4 teams that won’t win the Stanley Cup this year but could in 2021
3. Winnipeg Jets
This past season was clearly a disappointment for the Winnipeg Jets. After advancing to the Western Conference Final in 2018, the Jets championship window looked like it was just beginning with their young core. However, after consecutive disappointing seasons, the Jets are not as well off as they expected. But if the Jets can rebound with a strong offseason, they can bounce all the way back into Stanley Cup contention. They’ve got the talent, the goaltending, the playoff experience, and now they just need the depth.
The Jets defense was decimated last offseason with the departures of three key players but was left nearly barren when Dustin Byfuglien unexpectedly decided to sit out after a dispute with the team. With little more than Josh Morrissey on the blue line, the Jets trotted out one of the worst defenses in the league with not much they could do to fix it.
Despite the decimated blue line, the Jets got an otherworldly performance from Connor Hellebuyck, who will likely get a Vezina for his efforts, and should’ve received a nomination for the Hart. Combined with their young offensive core led by Mark Scheifele, the Jets were still able to tread water and hang around in the playoff race. The emergence of Kyle Connor and Nikolaj Ehlers has made their offense even more dangerous, and if they along with Patrik Laine continue to grow, they’re in a great spot for several years to come.
The Jets first, second, and third priority this offseason is the defense. They got blindsided last offseason, but this time there is no excuse. They have 15 contracts expiring, five of them on the defense, and plenty of money freed up to make significant improvements. The flat salary cap can give them an opportunity to trade for defensemen potentially being forced off of other teams, and there are plenty of solid options on the free agency market that shouldn’t be afraid to spend money on.
If Winnipeg can put together a defense that is even top half in the league, combined with Hellebuyck keeping this season’s pace and their evolving offensive stars, the Jets can easily return to their 2018 form, maybe this time with an even sweeter ending.