Well, five road games, fives consecutive losses for the Winnipeg Jets between Nov. 17 and last night. That's a potential 10-point grab that wasn't. From an unbelievable early position of second place in the central division to barely a playoff spot.
It's way too early to say all hope is lost. But that may come sooner rather than later for the Winnipeg Jets if they don't start winning games.
These losses were ugly. It's not just the usual "roadblocks" keeping the Jets from attaining critical points in the standings such as still not being able to stay out of the penalty box, but a much more nefarious problem is growing. They're starting to get used to losing. This cannot happen. A culture of losing is not an option.
Twenty games in and they were either in second or at the very least, a wild card spot. Now the Jets are three points out of a playoff spot.
Yeah, yeah. It's only November and three points is not the end of the season. They have time. Yes, but when you have four or more starting rookies, including you're starting goaltender (who Connor Hellebyck appears to be more and more lately) you have no discipline, you have a turn-over rate that baffles the mind and now, even your phenom number two overall pick from the entry draft has cooled off of his offensive production.
After thoroughly shutting out the Chicago Blackhawks 4-0 Nov. 15 at the MTS Centre, the Jets came crashing down to reality with a decent game against the Philadelphia Flyers on Nov. 17. but just couldn't solve Steve Mason, nor find their game in a 5-2 loss.Two days later in Boston, the Jets fell 4-1 to the Boston Bruins. A second game in a back-to-back situation the next day in Raleigh against the Carolina Hurricanes resulted in a 3-1 Hurricanes victory that the Jets should have had. If the Jets should or could have just one of these games, it should have been this one. The Jets are not going to be put on a pedestal over any other mediocre team this season, believe me; but they are better than the 'Canes. They should have had the two points from this one.
From there, the Jets travelled back west for a divisional tilt with the Minnesota Wild. More offensive stuttering, another 3-1 loss for the Jets.
Finally, the Jets headed to Nashville last night for the final game of this awful road trip. Soft goals, giveaways, and a total commitment to forgetting anything defensive about the relatively simple game of hockey. Seriously, this "performance" by the Jets was in one word, pathetic. To be fair, the Predators have played very well defensively at home this season and Pekka Rinne has been outstanding for them. Catching a team with a hot goalie is daunting enough, but when said goaltender has a goals against average of 1.98 and your team hasn't scored more than five goals in four games, you may be in for a long night.
Whatever plan Paul Maurice is trying to hatch this season clearly isn't working. I don't know if it's a bad plan, underachieving players, too many rookies, injuries (which I have no doubt will improve the Jets numbers when Brian Little returns) bad coaching or just a perfect storm of ineptitude. At least so far. But if one is going to grade a team after 20 games or so and say Patrik Laine is a God-send, or Mark Scheifele is really developing into the player they hoped he would be when they drafted him in 2011; then one must also realize when a team's plan for the season isn't working.
But regardless of injuries or freshman players, you have to move forward. Veterans have to step up. Rookies that are being heralded as the saviour of the franchise must work their magic whether or not their line-mates are doing their part or not. Certain heroes of the game can, when called upon, win games by themselves. Goalies do it all the time. So have stars from the past.
Mike Bossy, Teemu Selanne, Bobby Orr, Wayne Gretzky, Maurice Richard, Gordie Howe, Mario Lemieux. The list is endless when it comes to players that can and have taken it upon themselves to inspire and lead their respective teams to the promise land.
Mark Scheiefele will be one of those players. Am I comparing him to Gretzky or Lemieux or Orr?
Certainly not. But he already possesses the skills of a leader (thus Jets brass honouring him with the alternate captain position) and for a bit of time in the last few weeks, Scheifele did in fact lead the league in points, while teammate Laine led the NHL in goals. Neither of them are now, but the potential is there for the Winnipeg Jets to develop not only home-grown Winnipeg Jets stars, but bonafide NHL superstars.
Time is on the Jets side. These players are young and supremely talented. The organizations draft and develop plan is bearing fruit. Many experts are seeing the growth in the Jets young stars and some of them are betting that the Jets will be a serious contender in not six to seven years, but three or for. Some even say sooner with addition of Patrik Laine.
They aren't there yet. Soon. But not yet. So, as we've collectively been warned since the start of the season, there is going to be nights when the Jets are simply terrible. There are also going to be nights when the Jets will make you proud enough to be a Jets fan, such as the shutout against the Hawks or the shellacking the Jets gave the Dallas Stars on Nov. 8, that you can actually debate about who's better with your Leafs, Red Wings or Oiler-friendly buddies or co-workers.
But man, do these guys have to stay out of the box.
