Every offseason, analysts and experts predict that the Winnipeg Jets are at a crossroads. Although they’d been successful for the past eight years, it seems like their playoff window is closing. It seemed like the current roster wasn’t good enough to win a Stanley Cup, and it was time for a reset. Trade the core pieces of the roster for young talent and draft picks, and punt the next couple of seasons for future success.
However two weeks into the NHL season, the Jets are off to a hot start. They’re undefeated, winning all eight contests they’ve participated in. They’re also ranked first in several statistical categories. It’s clear the Jets have been the most dominant team of the early 2024-25 season. So what has caused this hot start, and can this team keep up this pace through the entire season?
Why the Jets Are the Best in the NHL
There are two main reasons why the Jets are off to such a hot start. The first is the play of Connor Hellebuyck. Without question, Hellebuyck is one of the best goaltenders in the league and has put himself in a position to win back-to-back Vezina Trophy. In the six games he started he has a goal-against average of 1.66 and a save percentage of .940. Sure it’s a small sample size, but it’s a phenomenal start to the season. Anytime a goaltender has a strong performance it leads to the team has success. Knowing your goalie plays lockdown takes the pressure off the offense. They only have to score a couple of goals and have a shot at winning.
The other reason for their success has been the play on the power play. Right now they have ten power-play goals on 27 chances. That’s good for a 43.5% success rate. Which is the best in the NHL. Now sure they’re not on the powerplay often, which could inflate the numbers. But regardless, they’re getting the most offensive production from their power play. That is where you’re supposed to do most of your damage. Sure you need to be good on 5v5, but if you have a goalie like Hellebuyck,
Is This Sustainable
Hockey is a marathon, not a sprint. Just because you get off to a hot start, doesn’t guarantee you any success for the rest of the season and playoffs. For the Jets to get to the goal of making the playoffs they’ll have to be consistently good all season. But can the Jets keep the momentum to be sustainable good?
Now sure they’re not going to go 82-0, but having the offense be as diverse as the Jets helps them be a legit playoff threat. They have 12 players currently averaging a point per game or better. This means that their offensive production isn’t coming from one line. The entire lineup is contributing regardless of position or where they are in the lineup. Having a plethora of players that can produce offensively helps prevent cold streaks from happening. If a few players start struggling, you have faith that the other players will help pick up the production and help the team weather the storm.
The one point that could de-rail the Jets this season is regression and injury. If the Jets get bit by the injury bug and wind up losing key pieces like Helleybuck or Kyle Connor, then it could de-rail the season. Sure they have great depth, but those players are so impactful, that losing them could be a big blow to the team’s confidence. The more pressing issue is regression. If the start of the season from Heleybuck or Connor, or any other player producing turns out to be just a hot start, it makes the Jets’ depth weaker. Which could cost them games on the dog days of the season. Similarly, if the new coach bump the Jets are getting from Scott Arniel wears off it could cause a losing streak that de-rails the team. Time will tell if what Winnipeg is doing is sustainable or not.
Thanks for reading! Credit for my feature image goes to Joe Puetz. You can find more NHL content at Belly Up Sports and follow me on Twitter/X.
