TEMPER YOUR EXPECTATIONS…
Obviously, there are players to hype up and hope to see more from, but there are also players that generate buzz who might not be ready to deliver at this time.
Logan Stanley
2021-22 NHL Stats: 58 GP, 1 G, 12 A, 13 PTS
Nicknamed “Big Stan,” the 6’7 defenceman now has two NHL seasons under his belt and is often one of the most talked about Jets among the fanbase. Stanley, the Jets’ 18th pick in 2016, is hailed for the stature and grit that he brings to the Jets.
With that said, Stanley struggles mightily with speed and transition. His game can be highly flawed and has hurt the Jets on many occasions, but the size and sandpaper in his game has seemingly insulated him from the same criticisms that are targeted at other players.
Stanley, at this moment, is likely best used in a sheltered third pairing role or as the seventh defenceman and should be viewed as such until he takes some steps.
Jansen Harkins
2021-22 NHL Stats: 77 GP, 7 G, 6 A, 13 PTS
Harkins has bounced around the lineup over the past few seasons, often filling in for players out with injury. There’s no doubt that Harkins is among the hardest working Winnipeg Jets, often sending himself into the offensive zone faster than most people drive, but there hasn’t been a lot else to see.
Some people within the organization and the fanbase seem to believe there’s more to his game than what he’s let on. So far, aside from keeping up, he is often the forgotten winger on his lines when it comes to scoring. Perhaps it’s a positioning or hockey IQ issue, but something just seems to be missing when it comes to moving the puck up ice.
He seems to be destined for a bottom-six role, which isn’t a bad thing to have on a team, but the expectation he takes a step into the top-six seems a bit exaggerated.
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All of these players have something to prove this year, as does the Jets organization. Opening the year with the “Run it Back” mentality and a new coach, the players seem like they have a chip on their shoulders to prove that last year’s season was an outlier, and the playoffs will be a regular occurrence in the Manitoba capital.