Winnipeg Free Press https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/jets-have-long-way-to-go-lots-of-games-to-play- determined-gm-says-460568553.html

Jets have long way to go, lots of games to play, determined GM says

By: Mike Sawatzky

If he's getting any satisfaction from his team's astonishing start in 2017-18, Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff isn't letting on.

Fiercely determined might be the best way to describe Cheveldayoff's mindset.

"I'd hate to sit here and tell you, 'It's good, it's the quarter point (of the season) and we're handing out all the awards,'" he said as his club took a well-deserved day away from the rink Tuesday before flying to Denver for Wednesday's game against the Colorado Avalanche. "Let's see what happens, because it couldn't be farther from the truth. It's basically hard to get there and it's harder to stay there."

Where the Jets are now is unprecedented.

After five post-season misses in six seasons since relocating from Atlanta, Winnipeg has bolted out of the gate with a 15-6-3 record. On Monday night, the Jets clobbered the Minnesota Wild 7- 2 but even inhaling the rarefied air of second place in the NHL's Western Conference didn't alter Cheveldayoff's mantra.

"You can't be (satisfied)," he said. "It's the nature of the game, it's competition every night. I tell you what, (on Wednesday) the Colorado Avalanche are going to try to beat us. There's no monopoly on winning. Whether you win the Stanley Cup or not, you've still got to go through the gauntlet of the season and you have to earn the right to get to the next level, and you run the gauntlet again."

Cheveldayoff resisted any talk of the Jets' current state being the new normal, emphasizing the importance of the players staying on task and earning the status of an elite team.

"We talk about it here all the time," he said. "We say it, the players say it to me. You're really trying to take it game by game... you seriously have to perform the next game. It's that kind of mentality, really. It's all well and good that whatever you've done, you've done. It's really what you need to do, moving forward. That's really the approach you take all the time... it's the same approach you take every year."

The Jets GM responded to questions on a variety of topics. Here's a sampling:

• A multiyear contract extension given to head coach Paul Maurice in the off-season was portrayed in some quarters as misguided. Cheveldayoff had a different view.

"I never got heat at all," said Cheveldayoff. "I walked upstairs, talked to (executive chairman) Mark Chipman (who) said, 'If you want to do it, do it.' That's the only heat I deal with.

"I get stopped on the street and people talk all the time and say, 'Great job getting the coach done.' Yeah, there's a faction of people (opposed) sure, but again, the person I listen to is myself and upstairs."

• Cheveldayoff said the decision to make Connor Hellebuyck the club's No. 1 goaltender in an often-trying 2016-17 has paid off. Hellebuyck has blossomed this fall, boasting a .927 save percentage, 2.31 goals-against average and a 13-2-2 record. He has shaved almost a third of a allowed per game and boosted his save percentage by 13 points.

Cheveldayoff doesn't sound as though he's surprised by the 24-year-old's transformation.

"I go back to the decision we made two years ago, when we said we're going to give Connor this opportunity, because if we don't, then... this would be his first year," he said.

"Like any athlete, he used the summer to continue to try to improve on things... and you get that opportunity to play again today. That, in essence, is pro sports and pro athletes... Anyone who has kids or deals with young people, until they make those decisions, you can tell them all you want but it's experience that everybody needs to go through or learn to make those decisions."

• Cheveldayoff said the moves he made to protect his core of veterans in the run-up to the NHL expansion draft was a response to the wishes of the players.

"Honestly, it goes back to the conversation I had with Toby Enstrom during that time," he said. "When you hear players in the room speak passionately about it, those are things... you just don't take lightly."

• Cheveldayoff was asked if Dustin Byfuglien is a better defenceman now that he's averaging 24:05 of ice time per game as opposed to the 27:26 he logged to lead the league last season.

"Everyone want to distil things down to the individuals when it suits them," he said. "Whether it makes for good conversation or good stories, these players want to win. There will be nights where Buff's going to play 27 (minutes) again and nights when he's going to play 22. Whether it's (Jacob) Trouba, whether it's (Tyler) Myers or whether it's Buff, the fact is that we can say all three of those names along with (Dmitry) Kulikov and (Josh) Morrissey. Unfortunately, Toby's hurt but (Ben) Chiarot's stepped up and Tucker Poolman's waiting. I'd rather be talking about that than you asking me when one of them is going to be available again."

• Signing veteran free agent Matt Hendricks to a one-year deal also looks like a good fit for the youthful Jets, even though it was a controversial hire at the time.

"When we signed him, obviously we had an eye (to) hoping our faceoffs would improve and hoping our killing would improve and obviously he brings some leadership in the room," said Cheveldayoff. "He got hurt early in the season and never got that impact right away but again, you don't just sit here and say it's all going to come together. There's a process of meshing and coming together as a team and that certainly part of integrating any individual. Whether it's Kulikov or (goaltender Steve) Mason or Hendy."

• Cheveldayoff cut off any speculation about goaltender Michael Hutchinson as a potential trade chip. Hutchinson is currently performing well with the AHL's .

"It certainly hasn't been my style and it's not going to be my style moving forward," he said. "Michael, obviously, is part of our organization and we'll continue to do what's in the best interests of the organization."

• Don't expect Cheveldayoff to stand pat in personnel but said he was pleased with the crop of reinforcements being tutored by Moose head coach Pascal Vincent. The organization appears to have solid depth but injuries can change that outlook quickly.

"Once it gets tested, your depth becomes your reality and you need to continue to look for depth," he said. "We've integrated a lot of young players into the Moose this year — I think Pascal's done a fantastic job. (Jack) Roslovic and (Brendan) Lemieux, both are second-year pros but those guys have really come on and played. Nic Petan is there as well right now. It's great to see a player like Mason Appleton step right in and start to contribute. Sami Niku as well. Unfortunately, Nelson Nogier got hurt at the beginning of the year and we were looking for him to take big strides so, we're looking at those players as our depth. The more they continue to grow... that's just going to help them be better NHL players when the time is right."

Winnipeg Sun http://winnipegsun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/winnipeg-jets/perreault-gives-jets-an-extra-layer- fourth-line-thriving-since-return-of-versatile-forward

Perreault gives Jets an extra layer: Fourth line thriving since return of versatile forward

By Ken Wiebe

DENVER – It started out as a way to ease Mathieu Perreault back into the lineup and not disrupt the other units,

But by all accounts, it was a temporary solution.

After all, the versatile forward had missed the past 12 games with a leg injury.

And truth be told, most of the other lines were clicking well.

That’s how the consistent point producer found himself on a unit with Matt Hendricks and Joel Armia back on Nov. 16 against the Philadelphia Flyers.

The move raised a few eyebrows at the morning skate and prompted the typical Twitter reaction that Jets head coach Paul Maurice didn’t know what he was doing when it comes to player usage.

As it turns out, Maurice knew what he was doing.

Since that line was put together in the lab, the Jets have posted a record of 5-2 and improved to 15-6-3 overall, which left them third in the NHL and just two points behind the St. Louis Blues for top spot in both the Western Conference and Central Division standings.

“On the board, we’re the fourth line, but on the ice we don’t feel like it a fourth line. We feel like we can produce every night and outplay every match we have,” said Perreault. “It’s a great matchup for us every night.”

The Jets face the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday at Pepsi Center before returning back to Winnipeg for a two-game homestand.

When reporters surrounded his locker on Nov. 16, Perreault revealed that he actually enjoyed quite a bit of chemistry with Hendricks and Jeff Halpern during his time with the when he was breaking into the NHL as a full-time player.

It’s been a few years since they played together, but Hendricks and Perreault have rekindled that chemistry and Armia has been an excellent fit with them.

During the seven games, Perreault has five goals and seven points, Armia has one goal and six points and Hendricks has a goal and two assists.

While it’s true a few of those points have come on the power play, the ability to have players like Perreault and Armia take minutes on the fourth line is a huge benefit for Maurice.

In six of those seven games, Armia and Perreault have seen more than 10 minutes of ice time, including 15:27 and 13:55 respectively, in Monday’s 7-2 blowout victory over the Minnesota Wild.

Part of that is a reward for strong play, but it’s also helped Maurice realize a goal that has been unattainable during most of his tenure with the Jets.

The quest to find a fourth line that’s more than just serviceable has been a massive challenge for the Jets.

The last time they had one was during the playoff season of 2015, when Jim Slater skated between Chris Thorburn and Jiri Tlusty and that trio didn’t have nearly the same skill set as this one.

By having a fourth unit that can do more than simply tread water, the Jets have been able to display better balance and shave some of the taxing minutes off their top forwards like Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler.

“They’re good. They’ve got a guy who will win faceoffs and grind,” said Maurice, referring to Hendricks. “All three of them are hard on the puck, but pretty disciplined with their sticks. Perreault and Armia have a real high skill level. You don’t see guys like that coming off the bench fourth or whenever I would put them out there. A couple of veteran of guys who like playing with each other and (are) having fun. It’s a lot more fun where if you’re getting points. They’re creating offence.”

The awakening for Armia has been important for the Jets.

After emerging as a third-liner who could chip in on the second power-play unit on occasion last season, Armia seemed to be trending upward.

But a groin injury during training camp set him back and he managed to only chip in three goals and four points in the first 14 games of the season.

On Monday, Armia went to the net and buried a rebound after Hendricks redirected a point from Josh Morrissey.

Then Armia showed great patience along the boards before finding Perreault for a one-timer in the slot for the second goal for the fourth line to come at even strength.

It’s impossible to ignore the fact Armia’s uptick in play and production has come while playing alongside Perreault.

That’s not abnormal, since Perreault has made it a habit of making those around him better.

Perreault plays the type of game that allows him to play up and down the lineup and his combination of skill and sandpaper make him effective no matter who he’s playing with.

It would be a surprise if Perreault spends an extended period of time on the fourth line, but for the time being, he’s enjoying his success and the Jets are reaping the rewards. http://winnipegsun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/winnipeg-jets/five-keys-to-jets-versus-avs

Five keys to Jets versus Avs

By Ken Wiebe

THE BIG MATCHUP Kyle Connor vs J.T. Compher These two made up two-thirds of the best line in college hockey during the 2015-16. Connor is coming off a three-point night and is up to seven goals and 15 points in 19 games since his recall. Compher has three goals and six points in 16 games, but both players are taking on bigger roles in their second professional season.

KEYS TO THE GAME Offensive explosion The Jets produced seven goals on Monday and it marked the second time this season they’ve hit the mark. Going into Tuesday’s action, the Jets sat sixth in the NHL in goals for per game (3.29). The most impressive part of Monday’s offensive eruption is that the Jets had seven different goal scorers produce those seven unanswered goals.

Top-line leads the way The Jets have been getting better balance recently when it comes to goals, but the top line of Mark Scheifele, Blake Wheeler and Kyle Connor led the way offensively on Monday, with each of them chipping in a goal and two assists. Wheeler snapped a 10-game drought, while Scheifele scored for the first time in six games.

Fourth-line flurry The Jets fourth line of Matt Hendricks, Mathieu Perreault and Joel Armia produced a pair of important goals and in Monday’s 7-2 victory. The ability of the trio to handle 10-plus minutes per game is incredibly important for the Jets, as they’re doing much more than just treading water out there.

Big MacK attack Avalanche centre Nathan MacKinnon is off to a fantastic start this season, leading his team with 26 points (seven goals, 19 assists) in 22 games. The Jets have done a nice job of keeping him in check during his career though, limiting him to just two goals and seven points in 19 games.

Return of Varlamov After missing some time to injury, Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov has been cleared to play and is expected to start on Wednesday against the Jets. The Russian is off to a slow start, posting a 3.23 goals-against average and .903 save % but he’s had enough offensive support to produce a record of 7-4-1.

Sporting News http://www.sportingnews.com/ca/nhl/news/winnipeg-jets-offense-stats-depth-stanley-cup-odds- western-conference-standings/cwm66e8pmjtw1uyu8eh5y4sj6

Winnipeg Jets offensive depth makes them a true contender

By Evan Sporer

On paper, the Winnipeg Jets had no shortage of offensive talent entering this season; that was never the question. But now that the Jets' perceived weakness has been — up until this point — resolved, what has long been Winnipeg's strength is shining, and puts the Jets among the NHL's elites.

While Winnipeg's offense has continued to mature, the only way the Jets were going to take off was if their goaltending wasn't an anchor weighing down the plane. Through 24 games, third- year player Connor Hellebuyck has answered the bell and then some, rounding out into one of the best goaltenders statistically in the NHL this season. Winnipeg is 15-6-3 and neck-and-neck with Central Division rival St. Louis for the best record in the Western Conference, with Hellebuyck providing them with the requisite goaltending to win games. The Jets entered play Tuesday seventh in even-strength goals-against, a marked improvement from a team that finished 28th a year ago.

But now that they're at the table, entrenched in the conversation regarding the best teams in the NHL, the Jets' strengths are showing up more than ever, finally able to bolster a really good hockey team.

What's scary about Winnipeg, and what is going to make it a nightmare come playoff time, is its ability to roll two genuine top lines. When Mathieu Perreault went down with a lower-body injury in mid-October, the Jets promoted Kyle Connor from AHL Manitoba straight from the minors and on to the top line. Connor, the Jets 2015 first-round pick, has always been a gifted offensive player with a plus NHL shot, and that's shown playing on the wing of Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler. Connor has recorded 15 points in 19 games, and his willingness as a shooter makes him an excellent stylistic fit on a line with two playmakers.

And then you have Winnipeg's second line, which one could argue has more fire-power than the one that appears first on the depth chart. Between Patrik Laine and Nikolaj Ehelers, the Jets have two young, dynamic forwards with game-breaking skills. Ehlers turns 22 in February, and Laine turns 20 in in April, and their European union on Winnipeg's second unit has forced teams to choose whom they'll match up against with their top defensive pairing.

Save for a healthy team, and the Calgary Flames, there isn't a club in the Western Conference that truly carries enough defensive depth to match that well against Winnipeg.

The byproduct is games line Monday night, a 7-2 thrashing of the Minnesota Wild. After playing four-straight one-goal games against Minnesota, the Jets offens busted out in a big way, providing a big cushion for Hellebuyck and co.

One of the big keys? The Wild's fourth line got hit for two goals-against at even-strength, an the third-pairing got tagged for three. Jets coach Paul Maurice worked his matchups, and got his best players out against the other team's not-best.

But another wrinkle in that is Maurice's confidence is deploying his bottom-six against top competition. Perreault has since returned from that injury, but Maurice elected to keep Connor on that Scheifele line, instead putting Perreault with Matt Hendricks and Joel Armia. That's a pretty skilled "checking-line" by the NHL's standards. When the puck dropped for the opening faceoff Monday, Bruce Boudreau submitted his lineup card first, sending out Mikko Koivu and Mikael Granlund, and Maurice countered with Andrew Copp, Brandon Tanev and Adam Lowry, the head-to-head he said he wanted pre-game.

If Maurice can deploy his bottom-six with that kind of confidence (and success) it will only benefit the Jets come the stretch run or even in the playoffs when teams will look to get their best forwards minutes away from the likes of Scheifele and Laine.

With the defensive side of Winnipeg's game miles ahead of where it was last season, it'st true strength, the offense, can finally flex its muscles without being weighed down.

Sportsnet.ca http://www.sportsnet.ca/shows/tim-and-sid-show/jets-real-go/ (VIDEO LINK)

JETS ARE FOR REAL, SO SHOULD THEY GO ALL-IN?

Tim and Sid talk about the Jets being off to their best start ever and if they should go for a serious run.

TSN 1290 (AUDIO LINKS) https://www.tsn.ca/radio/winnipeg-1290/morrissey-the-story-behind-the-celine-dion-victory-song- 1.929175

Morrissey: The story behind the Celine Dion victory song

Winnipeg Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey joined the Big Show to talk about the team's rise near the top of the NHL standings, the selflessness of Mathieu Perreault on the fourth line and why the team plays Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On" in the locker room after every victory. https://www.tsn.ca/radio/winnipeg-1290/wiebe-jets-have-laid-the-foundation-for-a-successful- run-1.928509’

Wiebe: Jets have laid the foundation for a successful run

Hustler and Rick Ralph are joined by Ken Wiebe of the Winnipeg Sun. They chat about the Jets’ resilience and mental makeup, increased depth, when Eric Comrie will get between the pipes, Connor Hellebuyck looking for redemption against Las Vegas, and if the team needs to add any bodies in the near future.