As 2022 comes to an end, we now look to see what 2023 has in store for us. The Winnipeg Jets had quite a few ups and downs throughout the year, so let's have a look at some of the biggest stories of the year for the Jets.

The Jets' "New Voice"

I know, I know. Paul Maurice stepped down from the head coaching position in 2021, but at the tail end of it, and the impacts from this move were in the majority of 2022.

As we all know, Paul Maurice resigned as the Jets' head coach, and Dave Lowry stepped in until the end of the season. The issue with this, is that it wasn't the new voice that Maurice said the team needed. It was an extension on Maurice's voice, just from a different mouth.

Under Dave Lowry, the Jets had a record of 26-22-6, which over a full season equates to an 88 point pace, which leads the Jets just outside of the playoffs.

As much as everybody was on the same page about it being the end of the rope for Paul Maurice, it was still an emotional time in the organization. After such a long tenure with the team, including a conference final run, It was certainly time to move on, regardless of whose decision that was.

The Jets did, however, end up with a true new voice for the 2022-23 season. Letting Lowry walk, and hiring Rick Bowness as the head coach looks like one of the best personnel moves the organization has made in a long time. Under Bowness, the Jets are currently 23-12-1, on pace for 104 points, which is only beaten by one season from Maurice in 2017-18. If the Jets hit the 104 point mark, it will only be the second time in Thrashers/Jets history they have eclipsed 100 points, and Bowness is doing this with a team everyone was questioning, with good reason.

Pierre-Luc Dubois Rumours

Pierre-Luc Dubois, who was famously traded for Patrik Laine and Jack Roslovic, seemed to have come to a dead-end in Winnipeg. The young power-forward had plenty of rumours and stories come out over the summer about how he wanted out of Winnipeg and wanted to go play for Montreal. This was reinforced by his 1-year contract, which I must say, has a great dollar value based on his play this year. This contract, which expires this off-season, gives the Jets one year of RFA eligibility, and then he is a UFA.

The big decision will have to come in the summer. If Dubois demands a one year contract, he will be moved to a team he will sign long-term with. If he wants a long term deal in Winnipeg, they will gladly give it to him. If he asks for a 3 year deal, then there is a difficult decision to be made.

Since the public outcry from all of these rumours, Dubois has come into this season and has been very productive. With an injury-plagued forward group, Dubois has only consistently played with Kyle Connor, and a bottom-six forward on the other wing. Now, obviously anybody in the league would want to have Connor on a wing, but Dubois has really emerged as a star center. Producing 17 goals, 23 assists for 40 points in 37 games, he is on pace to smash all of his single-season highs. With the new coach, personal and team success, the organization is giving Dubois plenty of reason to stick around. We will dive deeper into this conversation again in the summer, but for now, things look good.

Blake Wheeler Stripped of Captaincy

This will be the first of a few stories that are more recent than others, but just before the season began, the new coach, Bowness, took away the captaincy from Wheeler. A lot of people suggested over the summer that the Jets need a new leadership group. This is reinforced by the numerous players that have parted ways with the organization, stating that there were issues in the locker room.

When we all heard the news, the majority of people figured that Wheeler would be incredibly unhappy with the decision, and it would show. It has actually been the complete opposite. Whether you look at Wheeler's on-ice performances, or you listen to the episode of "Dropping The Gloves", which is John Scott's podcast, that had Josh Morrissey as a guest, all signs point to Wheeler being very mature and understanding about the decision.

Now, just because Wheeler no longer has the "C", doesn't mean anything really changes in the room. I am sure the room dynamic is still relatively the same, but the premise behind the decision was to make sure the team knew that is was a group effort to provide leadership, rather than to rely on just one person.

New-Found Successes in 2022-23 Season

I already mentioned Dubois' season success thus far, but I need to give out a mention to Mark Scheifele, Josh Morrissey, Connor Hellebuyck and Adam Lowry.

Mark Scheifele is having a very non-Scheifele style season. The Scheifele we all know is an elite playmaker and passer, struggles to back-check, and wears his emotions on his sleeves on the ice. This year, Scheifele has had a knack for scoring goals, been competent defensively, and been quite collected on the ice. While Scheifele isn't putting up the point totals we are used to seeing, he is scoring at an excellent rate, and not managing to get many assists. Scheifele is on pace for close to 50 goals, smashing his career high, but only 20 assists, which is well below what is expected. Not having Ehlers on his wing hurts this, and with Wheeler down too, things are tough, but his overall game has been excellent.

Josh "Norris"sey is having an incredible breakout year. As it sits, you would be crazy to not have Morrissey in you top-five for Norris votes, and I might even think he could get some Hart Trophy looks. After setting a career high in points in 2021-22 with 37 in 79 games, he has already passed that with 42 in 37 games. As I mentioned above, if you listened to the episode of "Dropping The Gloves" with Morrissey, you would know that he gives a lot of credit to Bowness and his systems for his newly-found offense. Not only has Morrissey been producing at an insane rate, his defense also looks as good as it ever has. Jets fans were asking the question in the summer, "Is Morrissey truly a number one defenseman on a team looking to win?". Well, there is your answer.

Connor Hellebuyck isn't doing anything we know he couldn't do, but it is still amazing to see him do it. Currently sitting with a record of 18-9-1, GAA of 2.32 and SV% of 0.928, Hellebuyck is having yet another Vezina-calibre season. After struggling a bit last year, Bowness' defensive strategies are helping Hellebuyck reform himself. Now, it isn't just reliant of the system, Hellebuyck has bailed out the team a number of times, but together it has been working perfectly.

I need to give credit to Adam Lowry here, too. His game is improved drastically. With 21 points in 37 games, he is set to break his career high of 29 points in a few short weeks. He has been playing his defensive, physical game, but also giving his contributions offensively.

I could keep going on and on and on about all of the stories we have had this year. The draft, Kyle Connor winning the Lady Byng, the end-of-season exit meetings and press conferences, they are all worthy of a spot here, but I wanted to narrow it down to a few to leave room for lots of discussion if the comments,

Let me know what your "Story of the Year" candidate is, and tell me why!

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