This will likely be the preface to all of this year's Season Preview posts: Unlike in the distant past where I would post different texts on my personal blog (here) and my collectibles blog, I've been using a new format for the past couple of years, where I'll copy the same text on each one. As a father of two young kids, I just do not have enough time to write two separate posts per day on each blog. This year again, the entire scope of the analysis will take place first and the featured player will have a direct or perhaps indirect connection to what's written, below.
Caveats: At this point, despite training camp starting today, several players haven't found a team yet, (at least) three star players have active trade requests, and a few clubs are currently above the salary cap, which means there is much left to do.
Key Exits: Jonathan Toews (C), Gustav Nyquist (RW), Colin Miller (D), Eric Comrie (G), Ville Heinola (D), Jacob Bryson (D)
Key Arrivals: Stuart Skinner (G), Mario Ferraro (D), Noah Gregor (LW), Jack St. Ivany (D), Henry Thrun (D)
Top prospects: Viggo Björck (C, 18), Brad Lambert (C, 22), Elias Salomonsson (D, 22), Brayden Yager (C, 21), Sascha Boumedienne (D, 19), Isak Rosen (LW, 23), Nikita Chibrikov (RW, 23), Colby Barlow (LW, 21)
Let's not kid ourselves - the entire Winnipeg Jets' season rests on whether star goalie Connor Hellebuyck gets traded, and what the return for him might be; he is currently one of three star players with very public active trade requests, and while it is generally believed his trade list is much larger than Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin's (three teams, all contenders, most tight against the salary cap), there seems to be no Canadian teams on it, making contenders such as the Montréal Canadiens and Edmonton Oilers ineligible to offer assets for him, be they roster players, futures, draft picks, or a mix.
What makes their odds look good:
Three players with 30+ goals last season in Mark Scheifele (36, 103 points), Kyle Connor (39, 92 points), and Gabriel Vilardi (30, 69 points); one of the best all-around defensemen in the game in Josh Morrissey, and the best goaltender in the world (or what he is worth in trade chips) is a terrific starting point.
Question marks:
As much as I like both players, is there a better 2C option in the system or on the market than Adam Lowry or Vladislav Namestnikov? Should Skinner be given the reigns between the pipes, is this the year he finds consistency?
Outlook:
Pretty much this exact team finished first overall two years ago, and missed the playoffs entirely last year. With or without Hellebuyck, they should be half-way between those poles this season.
Prediction:
6th in the Central Division.
As expected, Hellebuyck didn't show up at training camp and was suspended by the team. And thus begins the chess match - or game of chicken. He is not slated to get paid until the regular season begins anyway, but in terms of performance, fellow star American goalie Jeremy Swayman missed training camp two years ago due to a contract dispute and had a very disappointing season trying to play catch-up, with a 22–29–7 record, 3.11 goals-against average, and an .892 save percentage. This is not out of the realm of possibility for Hellebuyck, even if he is the best at his profession. He could also declare himself ready to begin the season and rejoin the team on September 29th (the first day players get paid), at which point he would remain suspended for disciplinary reasons but it would be a way for the suspension to have an actual timeline - maybe a month, maybe a bit more, but I can't see the NHL allowing it to go longer than him forfeiting $1M of his $8.5M cap hit without forcing the NHLPA to step in with legal proceedings.
We are now three Vezinas, a Hart Trophy and an Olympic gold medal with Team USA (2026) removed from this fresh face, a promising fifth-round pick (130th overall in 2012) that ended up being, by far, the best of his class:
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