NHL Preview: Winnipeg Jets

The Jets are back in Winnipeg and Canadian hockey fans are excited. But will the team live up to the excitement? Charlie Boccanegra listens for the roar of the engines.

Hockey is back in Manitoba but the Jets are up against an extremely grueling schedule, as while they remain in the Southeast division they move to the central time zone. This could make for some lengthy road trips in division games, which is not the case for the Capitals, Lightning, Panthers and Hurricanes. The best way to bet on Jets games would be against them on these divisional road trips.

In addition, the organization has had a complete overhaul in ownership, management and coaching staff. This will take some time for all the players to adjust to. Anytime you have a young team still in the rebuilding process expect for some extended growing pains. I would be shocked if they make the playoffs this year.

Winnipeg’s best overall forwards are Andrew Ladd and Nik Antropov, both good players but not good enough to be first line players for a run at the playoffs. Evander Kane and Bryan Little are both the top end prospects who have potential to emerge as good first line players, but this is not the case yet which results in the Jets not having a legitimate top line scoring threat.

Outside of the top four forwards they only have a few reliable offensive players that have eclipsed 40 points in an NHL season with Eric Fehr, Blake Wheeler and Kyle Wellwood. None of them are capable of being top end threats offensively so unless the youngsters develop sooner then expected this team will struggle to score throughout the season.

Defensively this team is miles ahead in its progress as the defense has far greater depth than the offense. Tobias Enstrom is one of the more underrated defenseman in the NHL scoring 50+ points and playing solid in his own end. Same can be said for the big physical force of Dustin Byfuglien who is coming off a great season.

Ron Hainsey and Johnny Oduya are both quality stay at home defenders with the capability of providing some additional offense in the second pairing. The key to the future is 2008 3rd overall pick Zach Bogosian who has all the tools to become an elite NHL defenseman anchoring this team for many years. He hasn’t gotten to the next level yet but having those four quality defenseman surrounding him has helped ease some of the pressure and I could see him breaking out this year.

In goal 24 year old Ondrej Pavelec continues to improve on an annual basis as his GAA has decreased and save percentage increased for three straight years. He’s proving that he has the ability to become a top 10 goalie in the league, but not to the elite level that would be required for the Jets to make the postseason. Should he falter the Jets have a stellar back up in veteran Chris Mason.

Combine the improving goaltending with the solid defensive core and I can see this team play a lot of low scoring games. Look for NHL betting UNDERS in Jets games throughout the season. Especially when on the back end of lengthy road trips when they will be forced to play a more conservative style of hockey to give themselves a chance to win games.