It’s amazing what solid goaltending can do for the hockey team. The Winnipeg Jets are living proof of that this season, compiling a 12-5-3 record through their first 20 games, riding the strong play of Connor Hellebuyck.
Performing above expectations, the Jets find themselves in second place in the Central Division and the Western Conference and tied for fourth in the NHL with 27 points.
Blake Wheeler and Mark Scheifele formed quite the formidable partnership on the top line, and welcomed Kyle Connor with open arms to turn into one of the league’s top threesomes.
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There’s still work to be done before the Jets can call themselves a playoff team in April, though. Winnipeg's penalty kill is ranked 21st, they're last in shots on goal per game and 27th in shots against.
But you’re all here for the grades. Let the debates begin.
Overall Team Grade – A
Coach Grade – B
It’s hard to knock a 12-5-3 record and Paul Maurice has done well with the troops he’s assembled. Goaltending has helped, of course. Jets need some work on the penalty kill and need to sort out the second line’s woes on the scoresheet lately.
GM Grade – B
Kevin Cheveldayoff went out and secured a much-needed defenseman, a serviceable goaltender and a veteran presence for the dressing room in the offseason. Having Kyle Connor turn into a top-line forward has helped and he signed Nikolaj Ehlers to a long-term deal.
Forwards
Blake Wheeler – A
Wheeler has fed off Mark Scheifele and vice-versa. What they’ve done points-wise together is remarkable and has Wheeler trending for a career year at age 31.
Mark Scheiefele – A
The second half of the dynamic first-line duo, Scheifele continues to be one of the top-five centres in the NHL. He’s on pace for 100-plus points
Mathieu Perreault – B+
Missed 12 games because of injury, is now on a three-game goal scoring streak and injected life into the Jets fourth line.
Kyle Connor – B
Got sent down at the end of the training camp only to emerge on the top line after injuries to Adam Lowry and Mathieu Perreault. He’s not leaving that line any time soon, let alone getting sent back to the minors.
Patrik Laine – B
Great on the power play, just had an eight-game point streak come to an end. Laine, like linemates Bryan Little and Nikolaj Ehlers, struggles in five-on-five point production.
Nikolaj Ehlers – B
Ehlers had a hot, hot start to the season with eight goals in the first 13 games. But he hasn’t scored now in seven. As with the two above, the second line has struggled early.
Brandon Tanev – B-
The analytics crowd won’t like his numbers, but he’s played well on the penalty kill, made some timely blocks and scored some goals. More than expected.
Andrew Copp – C+
Three goals in 20 games playing on a line built to grind the other team’s top lines.
Matt Hendricks – C
He’s brought some character to the dressing room and chipped in a pair of goals. He’s 52 percent on faceoffs. Right about at average.
Bryan Little – C-
It’s been a tough 20 games for Little, who has just two goals after ending an 11-game drought last week. Chemistry with Laine and Ehlers is lacking with Little trying to pick up the slack defensively on the Jets second line.
Adam Lowry – C-
Injured for nine games has limited him. He has just three points in 11 games.
Joel Armia – C-
He had a tough start to the season, but has since found some chemistry with Perreault.
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Defensemen
Josh Morrissey – B+
One more goal than Jacob Trouba and he’s just been a bit more steady on the blue line than his partner.
Jacob Trouba – B
His points production is off the career-high pace he set last season. That said, he’s playing big minutes shutting down the top lines in the NHL.
Tyler Myers – C+
Tough to grade given he missed nearly the whole season last year with injury. He’s had his ups and downs as he tries to get settled back in to playing every night.
Toby Enstrom – C
Playing fewer minutes than he has in recent years. Nothing really notable here. He’s gone for two months as well with a lower-body injury.
Dustin Byfuglien – C-
No goals in 20 games, some bad penalties and poor defensive play. He’s stepped it up physically in the past week, but it’s not enough to escape a poor grade thus far.
Dmitry Kulikov – C-
He’s relieved the two pairings ahead of him of having to play big minutes, but hasn’t lived up to his price tag as of yet.
Goalies
Connor Hellebuyck – A+
Hellebuyck has been nothing short of spectacular for the Jets with his 11-2-2 record, 2.45 goals-against average and .925 save percentage. He’s been a revelation in the early going. He’s allowed two goals or fewer in 11 of 15 starts.
Steve Mason – C-
If graded after his first two starts, he would have gotten an F. But Mason posted a .946 and .967 in his past two starts, nabbing his first win on Nov. 11.