Four more years, four more years!

 

Next season started today for the Winnipeg Jets as GM Kevin Cheveldayoff accomplished the #1 item on his to-do list, hire a coach. Of course this wasn't a lengthy search and interview process as the man he wanted was already in house. Today he got the news he wanted to hear, Paul Maurice (and more importantly his family) was on board.

Mark Stuart re-ups for 4 years with the Winnipeg Jets

 

Yesterday, as predicted by many, the Winnipeg Jets made no moves at the trade deadline. For once I will not criticize GM Kevin Cheveldayoff for his lack of activity because it was the correct course of action. What they did accomplish yesterday was better than any trade they could have made, they signed pending unrestricted free agent Mark Stuart to a very reasonable deal.

This years trade deadline, what will the Jets do?

So we didn't see this coming, the Jets go into the NHL trade competing for a playoff position. Winnipeg has gone on a historic run under new coach Paul Maurice and as a result, are close to the dance. Which brings us to the new problem, what to do with all those unrestricted free agents who can walk and do they have the depth to add anything this Wednesday? 

So where were we?

Thursday night the Jets drop the puck hosting Phoenix, one of the teams directly in front of them in the standings. The last games played in the NHL was on Feb 8th, and I'll be honest, I haven't looked at the standing once in that time. The good news, they are only two points out of the last spot. The bad news... 

A closer look at the Western Conference playoff chase

Here is today's look at the playoff odds updated after last nights near perfect evening as far as the Winnipeg Jets are concerned. I say near perfect only because Minnesota won. Everyone else who mattered lost with the exception of Dallas, but someone had to win that game with Phoenix. Thankfully it was decided without the Bettman point. So what is number today you ask? 18.9%, up 4.9% from the previous day. You can find the link here http://www.sportsclubstats.com/NHL.html

Updated playoff odds as of February 3rd

With this wonderful 8-2 run over the last 10 games, the Winnipeg Jets have finally made up some ground on the teams in front of them. They still are in 12th place in the Western Conference, only now they sit only 4 points behind Vancouver for the last playoff spot! Exciting times indeed, but there is still a large mountain to climb.

Ben Scrivens, thank you!

 

In what has been a disaster of a season with very little to cheer for, I for one would like to thank Ben Scrivens. As a season ticket holder its been especially tough to go to games this winter. More and more empty seats are showing up every night and last night was no different. Facing a wind-chill that seemed like it would peel the skin off your face, Oilers fans bundled up against the cold and filed into their seats yet again. Only this time they got to witness history. For the people that stayed away; sorry you missed a beauty.