New in Town: Winnipeg Jets

After an outstanding 2017-18 season that saw the Winnipeg Jets make it to the Western Conference Final, the team enters this season with something new: high expectations.

The momentum the team gathered from its playoff run, though, was quickly halted by the harsh realities of its salary cap situation. After watching midseason acquisition Paul Stastny leave for Vegas — the team that ousted them from the playoffs — the club declined to bring in front-line talent, instead locking down its core.

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But that doesn’t mean that there won’t be any new faces this season.

Leap of faith: Kristian Vesalainen

Jack Roslovic stands to the gain the most from the departure of Stastny. The team’s most productive player on a per-minute basis in 31 appearances last season will certainly take on a full-time role with the Jets this year, and potentially from the highly-lucrative second-line centre spot.

Therefore the new face likely steps into Roslovic’s role from last season, which was a bottom-nine swingman, of sorts. Despite a significant loss in Stastny, there still isn’t much room to break into Winnipeg’s ultra-talented lineup.

Signed to his entry-level deal in the offseason, another former first rounder in Kristian Vesalainen may have had the inside track on Nic Petan, Mark Dano and grittier options like Brendan Lemieux for Roslovic’s old role, but without a single point in the preseason to date one of the top scorers in Finland last season certainly hasn’t yet nailed down his spot.

Prove it player: Marko Dano

Once a highly-touted prospect and an integral piece acquired in return for former captain Andrew Ladd, Dano has failed to deliver on the promise he displayed during his first taste in the NHL. In his first 35 games, the former first-round pick tallied eight goals and 21 points. In his 95 NHL games since, he has only produced 11 goals and 24 points.

The Jets brought Dano back this season on a one-year deal worth $800K, so this may be the Austrian’s last chance at proving he can play in the big leagues.

The last, last line of defense: Laurent Brossoit

After trading Steve Mason and letting Michael Hutchinson walk, Winnipeg was in need of a cost-efficient backup — and Laurent Brossoit presented himself as a viable option.

Off the ice, Brossoit and Jets starting goalie Connor Hellebuyck share a couple of similarities. The two are represented by the same agent, and both subscribe to the same goaltending guru. So the chemistry in the goaltending room should be great.

But on the ice, the newly acquired backup hasn’t seen the same results. Last season, the 25-year-old played a career-high 14 games for the Oilers and struggled in his opportunities. His save percentage of .883 was second worst among pipe protectors who played in at least 14 games.

Winnipeg is likely to make Hellebuyck earn every bit of that hefty new contract extension.

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