The Hockey News foresees Jets as Stanley Cup champs in 2019

The latest edition of The Hockey News predicts the Winnipeg Jets will be Stanley Cup champs in just four years.

"Hope I’m still here. With my luck I'll be out of here and they'll win in it in 2018," Blake Wheeler told reporters after Tuesday's practice, referring to the 2011 cup run by the Boston Bruins — he was traded 58 games into that season.

The magazine cover features the team's young stars Mark Scheifele, Jacob Trouba and prospect Nikolaj Ehlers. Under their images, it reads: "Meet your 2019 Stanley Cup Champions. Yes, we mean the Winnipeg Jets."

It's high praise for a team that is hoping to make the playoffs for the first time since it was the Atlanta Thrashers back in 2007.

The franchise, which moved to Winnipeg and relaunched as the Jets in the 2011-2012 season, currently sits in 12th place in the 30-team league.

It is fifth in the Western Conference, with a record of 32-20-12 (W-L-OTL) for 76 points, clinging to the first of two wild card playoff positions.

Scheifele told reporters on Tuesday the magazine's assertion is a compliment, but there is a lot of work to do before it ever becomes a reality.