Least excitement for start of a season?

[Hunter368]

The Jets finished last season very strongly.

It's hard to assess their playoff performance vs. the Cup champs because of the injuries to their top C, a top winger (Ehlers), and their Norris candidate on D.

This Jets team isn't in the very top tier, but it is in the top 10-12 of the league, and has the cap space to add significantly at the TDL, if the team is performing well.

Injuries are always part of any team, so that’s not an excuse, just like lack of depth isn’t which was a huge problem last year with those injuries.

What is the Jets long term plans? I see a team desperately trying to patch a team together for one more playoff run, with really no significant chance of going deep. So what happens next year after this season, especially if Mark & Helle aren’t traded/signed?

We have a backup goalie as our starter, top 9 centre trying to find his way in the NHL in the two most critical areas of the team and an older weak D core some who likely won’t be here next year with who replacing them. Middle of the pack prospect pool. What’s next? Are we hoping to sign as a FA a 1C and a good starting goalie?

I want to see the positives but I cannot see many here, all I see is desperation by the organization and some very optimistic fans.

 

[Whileee]

The second half need to be assessed. Dressing room or other issues? Team defence in first half was marvellous.

Team defense was even better in the second half. The Jets were 8th in the NHL in xGF% (5v5) in the second half, and top 10 in xGA/60 (5v5).

Sharing again last season's trend in xGF and xGA. Notice how the xGA/60 gets lower and lower during the last 20-30 games?

 

[Whileee]

Injuries are always part of any team, so that’s not an excuse, just like lack of depth isn’t which was a huge problem last year with those injuries.

What is the Jets long term plans? I see a team desperately trying to patch a team together for one more playoff run, with really no significant chance of going deep. So what happens next year after this season, especially if Mark & Helle aren’t traded/signed?

We have a backup goalie as our starter, top 9 centre trying to find his way in the NHL in the two most critical areas of the team and an older weak D core some who likely won’t be here next year with who replacing them. Middle of the pack prospect pool. What’s next? Are we hoping to sign as a FA a 1C and a good starting goalie?

I want to see the positives but I cannot see many here, all I see is desperation by the organization and some very optimistic fans.

I really don't understand the "injuries don't matter" argument. If injuries to top players don't matter, then having top players doesn't matter, either. It's really nonsensical.

Nobody really knows the plans for 55 and 37, but it seems that the Jets are considering signing Hellebuyck, and maybe Scheifele. But time will tell.

The fact is that almost every analytical ranking of teams have the Jets around #10 overall in the NHL, around where Vegas, TB, LAK, Calgary, etc. Those teams aren't folding their tents and trading top players to rebuild.

The Jets actually have a reasonably young core, beyond 55 and 37, and some nice prospects on the horizon. I don't think they are elite in either their roster or their pipeline, but both are solid and they have a good cap situation. Hellebuyck gives them a puncher's chance in the playoffs.

So, I'm looking forward to the season, and I'll let the long-term situation play out. Maybe a player like Barlow or McGroarty or Salomonsson pops into a Robertson / Hintz level, which is what completely transformed the Dallas franchise.

I'm okay with where they are this season, and they have some reasonable paths forward, too.

 

[Buffdog]

I'm be curious to know what people consider a "successful season" this year

To me, I'm happy with making the playoffs and winning one series.

Even if that doesn't happen, I'm looking forward to watching NHL hockey for the next few months. May even attend a few games, something I haven't done for a long time

 

[Mud Turtle]

Maybe a player like Barlow or McGroarty or Salomonsson pops into a Robertson / Hintz level, which is what completely transformed the Dallas

Don’t forget about Perfetti. I think he has the talent to be one of those guys.

 

[bustamente]

Don’t forget about Perfetti. I think he has the talent to be one of those guys.

I think and hope Perfetti has a real good season but he has to keep his F N head up.

 

[White Out 902]

I'm be curious to know what people consider a "successful season" this year

To me, I'm happy with making the playoffs and winning one series.

Even if that doesn't happen, I'm looking forward to watching NHL hockey for the next few months. May even attend a few games, something I haven't done for a long time

It's hard to even to find what success would look like right now. I think it's a organizational problem that you can ask a hundred Jets fans with the considered success and the criteria by which they would measure that would probably be in the dozens. Some people would considered a success if we did very poorly and we were forced to trade away some of these lame duck contracts. Others what defines success as some of our young players stepping into bigger rules. And I'm sure there's lots of people that would consider success getting in the playoffs and winning a series like you.

Organizationally we are adrift and rudderless and I think that's really bad for fan apathy and for the future of the on Ice product

 

[DEANYOUNGBLOOD17]

I’m looking forward to hosting the 2024 NhL draft in Winnipeg…. With the draft capital returned in the Schiefe/Hellybuck/ Dillon / Demello and J trade

 

[Hunter368]

I really don't understand the "injuries don't matter" argument. If injuries to top players don't matter, then having top players doesn't matter, either. It's really nonsensical.

Nobody really knows the plans for 55 and 37, but it seems that the Jets are considering signing Hellebuyck, and maybe Scheifele. But time will tell.

The fact is that almost every analytical ranking of teams have the Jets around #10 overall in the NHL, around where Vegas, TB, LAK, Calgary, etc. Those teams aren't folding their tents and trading top players to rebuild.

The Jets actually have a reasonably young core, beyond 55 and 37, and some nice prospects on the horizon. I don't think they are elite in either their roster or their pipeline, but both are solid and they have a good cap situation. Hellebuyck gives them a puncher's chance in the playoffs.

So, I'm looking forward to the season, and I'll let the long-term situation play out. Maybe a player like Barlow or McGroarty or Salomonsson pops into a Robertson / Hintz level, which is what completely transformed the Dallas franchise.

I'm okay with where they are this season, and they have some reasonable paths forward, too.

I never said injuries don’t matter, I said they aren’t an Excuse bc that’s where depth comes in and Jets didn’t have that so that’s the teams fault or weakness. No team can hope injuries won’t happen or maybe shouldn’t expect they won’t happen.

All rankings this summer I seen had the prospect pool at 14-16th OA, middle of the pack.

Mark & Helle have been completely non committal to-date and I’ve heard their comments and actions speak volumes. They either want out (likely) or at best waiting to see how the team does and then leverage a team that’s desperate for them for max deals.

I have no objections with some fans being optimistic about the season, I just see no reason to be optimistic and I’m just trying to be realistic like I always try to be. I see a bubble team at best, worst case is Jets squeak into the playoffs and don’t trade Mark and Helle and they walk for free after a weak playoffs……Jets become a AHL level bottom 5 team in the NHL next year with a meh (IE middle pack) prospect pool.

Whole point of the thread is to state if you’re excited about this year and I said nope not in the least and I was quoted by others. My POV hasn’t changed, seen no evidence to change it and I can’t see it happening even through the year.

I’m not trying to change anyone’s minds, it would appear some are trying to change my mind without success. Time will tell how this year goes and how next year goes. Seems like this is just a waste of time year to me. Only the Jets can change my mind and I don’t believe in miracles so…..

 

[ElysiumAB]

Meh-lers.

 

[Jet]

The second half need to be assessed. Dressing room or other issues? Team defence in first half was marvellous.

Yeah it's really a mystery. Team issues, systems or shit luck? It's just so weird that it dried up for everyone. Looking back I remember uncharacteristically bad play from guys like Connor, who seemed to have lost his hands, which could come with confidence. It's going to be interesting watching in the early season to see if the production returns to norm or just how much the system is limiting our scoring.

 

[Guardian17]

I excited for the season to begin!

 

[Jet]

I never said injuries don’t matter, I said they aren’t an Excuse bc that’s where depth comes in and Jets didn’t have that so that’s the teams fault or weakness. No team can hope injuries won’t happen or maybe shouldn’t expect they won’t happen.

All rankings this summer I seen had the prospect pool at 14-16th OA, middle of the pack.

Mark & Helle have been completely non committal to-date and I’ve heard their comments and actions speak volumes. They either want out (likely) or at best waiting to see how the team does and then leverage a team that’s desperate for them for max deals.

I have no objections with some fans being optimistic about the season, I just see no reason to be optimistic and I’m just trying to be realistic like I always try to be. I see a bubble team at best, worst case is Jets squeak into the playoffs and don’t trade Mark and Helle and they walk for free after a weak playoffs……Jets become a AHL level bottom 5 team in the NHL next year with a meh (IE middle pack) prospect pool.

Whole point of the thread is to state if you’re excited about this year and I said nope not in the least and I was quoted by others. My POV hasn’t changed, seen no evidence to change it and I can’t see it happening even through the year.

I’m not trying to change anyone’s minds, it would appear some are trying to change my mind without success. Time will tell how this year goes and how next year goes. Seems like this is just a waste of time year to me. Only the Jets can change my mind and I don’t believe in miracles so…..

Each fan should be allowed to participate in any way they see fit. I sometimes step on that and I am trying to get better at not doing it.

However, you've been presented with some very cogent arguments as to why there are reasons to be optimistic, but you've stated no one will change your mind and prefer to focus on the negatives.

That's totally fine - I respect that but damn IMO it would suck so bad to approach sports entertainment that way, especially considering in most pro sports, winning a championship is something that many fans never get to experience in their lifetimes.

Every year I look for the postitives and get excited. It doesn't mean I don't get upset about poor performance or dream of something better, but if I came in always expecting the worst I don't know how long I could stay a fan.

Recreation should always provide joy and if it doesn't, then why is someone doing it?

Go Jets Go!

 

[Mortimer Snerd]

Injuries are always part of any team, so that’s not an excuse, just like lack of depth isn’t which was a huge problem last year with those injuries.

What is the Jets long term plans? I see a team desperately trying to patch a team together for one more playoff run, with really no significant chance of going deep. So what happens next year after this season, especially if Mark & Helle aren’t traded/signed?

We have a backup goalie as our starter, top 9 centre trying to find his way in the NHL in the two most critical areas of the team and an older weak D core some who likely won’t be here next year with who replacing them. Middle of the pack prospect pool. What’s next? Are we hoping to sign as a FA a 1C and a good starting goalie?

I want to see the positives but I cannot see many here, all I see is desperation by the organization and some very optimistic fans.

This season could be really good. But some excessive pre-season optimism is more likely. In spite of some advanced stats saying otherwise, they were bad through most of the 2nd half last year. But since then they have added 5 legit forwards for the loss of 1. So the depth is better. So some optimism is justified - for the coming season.

Beyond that, not so much. We look poised to lose 5 starters after this season including our best player (Helle) and 1 of our top 2 skaters in Scheifele. The year after that we might be losing 7 more. Some of those 7 will be addition by subtraction and some may be extended but our most skilled player (Ehlers) is probably going to be gone.

If Scheifele and Helle are neither traded nor extended it appears that the plan is to wait on DD in goal the way we hung on to Pavelec while waiting for Helle. Drop down in the draft to get some high end replacements for the rest. The dreaded rebuild - but without the futures that Scheif and Helle could have brought.

So ..... one last kick at the cat. Lets just hope it is a good one.

 

[Royale With Cheese]

The beginning of every season is typically the peak of my optimism. This year too. I look at some of the off season changes and think of how most of the season went last year and of the belief we are going to be a better team than we were last year.

 

[PaulPooley]

After decades of watching the NHL I should know better than to draw conclusions about the team based on preseason performances, but that “dress rehearsal” against the Senators kind of reminded me too strongly of the second half of last season when they struggled across the board to create offence.

 

[raideralex99]

"Least excitement for a start of a season"????
What the **** are you even on here posting?
This doesn't even make sense!
Jets got rid of the problems of the past season and upgraded their depth ... that's an improvement, right?
I'm so sick of these negative posts especially when they don't even make sense.

 

[Mortimer Snerd]

I really don't understand the "injuries don't matter" argument. If injuries to top players don't matter, then having top players doesn't matter, either. It's really nonsensical.

Nobody really knows the plans for 55 and 37, but it seems that the Jets are considering signing Hellebuyck, and maybe Scheifele. But time will tell.

The fact is that almost every analytical ranking of teams have the Jets around #10 overall in the NHL, around where Vegas, TB, LAK, Calgary, etc. Those teams aren't folding their tents and trading top players to rebuild.

The Jets actually have a reasonably young core, beyond 55 and 37, and some nice prospects on the horizon. I don't think they are elite in either their roster or their pipeline, but both are solid and they have a good cap situation. Hellebuyck gives them a puncher's chance in the playoffs.

So, I'm looking forward to the season, and I'll let the long-term situation play out. Maybe a player like Barlow or McGroarty or Salomonsson pops into a Robertson / Hintz level, which is what completely transformed the Dallas franchise.

I'm okay with where they are this season, and they have some reasonable paths forward, too.

Correct me if I am wrong, but I don't think anyone said that injuries don't matter. It is that injuries are a poor excuse because every team has so many. They are such a big part of the game. But obviously they do matter if they happen to key players.

It may seem like Jets are considering re-signing them, but are they considering re-signing with Jets? Will it take bad contracts to get them signed?

Aside from Calgary, do those teams have top players angling for UFA?

Its easy to look forward to this season. But reasonable paths forward after that? IF they either sign or trade Helle and Scheifele and they play up to the new contracts for several years or the trade returns are good. OR if they manage a good, quick rebuild and/or/if one or more of the current crop of prospects really pops. Pretty fuzzy picture beyond this season. Probably a fairly quick drop down and rebound right back to the mushy middle.

 

[FlappyGiraffe]

I’m looking forward to hosting the 2024 NhL draft in Winnipeg…. With the draft capital returned in the Schiefe/Hellybuck/ Dillon / Demello and J trade

Would be pretty cool - I thought I saw something about the NHL wanting to do the draft at the Vegas dome next though

 

[Mortimer Snerd]

I'm be curious to know what people consider a "successful season" this year

To me, I'm happy with making the playoffs and winning one series.

Even if that doesn't happen, I'm looking forward to watching NHL hockey for the next few months. May even attend a few games, something I haven't done for a long time

I sort of agree with this and sort of don't. Assuming making the PO there are only 2 possibilities, either winning the Cup or losing the last series, regardless of which round it is. So, for me, it is not so much about which rd the loss comes in as it is about how that series goes - and ends. Jets have a history of getting asswhupped in that last series, even in '18. Whether it is rd 1 or rd 4, I want to see them go down fighting hard all the way. Take the series to 7 games. Take the last game to OT. That sort of thing.

What I really like to see each year is progress toward the ultimate goal. I know that can't always happen. There will be years when things don't go well. That's OK as long as the general direction is upwards, even by small increments. When the direction is backwards or just marking time in the bubble zone, I will be unhappy.

This season could be a substantial improvement on the last few seasons but then followed by a big step back without a clear path forward.

 

[DEANYOUNGBLOOD17]

I’m looking forward to hosting the 2024 NhL draft in Winnipeg…. With the draft capital returned in the Schiefe/Hellybuck/ Dillon / Demello and J trade

This prediction from 3 hours ago didn’t age well!

Scheifele and Hellybuck sign long term with Jets!

 

[Jet]

How do you feel now @Hunter368 ?

 

[SUX2BU]

This season could be really good. But some excessive pre-season optimism is more likely. In spite of some advanced stats saying otherwise, they were bad through most of the 2nd half last year. But since then they have added 5 legit forwards for the loss of 1. So the depth is better. So some optimism is justified - for the coming season.

Beyond that, not so much. We look poised to lose 5 starters after this season including our best player (Helle) and 1 of our top 2 skaters in Scheifele. The year after that we might be losing 7 more. Some of those 7 will be addition by subtraction and some may be extended but our most skilled player (Ehlers) is probably going to be gone.

If Scheifele and Helle are neither traded nor extended it appears that the plan is to wait on DD in goal the way we hung on to Pavelec while waiting for Helle. Drop down in the draft to get some high end replacements for the rest. The dreaded rebuild - but without the futures that Scheif and Helle could have brought.

So ..... one last kick at the cat. Lets just hope it is a good one.

Yeah, good one, Mort ……

 

[Whileee]

I posted a thread about the 37 and 55 contract extensions, but it seems to have been nuked by the mods? Maybe they are consolidating and working on a single thread.

 

[Mortimer Snerd]

The beginning of every season is typically the peak of my optimism. This year too. I look at some of the off season changes and think of how most of the season went last year and of the belief we are going to be a better team than we were last year.

Taking a positive look back on last year as a starting point for optimism - The first 42 games were good to excellent. 25 ish of the last 40 were bad. 5-10 of those were really bad. But the other 15 were good. So they were good for 55 ish games last year and bad for 25 ish games. Looked at that way they were good more than twice as often as they were bad. Add the changes since the worst of that bad stretch and don't bother going into the following season, and the case for optimism is quite strong. We added plus players in Nino and Names and added further depth in the return on PLD.

PLD himself was a mixed bag. At his best he could turn a game around almost on his own. At his worst, he might not have been there at all.

I think a lot of people have excessive expectations for Vilardi. They could be right but he probably doesn't substantially exceed last year's performance. I will be happy if he matches last year's per game production and comes close to playing a full season. If he does that we will have more than matched PLD's contribution from last year with the other 2 players we got.

Add to that a healthy Perfetti and we are quite a lot better at F. Most of the worst of last season came between the loss of Perfetti and the arrival of Nino and Names. And we can look forward to Ville coming back in Jan.