In the last post before the end of 2017 we looked back at the calendar year of what happened with the Jets both individually and as a team with basic statistics/results. Now, as we enter the first game of the 2018 calendar year what lies in store of the Jets this year?
Players
Blake Wheeler will continue to be the most underrated right wing in hockey compiling points at his current pace while taking on more responsibility in the short term by centering Kyle Connor and Patrik Laine.
Patrik Laine is going to receive increasing time and deployment and eventually develop his skills to find open ice to unleash his shot. Laine, who leads the Jets with 18 goals in 40 games, will push for 40 this season now that he has more top line minutes.
Nik Ehlers who finishes his entry level contract after this season and has 17 goals will continue his scoring pace but at the expense of his assists where he was so strong last season.
Kyle Connor will continue his development but not finish as a finalist for the Calder trophy, the ensuing outrage will nearly cause a protest at Portage and Main but it will be too cold for anyone to show up, even in May.
Mathieu Perreault will continue to be the stalwart player that so many teams want. Doing his job and being completely unrecognized for his talents by most of the league. He will stay relatively healthy too.
Matt Hendricks will not be re-signed but a younger, cheaper replacement will be found.
Lowry Copp and Tanev will continue to be used as they are because they are a good trio but mainly because Paul Maurice lacks the insight into how to change the bottom six to actually be better.
Josh Morrissey will be the number one defender on the team by the end of the season- many would suggest he is already.
Jacob Trouba will be traded after the conclusion of the season and/or playoffs depending on if the Jets make it.
Dustin Byfuglien will go on a goal scoring rampage for a few games and then settle back into the role he has played this year, smarter and less risky with the puck and pinching.
Tyler Myers will learn how to make a smart breakout pass instead of trying to carry the puck himself.
Tucker Poolman will have to learn to play the left side.
Jack Roslovic will get a look and impress but ultimately be sent back to the Moose.
Dmytri Kulikov will still be unsung by many even though he is playing far better than he was at the start of the year.
Connor Hellebuyck will not collapse down the stretch.
Steve Mason will continue to play an excellent back-up role despite what his reputation from Philadelphia says.
The Team
Kevin Cheveldayoff will make a deal by the trade deadline to bring in a veteran defence man who has playoff experience.
Shawn Matthias will be traded (no kidding?)
The Jets will eventually figure out a better method for the PK but only during the post season.
Paul Maurice will at some point be forced to address his usage of Hendricks as the season goes on
At some point the Jets will admit that the analytical data they spend a lot of money on tells them a better deployment strategy but only after they have success with that strategy.
When Chevy trades Trouba it will be a blockbuster deal involving other players from both teams
The Jets will be Canada's last team in the post season.
As for tonight's gammon Colorado the two teams sport the same record of 6-3-1 in their last 10 games with Colorado giving the Islanders a 6-1 spanking as bad as the one the Jets gave the Oilers.
Dustin Byfgulien is out of the non-contact jersey and will play tonight according to Paul Maurice.
The Jets sport a rather mediocre record on the road of 9-8-5 but have played more game son the road than at home. That's the good news but have 4 losses in their last 8 games on the road and two more in OT or the shoot out. That can change though as they only play two teams for 3 games (SJ, SJ and Anaheim) in their next 10 games in the month of January.
In their last game the Avalanche won 3-2 in OT when Nathan MacKinnon ended it on the PP after some sloppy play by the Jets. Like this past game a 5-0 blanking of the Oilers, the Jets had just beat the Wild 7-2 and found themselves in a much different type of battle agains the Avalanche. This is the kind of game that present the 'trap' as maybe the team is looking to home and a visit from old friend Evander Kane on Friday.
Things to watch:
The 4th line with Matthias and Dano
Top line and how Laine plays with Wheeler and Connor
Mathieu Perreault and if he has a continued positive effect on no matter who he plays with.