Fansided

Projecting every NHL team’s chances of hoisting the Stanley Cup in 2019

By Griffin Youngs

LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 07: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals celebrates with the Stanley Cup after defeating the Vegas Golden Knights in Game Five of the Stanley Cup Final during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena on June 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/NHLI via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 07: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals celebrates with the Stanley Cup after defeating the Vegas Golden Knights in Game Five of the Stanley Cup Final during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena on June 7, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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LAS VEGAS, NV – MAY 18: Patrik Laine #29 of the Winnipeg Jets is congratulated by his teammates after scoring a second-period goal against the Vegas Golden Knights in Game Four of the Western Conference Finals during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena on May 18, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – MAY 18: Patrik Laine #29 of the Winnipeg Jets is congratulated by his teammates after scoring a second-period goal against the Vegas Golden Knights in Game Four of the Western Conference Finals during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena on May 18, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

3. Winnipeg Jets

The Winnipeg Jets didn’t just take a massive step forward and make the playoffs last year, the blew the door off and made it all the way to the Western Conference Finals. With a record year behind them, the Jets will look to take the final step and take home the Stanley Cup.

Last season the Jets surpassed all expectations and finished second in the entire league with 114 points, going all the way to the Conference Finals before losing in five games to the Vegas Golden Knights.

Why they could win

Winnipeg is an offensive powerhouse, and they will stay that way for years to come with one of the youngest rosters in the league.

No one single player leads the way for Winnipeg on offense, but the most important name is Patrik Laine. The 19 year old Finnish star came second in the league in goals with 44 goals, surpassed only by Alex Ovechkin, and has nowhere to go but up in his third full season. Mark Schiefele is still one of the most underrated centers in the league, Blake Wheeler is coming off a 91 point season, and Nikolaj Ehelers and Kyle Connor are both developing into elite forwards at left wing. The average age of that core? Just 23 years old.

When you see a team so stacked on offense, the logical assumption is that the defense is lacking, but that is not at all the case with Winnipeg. They actually have a deep defensive core with some great talent leading the way. Dustin Byfuglien is still at the top of his game 33 years old, Josh Morrissey proved he was a reliable top pair defender, plus support from Jacob Trouba and Tyler Myers makes them dangerous.

Connor Hellebuyck was the true final piece that put it all together for the Jets last season and why they became the threat that they were. For years it was the goaltending that kept the Jets from success, and finally they got what they needed and then some from Hellebuyck.

Why they won’t win

The center depth in Winnipeg is lacking after losing Paul Stastny to free agency, and they need to fix that before or during the season. To go deep in the playoffs, a team needs at the every least three talented centers to carry the team deep. They had that with Stastny after trading for him, but Adam Lowry won’t give that kind of production.

Backup goaltender is also a spot that could need a patch during the season. Winnipeg signed Laurent Brossoit this offseason to backup Hellebuyck, even after his struggles in Edmonton. Maybe Brossoit improves in a backup role and some experienc under his belt but its a gamble. If Hellebuyck gets hurt or tired this season, they are in deep trouble.

Conclusion

The Jets are such a fun team to watch, and the pieces are in place for another deep playoff run. They’ve got some holes to fill, especially at center and backup goalie, but that is nothing that can’t be fixed during the season through trades. Even without that at the moment, the Jets are absolutely Stanley Cup contenders with a deep offense, a stacked defense and a Vezina caliber goaltender. With the city of Winnipeg behind them once again, anything is possible for the Jets.

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