The Winnipeg Jets are already in a rough patch, and the calendar is about to make things a lot less forgiving.
Tuesday’s 2-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues marked Winnipeg’s third straight defeat, and it came after a strong opening that saw the Jets win three of their first four. Since then, the slide has exposed problems all over the roster.
The biggest hit has been the absences. Winnipeg is still without Connor Hellebuyck, and now Josh Morrissey is out as well, listed week-to-week with an upper-body injury. That has shown up at both ends of the ice during this skid.
Offensively, the numbers have fallen flat over the last five games. The Jets have managed just 12 goals in that stretch, which comes out to 2.40 per game and ties the Dallas Stars for eighth-worst in the league over that span.
Defensively, they’ve allowed 16 goals, or 3.20 per game, which sits around the middle of the pack. In other words, neither side of the puck is carrying the load.
The scoring drought has spread beyond the team’s biggest names. Gabe Vilardi has no goals and four assists through nine games, and six other Winnipeg forwards still have not scored this season. That list includes recent top-eight pick Viggo Björck and Nino Niederreiter among others.
That kind of production is not new territory for the Jets. Last season, their forward group was already a concern, and Winnipeg finished in the bottom eight at 2.79 goals per game. A lot of that offense was propped up by star talent, and the early returns this season suggest the same issue is still hanging around.
That is part of the reason the Jets brought up Brayden Yager, who is red-hot and now gets a chance to provide a spark. His arrival comes just as Winnipeg heads to Dallas to face the Stars on Thursday.
And the timing could hardly be tougher. The Jets are about to go through a seven-game run that includes matchups with Stanley Cup contenders like the Stars, Tampa Bay Lightning and Carolina Hurricanes, along with two games each against the Montreal Canadiens and Florida Panthers.
If Winnipeg wants to avoid falling into a deeper hole, it has to clean up the issues that have already cost it games, starting with the loss to St. Louis and the uneven play that has followed it.
In Other News...
Jets Face A Hellebuyck Decision That Could Get Very Awkward
Connor Hellebuycks situation has sat over the Jets like a deadline since he was suspended for failing to report to training camp, and the clock is about to force everybodys hand. Winnipeg has been working through the fallout quietly, but the practical options are narrowing fast as the organization tries to avoid letting an already uncomfortable situation spill into the regular season picture.
If a trade still does not come together, the alternative paths are messy in their own ways for the Jets. They could keep paying him to stay away from the active roster, or bring him back into the fold under circumstances that would immediately test the locker room. NHL insiders have also floated the possibility of a conditioning stint in the AHL, which only adds another layer to a situation that has already become one of the leagues strangest early-season storylines. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Let A Tight Road Game Slip Away Despite Strong Goaltending
A tight road game in St. Louis still left Winnipeg with the sort of empty feeling that lingers after a one-goal loss. The Jets got strong work in net from Stuart Skinner, who made 26 saves, and they had enough of a push to stay right there with the Blues, but Joel Hofer was just as sharp at the other end with 32 stops as the game stayed close into the third period.
The difference came on special teams, where the Blues were perfect on the penalty kill and cashed in once on five power-play chances. Philip Broberg delivered the decisive goal on the man advantage, turning a hard-fought matchup into a 2-1 loss for Winnipeg and leaving the Jets with one more missed opportunity than they could afford. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Fans Will Have To Wait Longer On Kieron Walton
Kieron Walton was supposed to take the next step this season and begin his pro career with the Manitoba Moose after a strong junior campaign made him one of the more interesting Winnipeg Jets prospects to watch. Instead, the 2024 sixth-round pick is dealing with a lower-body injury that required surgery, putting his first AHL appearance on hold just as the Moose have settled into a solid start.
The timing stings a little because Manitoba has already gotten meaningful contributions from other Jets prospects, which only adds to the anticipation around Waltons eventual arrival. For now, though, the organization will have to wait a few more weeks before seeing how the young forward fits into a lineup that has already given Winnipeg plenty of reason to pay attention. [Read more 🡒]