Winnipeg Jets
The Winnipeg Jets continue to be the enigma of the division. They have the top-end talent to take everyone down, which they proved by scoring the second most goals in the Western Conference last season.
They have seen to their own, re-signing Mark Scheifele, who is coming off an 82 point season. Finnish sensation, Patrik Laine already took the league by storm with 36 goals and 64 points and had room to improve.
Defending is their problem though. They scored 249 as a team, but allowed 256. It’s a rare year when you make the playoffs allowing more goals than you scored.
It almost happened though. Winnipeg only won one fewer game than Nashville did. Turn some of those losses into overtime decisions and you might have a fight on your hands for that eighth spot instead of a seven point gap.
The defending and goaltending will still be the question mark of this team though. Steve Mason was brought in, but how much will he help? Mason is an upgrade, but he’s still a middle-of-the-road goaltender unless he hits his stride at 29, which is possible.
The Jets are going to give everyone problems. They already gave St. Louis problems, taking all five games last year.
They still seem like they are a couple years and a few pieces away. It is great to have all those goals, but they have to figure out a way to keep more out.