One simple way to assess any team’s off-season, such as the Winnipeg Jets, is did they improve from last year.
On the face of it, the only real change made to the everyday lineup was the loss of Michael Frolik and the re-addition of Alexander Burmistrov; a swap that could be considered a wash, at best. Of course, there will be other changes. Nikolaj Ehlers and Nic Petan will fight for opening day spots in the lineup and the Jets appear to be ready to move away from Jim Slater.
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That’s what makes this assessment, well, not so simple and why this year will be an interesting year for the Jets organization. In four years back in Winnipeg, last year was the first time the Jets made the playoffs. Can virtually the same group continue this success, proving that maybe there was a deep change made within the rank when Paul Maurice became the head coach? Or will virtually the same group regress back out of the playoffs?
The first question is obviously the answer we all want but the latter remains a pessimist possible conclusion. The Jets are a team in a tough division within a tough conference that hasn’t done a lot to improve on the roster from last year.
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Of course, this is no indictment on general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff’s offseason. He continues to draft well and brought back Drew Stafford, a guy who many thought was just a productive rental after he came over from Buffalo in the Evander Kane trade. The development of the team’s prospects continues in what has always been stated as a long-term project and the Jets are poised to have a good team lined up for years to come.
But that’s the future and this is now. Will youthful additions and the return of Burmistrov be enough to sustain the current roster for a return visit to the post-season this year? Time will certainly tell.