The Winnipeg Jets are more than a quarter of the way through the 2021-2022 regular season. The Jets were briefly on top of the Central Division, but have struggled in the past two weeks, losing six out of their last seven games as they have dropped into third place in the division.
One thing that has been noticeable during this poor run of form from the Jets is they have lost their goal scoring touch. The Jets have only scored three or more goals during this seven-game span and they won that game, while they have lost the rest of their games where they have failed to score more than three goals.
The Winnipeg Jets should change their lines back to the way they were at the end of October and the start of November
A couple of games into the season, the Jets suffered a setback when both Blake Wheeler and Mark Scheifele entered the COVID-19 Protocol. When that happened, the Jets rearranged their lines and went on an eight-game point streak. Winnipeg won six of those games including scoring 33 goals over those eight games.
The Jets had a top line of Connor-Dubois-Svechnikov who provided timely goals. The second line consisted of Harkins, Copp, and Ehlers. Upon Scheifele’s and Wheeler’s returns, they were placed on a line with Adam Lowry, and Finally, Toninato, Nash, and Vesalainen rounded out the fourth line.
The Jets’ coaching staff then decided to rearrange the lines once again during the Jets’ two-game mini-series against the Edmonton Oilers. Since then it has not gone well for the Jets. Wheeler replaced Svechnikov on the top line, Scheifele was moved to center with Ehlers and Copp, and Lowry got two new linemates in Harkins and Svechnikov.
Since November 18, Scheifele has not scored, Wheeler has no goals and two assists, Dubois only has two goals, but scored nine goals before that date, Connor has four points compared to the twenty points he had in his first fifteen games of the season, and Svechnikov only has one point.
These stats show that across the Jets’ depth chart each player has struggled since the Jets changed their lines around. Ultimately, over the past two weeks, Winnipeg’s offense has struggled immensely and they have lost all but one of their last seven games.
Now can be a great time for the Jets to change things up and bring the lines back to what they were during their great run of form from earlier in the season. Here is our proposed depth chart:
Connor-Dubois-Svechnikov
Harkins-Copp-Ehlers
Lowry-Scheifele-Wheeler
Toninato-Nash-Stastny
The Jets will look to get out of this slump and back into the win column on Friday night when they host the New Jersey Devils at the Canada Life Centre.
Winnipeg Jets Fans: Do you agree with our proposed line changes? Leave your comments below!