Winnipeg Jets Playoff Run: Which Players Are Most Crucial?

As the upcoming season approaches the questions is raised of what is crucial to the Winnipeg Jets making a postseason run or in fact which players are the most crucial to this run? During the past season the Jets saw an early exit to their postseason run against the Anaheim Ducks, but had certain key players stood up and made a statement in this series would the Jets run have been longer? What must these key players do this season to ensure that the Jets do not see an early postseason exit?

The first player that is essential to a Winnipeg Jets playoff run is of course the team’s captain in that of Andrew Ladd. Ladd has won a total of two Stanley Cups with the Hurricanes and Blackhawks and with this experience he brings a strong presence into the Jets locker room.

With any team it usually starts with the captain being the most essential to a Jets postseason run and the Jets are no exception. During their 4 game series against the Ducks, Ladd only recorded 1 point and held a plus/minus of -3. If the Jets intend on a long postseason run (and of course they do) they will need to see a better performance from their captain in that of Andrew Ladd.

Winnipeg Jets /

Winnipeg Jets

The second player that is most crucial to a Jets playoff run is goaltender Ondrej Pavelec. When it comes to any postseason run one could argue that it is the goaltender who can will his team all the way to the cup, that it is defense that gets your team far during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. During the Jets past postseason run Pavelec did everything but will the Jets in their fight against the Anaheim Ducks.

During the postseason Pavelec posted an 0-4 record, allowing 15 goals, .891 save percentage, and 3.73 GAA. These are hardly stats that warrant your club going far in the postseason and place a burden on the rest of the club to make up for where their goaltender faltered, which can often be a difficult task. In order for the Jets to make a sustained postseason run they will have to see Pavelec perform better then the previous season or else we will be in the same position next season as we are now (or we might see Hutchinson take the reigns?)

As of right now I can think of no players more crucial to the Jets sustaining a long postseason run then their Captain Andrew Ladd and starting goaltender Ondrej Pavelec. As the season progresses we will see more players begin to stand out and hold a greater role in a Jets postseason run, but as of right now if the Jets don’t want to get knocked out in 4 games they need to see their Captain and goaltender perform better.

What do you guys think? Are Ladd and Pavelec the most essential to a Jets postseason run or is it someone else? Comment below and join in on the discussion.

Next: Winnipeg Jets Number Ten Prospect: Jansen Harkins

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