The Winnipeg Jets are starting to takeoff

After a difficult 0-3 start for the Winnipeg Jets, the team has seemed to really turn it around. Now sitting at 8-3-3, the Jets are currently in third in the Central Division, trailing only the Minnesota Wild and the Nashville Predators.

Sean Reynolds, a Sportsnet Winnipeg reporter, has spent a lot of time at the rink covering the Jets over the last few weeks and on Monday’s The Rod Pedersen Show, we had the chance to catch up with Reynolds and discuss the Jets start.

While the core group of players has remained relatively the same, some key additions on defence over the offseason  have completely transformed the Jets blue line.

“The defence has been fixed with the addition of Nate Schmidt and Brendan Dillon,” said Reynolds. “Those two holes that very much needed to be plugged, are plugged.”

The success of the Jets, however, has not come from the big three stars. Something Reynolds believes is nothing but good for the Jets team in the future.

“What we consider the Winnipeg Jets nucleus in Blake Wheeler, Mark Scheifele and Conner Hellebuyck, those three players have really yet to get going so far this season,” said Reynolds. “None of them have had a good start to the season.  

“Conner Hellebuyck, who typically in years past has earned the Jets 10,12,14 extra points a season just by going out and stealing games all by himself, hasn’t been anywhere near that level so far this season,” said Reynolds.

With secondary players stepping up, once the stars start to get on track, the Jets will be well on their way to being one of the top teams in the NHL. 

For hockey fans, one of the most exciting games of the Jets season comes Tuesday night when the Edmonton Oilers visit Winnipeg. The Oilers are one of the hottest teams in the league, and with a superstar in Connor McDavid, it is certainly a game many fans don’t want to miss.

For the Jets, it’s a chance to prove sweeping the Oilers in last years playoffs wasn’t a fluke. 

“It was a dominant end to the season for the Jets against the Oilers last year, while the Oilers dominated the Jets in the regular season,” said Reynolds.

The teams will play a home and home series this week and may end up being a preview of another playoff matchup.

“I think what you are seeing here are two teams looking at each other from division to division and seeing a very real possibility these could be the two teams left in the western conference finals,” said Reynolds.

The teams certainly look different than when they last met in the playoffs just a few months ago, but Reynolds is certain the Oilers will be looking for revenge after being swept by the Jets in round one.