Winnipeg Jets: Three Things Dave Lowry Should Do To Make the Playoffs

2. Make Some Changes in the Jets Bottom Six

The Jets should get dynamic forward Nikolaj Ehlers back into the lineup shortly after the all-star break. In his absence rookie, Cole Perfetti has exceeded expectations at the NHL level fitting in seamlessly on the Jets’ best line with Pierre Luc Dubois and all-star Kyle Connor.

For Dave Lowry, this creates one of those good problems to have, as he can move a player down in the lineup to help inject some offense into the bottom six. The Jets’ bottom six forwards this season have been disappointing in terms of contributing any secondary offense and establishing any type of identity.

My solution would be to move Blake Wheeler on to the third line with Adam Lowry and Paul Stastny. I’m not one of those fans who think that Wheeler is done as a player. However, it’s clear this season that he would be better suited to a third line role, giving up his spot to the more offensively talented Perfetti or Ehlers.

A third line of Wheeler-Lowry-Stastny would be defensively responsible and should be able to score against more favorable matchups. It also allows Lowry to pick and choose three players for the fourth line from Jansen Harkins, Dominic Tonitato, Kristian Vesalainen, Austin Poganski, Evgeny Svechnikov, and David Gustafsson when he returns from injury.

Creating some competition for a fourth line spot, and sending a clear message to establish an identity as a high energy, hard forechecking fourth line might lead to better results.