• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • Atlantic Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Metropolitan Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Dallas Stars
      • Minnesota Wild
      • Nashville Predators
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • Pacific Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • NHL Rumors
  • THW Podcast
  • NHL Prospects
  • Columns
  • NWHL
  • More…
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • Long Read
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
    • Fantasy Hockey
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Resources
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • Atlantic Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Metropolitan Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Dallas Stars
      • Minnesota Wild
      • Nashville Predators
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • Pacific Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • NHL Rumors
  • THW Podcast
  • NHL Prospects
  • Columns
  • NWHL
  • More…
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • Long Read
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
    • Fantasy Hockey
Home
Winnipeg Jets

4 Bold Jets Predictions

By Judson Rempel September 28th, 2016

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Training camp has started across the National Hockey League. Which means that it’s time for one of the best parts of the hockey season: bold predictions. Here are four bold (bordering on ridiculous) predictions for the Winnipeg Jets’ upcoming season:

4. The Jets Will Finish Second in the Division

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports

Predicting the Jets to make the playoffs, while not the popular choice, isn’t all that ridiculous. But powered by an influx of talent, the further maturation of Mark Scheifele, Jacob Trouba and Connor Hellebuyck, and leadership from Blake Wheeler and Dustin Byfuglien, the Winnipeg Jets will surprise everyone in the league by dominating divisional play and earning a spot in the playoffs, along with home ice advantage in the first round.

Your record against your divisional opponents has a huge impact on where you finish in the standings. Last year, the Jets only managed 11 wins in 29 tries. But flash back just one year, and you’ll see that the Jets actually dominated their division, going 16-8-5 on their way to a wild card spot. If Winnipeg can tighten up their game against their divisional rivals, and stay .500 everywhere else, they could easily finish near the top of their division.

Insane Prediction: They Finish First in the League and Make It to the Conference Final

For all the same reasons they could be second in the division, they could also win the entire league and run over a few teams in the playoffs. I mean, realistically, if they had a .750 winning percentage against each division, they would be doing pretty well.

3. Ondrej Pavelec Will Put up Career Numbers…and Be Traded

Ondrej Pavelec Winnipeg Jets

Andy Martin Jr

Ondrej Pavelec has long been a talking point in Winnipeg. His career numbers are not promising, yet he continues to be the starting goalie for the Jets. Pavelec has a habit of making outstanding, sometimes ridiculous, saves. He also occasionally lets in very bad goals that the other 29 goalies in the league would have stopped.

But this year, he is not just fighting for a spot but also a contract. Pavelec is in the last year of his contract and will need a good year with prospects Connor Hellebuyck and Eric Comrie on their way up. Considering the prospect cupboard built by Kevin Cheveldayoff since 2011, Pavelec is not likely a part of their plans. And Pavelec does not have a no-movement clause, so he is expendable to the Jets.

In a time-share with Hellebuyck, Pavelec puts up a 2.31GAA and .928SV%, and gets flipped for a pick and prospect at the trade deadline.

Insane Prediction: Pavelec Is Traded to a Contender, Takes the Starting Job Through Injury, and Leads Them to a Stanley Cup

It would be a great story for Pavelec, and would begin a long string of questions asking if “Pavelec is a bad goalie or a good goalie behind a bad team?”

2. Blake Wheeler Will Hit Point-Per-Game Production and Finish the Season with 90 Points

Blake Wheeler has been solid every year since arriving in Winnipeg, but last year he took it to another level. Wheeler played all 82 games and finished with 26 goals and 52 assists. He formed a potent pairing with Scheifele near the end of the year and added more firepower when Nikolaj Ehlers joined. But he isn’t done.

Blake Wheeler was named the captain of the Winnipeg Jets during the off-season. He’s excited about it and ready to begin another season.

Jets name Blake Wheeler captain. MORE: https://t.co/cMEkFpeC1L pic.twitter.com/XOcajnTax5

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) August 31, 2016

Wheeler will start the year off with Scheifele, with whom he had instant chemistry. Ehlers will likely occupy the other spot to start the year. That gives Wheeler a lot of skill to work with on offence. The general consensus, however, is that spot will belong to newcomer Patrik Laine shortly. Having a shoot-first player on the wing would be great for Wheeler, and will boost his assist total.

Insane Prediction: Blake Wheeler Wins the Art Ross Trophy

Wheeler connects instantly with Scheifele and Laine, and that line drives the offence every single game. Wheeler finishes with more than 100 points and ends up leading the league.

1. Patrik Laine Hits 35 Goals in His Rookie Season

The Winnipeg Jets were the real winners of the 2016 Draft Lottery, jumping up to the second spot and taking Patrik Laine. If you were looking for an interesting story to follow this year, it will be that of Laine and his rookie year in the NHL.

While Auston Matthews went number one, Laine made it known that he believes he deserved that honor. He isn’t shy about his skill and that’s a good thing; mainly because he backs it up with his play. Laine has played against men in Finland and can’t wait to take his Ovechkin/Stamkos-like game to Winnipeg.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sK1RL-ANM3s

With either sheltered minutes on a line with Bryan Little or playing hard minutes with skill players like Scheifele and Wheeler, Laine will be given every opportunity to score, as most of his teammates play ‘pass first’. Laine does not, nor should he ever try to play that way. The Jets have needed a pure goal scorer since they got rid of Evander Kane (who had the potential). Laine will finish the season north of 50 points, but the bulk of those will be goals, likely coming from the top of the circle on a one-timer.

Insane Prediction: Laine Scores 77 Goals and Breaks Selanne’s Rookie Goal Record.

Maybe the stars are all aligning. A first round draft pick. Finnish-born. Known for goal scoring. Already played at a high level in world championship tournaments. A name that appears normal, but is oddly difficult to pronounce for certain broadcasters. The two best centers on the team include a 23-year-old and a veteran player under six feet who has only ever played for one franchise.

It’s going to happen, just wait!

  • Tags
  • Blake Wheeler
  • Mark Scheifele
  • Ondrej Pavelec
  • Patrik Laine
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Facebook Comments

Our Hockey Podcast
hockey podcast
Bruce’s Picks
Blues' Top Line is Red Hot

Blues' Top Line is Red Hot

408
2019 NHL Trade Deadline: Deal Tracker

2019 NHL Trade Deadline: Deal Tracker

1921
Recent Posts
Feb 19th 6:42 PM
Edmonton Oilers

NHL Rumor Update: Duchene, Silfverberg, Puljujarvi, More

Feb 19th 4:51 PM
Chicago Blackhawks

NHL News & Notes: Byfuglien, Byron, Weise & More

Feb 19th 4:50 PM
Boston Bruins

Bruins Interest in Stone is Well Warranted

Feb 19th 4:30 PM
Column

Predators Prowl: P.K. Loses Subban Brother Battle

Feb 19th 4:14 PM
NHL Rumors

NHL Trade Deadline: Our Top 10 Must-Watch List

Feb 19th 1:40 PM
Archives

Ranking the Canucks 2000s First-Round Picks

Feb 19th 1:05 PM
Long Read

Canucks’ Trade Deadline Targets

Feb 19th 12:50 PM
Long Read

Penguins Pulpit: Could Malkin Save the Season?

Feb 19th 12:49 PM
Edmonton Oilers

Oilers’ Plan One Week From NHL Trade Deadline

Feb 19th 12:02 PM
NHL Rumors

NHL Rumors: Duchene, Stone, Panarin, Staal, More

Stay in Touch
Contact Us

Via our Newsletters
RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Our Partners
HFBoards

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

Join over 18 000 Subscribers of our free bi-weekly Newsletter.

© The Hockey Writers 2018. All rights reserved.
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • Search THW
  • NHL Rumors
  • The Goalie Page
  • Atlantic Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
  • Metropolitan Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Dallas Stars
    • Minnesota Wild
    • Nashville Predators
    • St Louis Blues
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • Pacific Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Vegas Golden Knights
    • Vancouver Canucks
  • Selections From Our Archives
  • Podcast
  • Prospects
  • NHL Salary Cap Information
  • Join Our Team