
5) Less injuries (we hope) and better schedule could translate into as many as 5 more wins

Thats 21 more wins ( 42 points) in a realistic scenario. However some of those reasons for wins overlap with the others so I reduced the number by at least 60%. It still gets us 15-18 more points.

Going to be a good year !
- jetsnation

lol

lol
- stormeyAlterEgo

In a more realistic scenario I see them choke again this year and finish 9th in the west...

In a more realistic scenario I see them choke again this year and finish 9th in the west...
- BashCH

Well not sure finishing behind Minny, St. Louis, Dallas, Hawks, Nashville, Calgary, Edmonton and Anaheim would be considered choking.

Most experts don't see them making it.
I think it will be close but they will be on the bubble. Have to hope one of Minny, St. Louis, Dallas, or Hawks gets old.

Well not sure finishing behind Minny, St. Louis, Dallas, Hawks, Nashville, Calgary, Edmonton and Anaheim would be considered choking.

Most experts don't see them making it.
I think it will be close but they will be on the bubble. Have to hope one of Minny, St. Louis, Dallas, or Hawks gets old.
- stormeyAlterEgo

Hawks are getting old but they still finished 1st in the west last year so I doubt they regress that much.

Hawks are getting old but they still finished 1st in the west last year so I doubt they regress that much.
- BashCH

Better chance of Minny getting old. More of their stars are over 30 (Parise, Staal, Suter, Dubnyk etc) and they did start to stumble a bit at the end of last year.

Hawks are getting old but they still finished 1st in the west last year so I doubt they regress that much.
- BashCH

hawks are thin on the blueline and darling collected a lot of points for them.

i think they flat out miss.

In a more realistic scenario I see them choke again this year and finish 9th in the west...
- BashCH

Barring some injury plagued season involving several of their stars, the Jets will easily hit the 100 point mark. Just look at how the Jets finished up the last 10 games of 2016-17 when fully healthy and add Myers, Kulikov, Connor, and Mason and you will see that they will be a force to contend with. First place is not out of the question here.

That all being said, the talent is there but if Maurice can't get the wins by Xmas / January then he will surely get the axe.

Not sure whats wrong with this team. On paper they look like they should be running away with the central! Is it Buff? Maurice?

Not sure whats wrong with this team. On paper they look like they should be running away with the central! Is it Buff? Maurice?
- K-man25

Ummm the article summarizes what went wrong with the jets. Give it a read.

Armia, Copp, Lowry, Dano and Petan this is the group I am very interested in! If just 2/5 can take that step we are hoping they all take it will make a huge difference for the Jets. If more than 2 of them take huge steps forward fantastic but I want to see at least 2!! I think everyone knows what the other forwards will do and I'm also not worried about Kyle Conner at all, kids a sniper.

There are no excuses now for not making the playoffs. If they don't, there are jobs on the line.
If we stay out of the box more this year. we'll be fine.

The Jets are going to win the Central Division. Book it!

I think I like the Hendricks signing.....a guy that can win faceoffs and kill penalties.....badly needed !