In the last day of 2017 the Winnipeg Jets play their last game of the year tonight in Edmonton. Will it be a revenge-type game for the injury to Jets' number one centre Mark Scheifele? No, that's not the goal of this team nor should it be. This game, like the rest while Scheifele is injured has to be all about business- getting the win and beating opposition they should beat. The Oilers are that kind of opposition and for many fans with long memories some lingering faith issues this is a team the Jets would normally play 'down to' tonight.
That being said, with Dano and Matthias both in while recent Moose call-up Jack Roslovic, the AHL's 4th leading scorer, watching there is more than enough to observe for fans curious about depth and how to weather the loss of Scheifele. There are other things to consider and with this being December 31st it's time to look back on the year that was.
The Players.
The year of 2017 saw some things many might not expect from various Jets players but as the team sits 7th overall in the league as of this writing, perhaps some perspective is due.
Blake Wheeler is 4th in the calendar year for points with 89. -15 behind Kucherov -13 behind McDavid -1 behind Patrick Kane
For assists Wheeler is 3rd. -8 behind McDavid -1 behind Backsrom -14 ahead of Crosby
Mark Scheifele is 7th in the calendar year for points with 87 -tied with Backstrom -1 behind Tavares
For goals Schiefele is 25th -tied with Crosby at 32 goals -ahead of Sequin and Grabner
Patrik Laine is 42nd in the calendar year for points with 64 -tied with Nylander and in 13 less games played -2 behind Taylor Hall -3 behind Granlund
For goals Laine sits 7th -2 behind Matthews in 3 less games played -5 behind Ovechkin in 14 less games played -4 behind Tarasenko in 13 less games played
Nik Ehlers is 48th in the calendar year for points with 63 -tied with Oshie -tied with Kadri -1 behind Malkin
For goals Ehlers sits 19th -1 behind Eichel -2 behing Oshie -3 behind Monahan
Dustin Byfuglien is 20th by defence for points with 44 -tied with Hamilton and Gardiner -1 ahead of Suter -No player in top 20 played less than 72 games (Josi with 71) than Buff at 69.
Jacob Trouba was 37th by defence for points with 36 -tied with Skej and Klefbom
The Jets as a team have had an odd year. Struggling through the start of the year until eliminated from playoffs before having a seven game win streak to finish last season. Since then they have not looked back and at one point having the best record in the league by games played this past fall.
By the calendar year the Winnipeg Jets were the 8th best team in the NHL with 100 points. -4 behind the Leafs in 4 less games played -6 behind the Blues in 4 less games played
Winnipeg was 12 overall in wins with 45 -2 behind the Leafs -1 behind the Wild -tied with the Oilers -tied with Blackhawks
Winnipeg had the 8th best amount of losses with 27 -tied with Boston and San Jose -1 behind Chicago -2 behind Nashville -4 ahead of St. Louis
Winnipeg has scored is 3rd best in goals scored for the calendar year with 273 -5 behind Toronto in 4 less games played -12 behind Washington -13 ahead of Tampa Bay -24 ahead of Edmonton
Special Teams
Winnipeg has the 6th best Power Play in the calendar year at 21.4% with 60 goals scored -tied with Nashville -3.6% behind Toronto -2.6% behind Washington
Winnipeg has the 22nd best Penalty Kill in the calendar year at 79.6% with 56 goals allowed -.2% behind Calgary -6.9% behind the leader Los Angeles
The Jets were: 4th overall for Even Strength goals with 204 6th for empty net goals with 16 9th in PIM with 829 8th in total penalties with 100 19th with 18 majors 15th with 1840 hits 15th with 1217 blocked shots 16th with 768 give aways 17th with 561 take aways 3rd with a 10.6 shooting percentage 16th in shots for with 2582 19th in shots against with 2619
That was the the year in numbers for the Jets. What lies ahead based on what we have seen is clearly a team changing it's DNA. It's getting better in ways that seem to defy even the most critical analysis. It's hard to credit the all-time losing-est coach in NHL history but perhaps he deserves a bit for being an old dog maybe learning a few new tricks.
When looking back at this past year though it's hard not to see some things in the Jets social sphere of fandom that reflects a bit of what we see in the world. The Jets are seventh in the NHL right now yet the level of discontent, the debates, and the arguing seem so out of place and so very unnecessary. It appears that far too many people want to be right in their beliefs but are confounded by what is happening with the team as in how it is having success.
Maybe for 2018 we can all enjoy the success without trying to feed on one another. Let's try being a bit more tolerant of a team that so many want good things for you know, instead of fighting. This is entertainment, it's not our business, we don't right the cheques. Some may pay for tickets but that gives no more right to gripe than some one who can only watch on TV or listen to the radio. It just all seems so pointless to have the arguments and level of venom that comes with success and hopefully in 2018 we can all be better.
That being said, let's hope our world is a better place in 2018 too. It does not take much to be kind so that's my resolution, practice kindness whenever I can instead of falling into the same old traps I have in the past. I hope you will too, and may everyone who spends the bit of time they do to read here have a wonderful 2018. I appreciate your thoughts, patience, and most of all your support. Happy New Year!