WINNIPEG — Optimism and uncertainty are the prevailing themes as the Winnipeg Jets get set to open a new season that feels unlike any other in recent memory.
Between a prolonged trade holdout with their franchise goalie, an injection of youth into the lineup and head coach Scott Arniel in a contract year, there's not a lot of room for error.
But don't tell that to the players in the locker room. Despite the early challenges, the Jets remain confident they can push for a playoff spot in arguably the league's toughest division.
"We have a good mix of veteran players, younger guys and everything kind of in between. I feel like our team is faster," defenceman Josh Morrissey said. "We get along really well, and now it’s just about preparing for (the first game) and then building our game from there.”
The test begins tonight when the Jets kick off the regular season on home ice against the Boston Bruins. Here are five burning questions facing the club ahead of puck drop.
Can the Jets survive without Connor Hellebuyck?
This is the biggest question facing the group. Stuart Skinner is now the guy in Winnipeg, and he understands the stakes. That doesn't mean he can fill the void left by the franchise's best player, but you tend to believe him when he says: "Every time I'm in the net, I'll definitely be putting my heart on the line."
As great a person as Skinner is off the ice, he'll need to be just as effective in the crease for the Jets to make the playoffs. Fans around here aren't used to average regular-season goaltending, and Winnipeg hasn't added enough elsewhere to abandon a strategy that demands an elite netminder. A soft goal or two won't cut it in a ruthless Central Division; string a few of those together, and the affectionate "Stuuuuu" chants will turn quickly.
The other factor to consider here is Hellebuyck's absence becoming a distraction the longer the holdout lasts. The Jets remain a united front, but the noise will only get louder in other, less sympathetic markets. A slow start might have players itching for a resolution on their best asset.
Is 18-year-old rookie Viggo Bjorck finally the answer at 2C?
There is reason to believe. Bjorck is mature beyond his years, his confidence shaped from playing against men in Sweden and at the world championships. While he has faced expected hurdles adjusting to the speed and size of the NHL, Arniel has raved about his vision and captain Adam Lowry said the team has rallied to ensure a smooth transition. Gabriel Vilardi flanking him will bring stability; and Isak Rosén, what he lacks in experience, he makes up for with speed, and his Swedish roots don't hurt, either.
There's also room for caution. Few players his age are handed such a tall task this early, not to mention a hole the Jets have been trying to fill for years. His steepest learning curve will come in the defensive zone. How quickly he can adapt without the puck will likely decide how long this experiment lasts.
Can the Lowry-led third line regain its form?
This could determine whether the Jets are buyers or sellers at the trade deadline. When Arniel noted Thursday that the team needs to regain some of its old identity, he was speaking directly to his checking line.
The trio of Lowry, Morgan Barron and rookie Brad Lambert will be expected to do some heavy lifting. When the Jets were at their best, it was Lowry and company neutralizing the opposition's top talent, freeing up easier matchups for everyone else.
Lowry is no longer hampered by a hip injury that derailed last season, and he's optimistic for a significant rebound. But he's also 33 years old and entering his 13th season of playing a heavy game. Lambert and Barron bring a ton of speed and need to find a way to weaponize their offensive upside without sacrificing their defensive game.
Can special teams provide a boost?
Special teams were a sore spot all last season. Like most statistics from that year, they paled in comparison to the previous campaign when the Jets finished No. 1 on the power play and just outside the top-10 for penalty kill.
Winnipeg has completely revamped both systems and has spent large chunks of training camp and into this week trying to refine the small details. There are no major structural changes, but they are trying to be more aggressive with and on the puck.
They'll run two units, but don't be surprised when the top group of Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor, Vilardi, Cole Perfetti and Josh Morrissey get the lion's share on the man-advantage. They've tried variations on the PK, including using Connor and Bjorck on different units, suggesting a desire for more offence on the kill.
Is Arniel on the hot seat?
Probably not. The Jets have always been loyal to their coaches, so an in-season firing doesn't seem in the cards. But it might be warm. After all, Arniel is in the final year of his contract, and that's uncomfortable for any coach, especially one coming off a season that fell well short of Stanley Cup aspirations.
Arniel has lamented a few times that the league's new collective bargaining agreement cut training camp a week short, and he's working with several new and inexperienced pieces. Add in a difficult October schedule, and the pressure is the highest it's ever been around here.
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