Winnipeg Jets: Tough Year, but a Big Bounce-Back Coming?

The Winnipeg Jets have had one weird and frustrating year. It wasn’t that long ago that they were cruising, picking up wins like it was nothing. Just last season, they even snagged the Presidents’ Trophy.

This season, it’s not the same vibe. Injuries hit them at all the wrong times, and once a team starts playing catch-up in the West, it’s easy to get buried fast. Connor Hellebuyck hasn’t looked like the guy who carried them last season, and Adam Lowry‘s absence for stretches drained the energy from their bottom-six and their leadership group.

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However, the Jets’ Core Is Strong and Young

Here’s the thing: for all the gloom around this season, the Jets are not even close to being cooked. If anything, you could make a decent case that they’re set up for a huge comeback next year.

Despite everything that went sideways, the Jets’ main pieces are still intact. Their core guys are young and signed, so nobody’s bolting anytime soon. Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele, Hellebuyck—same crew. And, given their horrible season, retaining their first-round pick means they can still inject a bit of fresh talent into the mix.

Injuries Hurt the Jets Badly this Season

One of the big swing factors this season has been the team’s health. If this team gets through October and November without half their top talent in the press box, the whole picture changes. From there, it’s on management to actually support the core. They could use another scorer who can drive play, or at least someone who can lighten the load if Connor has a cold stretch. On the back end, they don’t need a superstar—just one more steady defender would stabilize things in a huge way.

The other part is internal growth. Cole Perfetti is right at that point where he could take a real step, and they need him to. Same with some of the younger depth players—Winnipeg’s at its best when they’re rolling waves, not leaning on the same four guys every night.

The Jets Coaching Staff Needs to Reinstill Confidence

And finally, the coaching staff has to get this group back to feeling like a confident, connected team. That heavy, stuck feeling around the Jets early in the season can’t happen again. If the room needs to engage and guys feel their roles matter, everything else becomes much easier.

It’s been a rotten year, no doubt. However, the pieces for a rebound are all right there. If they stay healthy, make smart moves, and regain their confidence, the Jets could once again resemble the competitive team they’re capable of being next season.

Related: A Bold Jets Plan Emerging Around Jonathan Toews’ Future?