Jets’ downward slide shocks ’Peg fans

Winnipeg Jets fans got quite a shock in January when an 11-game winless streak during the middle of what had been a mediocre National Hockey League season dumped the Jets into 32nd place overall in the 32-team NHL.

It was an unbelievable downturn for the Jets, who were coming off a season in 2024-25 when they won the prestigious President’s Trophy as overall points leader in the NHL. Most teams which suffer declines do it gradually — a pennant one year might lead to a middle-of-the-pack finish the following season, with missing the playoffs next in line before a rebuild begins.

For the Jets this season, it was like they plummeted from the top of Mount Everest.

Thankfully for those who live and die with the Jets’ prospects, however, there was hope on the horizon. The Jets ran off a four-game mini winning streak which included three home-ice victories and then a solid 4-1 triumph in Minneapolis that may have signalled the worst was over.

But the 11-game winless streak was worrisome. The Jets lost only 22 games last season; they hit 22 defeats in the first 42 games this year. Their secondary scoring was dismal; the team was being carried by the top line of Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor and Gabriel Vilardi, which accounted for nearly 50 per cent of the Jets’ goals through the first half of the season. (Vilardi has lately been moved to the second line, replaced by Alex Iafallo.)

Some of that scoring from secondary sources has recently shown signs of life. Off-season signee Jonathan Toews scored in four consecutive games to reach seven for the season but offence from expected sources like Cole Perfetti (three this year) and Nino Niederreiter (seven, after 17 last season) was quiet.

Analysts are puzzled about the Jets’ troubles. About the only key departure in the off-season was winger Nikolaj Ehlers, who signed as a free agent with Carolina. Ehlers was third in points and fourth in goals on the team last year, and played a key role on the powerplay. For the most part, however, the team is essentially the same.

Offensive output from almost everyone except the big three is way down, and the miraculous play of goalie Connor Hellebuyck, last year’s Vezina Trophy winner and MVP, can only carry a team so far. One big gainer has been defenceman Logan Stanley, who scored one goal in each of the last four seasons, but was sitting at eight through 45 games this year. Fellow blueliner Josh Morrissey was his usual brilliant self, quarterbacking the powerplay and putting up his normal point-per-game offensive numbers as he geared up to skate for Canada’s Olympic team.

After that recent winless streak reached 11 games, Jets’ coach Scott Arniel said, “I think we are all getting mental right now in the sense that it’s in everybody’s head.”

Arniel and Jets’ fans hope the team’s rebound continues after the Olympic break. They’ve been to the top and they’ve experienced life at the bottom and there’s no doubt the view is much better from the higher elevation.

OUT OF BOUNDS

• Comedy guy Torben Rolfsen of Vancouver: “Colorado Rockies hired Paul DePodesta as their president of baseball operations. DePodesta previously worked for the A’s, Padres, Indians and Mets, so he brings a strong background in losing to the Mile High City.”

• From fark.com: “Dak Prescott dusts off the script, changes all the ‘2025s’ to ‘2026’, and vows that, yea, verily, next season will be different.”

• Columnist Norman Chad, on Twitter: “New England Patriots DT Christian Barmore is facing a misdemeanor charge of assault and battery on a household/family member. And Patriots WR Stefon Diggs is facing a felony charge of strangulation and a misdemeanor charge of assault. Is Urban Meyer coaching the Pats now?”

• RJ Currie of sportsdeke.com: “I grew up with four sisters who would watch horror movies with hands over eyes, scarcely daring to peek between trembling fingers. These days, that’s how I watch the Winnipeg Jets.”

• Another one from Cathal Kelly on the powerful Dodgers getting even stronger by signing Kyle Tucker: “Whoever they play will be afraid. Some teams will be beaten on the drive into Chavez Ravine.”

• Columnist Norman Chad, on X: “I believe Sean McVay would’ve fired himself if he lost to the Panthers (in the NFL wildcard game), so Colby Parkinson’s remarkable touchdown catch just saved his coach’s job.”

• Janice Hough of leftcoastsportsbabe.com: “How long until Tom Brady gives Trump one of his many trophies and Donald declares himself a Super Bowl champion?”

• Another one from RJ Currie: “At the Grand Slam of Curling event in Steinbach, Man., team John Shuster cut the sleeves off their outfits and played with exposed biceps. Or in typical U.S. fashion, they exercised their right to bare arms.”

• Headline at fark.com: “The Dodgers have the biggest dump truck of money and it just made a stop at Kyle Tucker’s house.”

• Another fark.com headline: “John Harbaugh agrees to become the next coach fired by the New York Giants.”

» Care to comment? Email brucepenton2003@yahoo.ca