![]() To challenge for a playoff berth, the Jets will need a hot and healthy Pavelec, a more rugged defence and a net-crashing Kane proving that all that money was well spent and not twittered away. In their place are well-traveled former first-round draft pick Al Montoya and Mark Dekanich, who has one game of NHL experience. ![]() Gone are backups Chris Mason, a free-agent signing by the Nashville Predators, and Jonas Gustavsson, now of the Detroit Red Wings. Pavelec can be brilliant but on the nights he isn't Winnipeg is thin for a replacement. In goal, the Jets are utterly dependent on Ondrej Pavelec, who had a goals against average of 2.91 and a save percentage of. To their credit, fellow defencemen Mark Stuart and Zach Bogosian (still recovering from wrist surgery) try but need to be more effective. Overall, the Jets need Byfuglien to set a physical tone in their end of the rink. When he's not, the 260-plus pounder can be a liability. Given the shortness of the season, it's not clear how long of a look the Jets are willing to give their young ace.ĭefensively, Winnipeg relies heavily on Byfuglien, whose first inclination is to jump into the offensive fray or use his booming slap shot to score goals –when he's in shape, that is. He has the skills but needs time to develop. He played in seven NHL games last season and scored once. Scheifele, the 2011 first-round draft pick, could be the surprise. Jets' head man Claude Noel will need three hands to push all of Jokinen's buttons. ![]() Despite his size and experience, Jokinen's consistency has driven coaches mad with his on-again, off-again showings. Jokinen is the proven shooter who scored 23 goals last season with the Calgary Flames but comes with a unshakeable reputation. Ponikarovsky is a usable two-way player who can score a dozen or so goals. Added to the group are three faces that could help out.įree agency brought in the likes of forwards Alex Ponikarovsky and Olli Jokinen while 19-year-old centre Mark Scheifele will head to training camp having scored five times for Canada in the world junior tournament. Defenceman, and perennial enigma, Dustin Byfuglien had 12 goals and 41 assists and played a lot of minutes. Captain Andrew Ladd had 28 goals and 50 points. Blake Wheeler led the team in scoring with 64 points. Luckily enough for him he should have lots of help scoring goals. Was the KHL not for Kane? Was Kane giving it his all? With that new contract from the Jets, the reality is Kane has to prove his worth and he has to do it quickly. And let’s not forget the delicious irony in posting a photo of yourself at a expensive suite in Vegas talking into a stack of money and then filing for bankruptcy just a few years later. The talented forward scored 30 goals last season but was badly out of sync with Dynamo Minsk, the KHL team that released him in November after he scored just one goal. Evander Kane playing like he placed a large bet for the sharks to win Reply. An inspired Kane would be a good place to start.
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