Winnipeg a team to watch for

[matchesmalone]

They have a very solid top line, one of the best top-4 D in the league with Bogosian, Enstrom, Byfuglien and Trouba. Two Calder Trophy candidates, arguably the best young power forward in the game with Kane, and now they've added one of the better defensive forwards around with Michael Frolik. The only thing I'd be concerned about as a Jets fan is the goaltending. Also while the depth on the roster is solid, if there are many injuries or some long-term injuries, the depth in the system might not be able to sustain them

[Josh]

Re: Winnipeg a team to watch for

Yeah, they really do have a good team. Poor Thrashers fans :/

[Dean Ambrose]

Re: Winnipeg a team to watch for

Yeah, they really do have a good team. Poor Thrashers fans :/

gotta feel sorry for all seven of em

[Josh]

Re: Winnipeg a team to watch for

Awwwwww, :lol:

[matchesmalone]

Re: Winnipeg a team to watch for

I love the moves the Jets have made lately. I remember an interview Cheveldayoff did with TSN from the pre-season, where he said he thought the team was short a couple top nine forwards, but was very happy with the defensive depth, and at the time Buff was even considered a winger.

Now that Adam Lowry has clearly established himself as a top nine forward, and Cheveldayoff has brought in Tlusty, Stafford and Stempniak, suddenly not only do they have a full compliment of top nine forwards, as good as most any team in the league, but Buff has been allowed to move back to defense where he's more comfortable, giving the Jets among the very best top-four defense cores in the NHL.

I really think the Jets are being overlooked due to the division they play in. People look at the standings and see they are a middle of the pack playoff team, but they've been hanging right in with the likes of Chicago and St. Louis, even despite a huge rash of injuries through December and January. If they were still in the East, they'd be battling for top spot in the Conference. I honestly think that not only are the Jets a playoff team, but they have what it takes to go on a run in the West, and are just another year of development from Trouba and Scheifele away from being a serious contender.

Ladd (6'3, 225) - Little - Wheeler (6'5, 225)
Perreault - Scheifele (6'3, 200) - Frolik (6'1, 200)
Tlusty (6'0, 210) - Lowry (6'5, 210) - Stafford (6'1, 215)
Stempniak - Slater - Thorburn (6'3, 235)
Halischuk/Galiardi/Peluso

Enstrom - Myers (6'8, 220)
Chiarot (6'3, 215) - Byfuglien (6'5, 260)
Stuart (6'2, 215) - Trouba (6'2, 200)
Harrison/Clitsome/Pardy/Postma

Hutchinson
Pavelec

Wow. Look at all the depth, both in top four defensemen as well as bottom end defensemen, and top six as well as bottom six forwards.

I made a point of listing players sizes because, not only can the Jets hang with the likes of Chicago and St. Louis in the standings, but they'll be able to match those teams, plus San Jose, Anaheim, LA, etc. in today's big man's, low-cycle, hard, heavy Western Conference playoffs.

[thedaigle1]

Re: Winnipeg a team to watch for

If Hutchinson is the real deal, yikes.

I think it helps significantly that this team is no longer a media circus. Paul Maurice seems pretty levelheaded and the roster is pretty modest now as far as personalities go. Andrew Ladd is probably the most quietly brilliant captain you'll find in the league.