Jan 27, 2017
Winnipeg: Old issues continuing to plague Jets
As TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button writes, poor discipline, weak penalty-killing and porous goaltending hurts Winnipeg for a second consecutive season.
By Craig Button
I wrote in last season’s report card about Winnipeg’s terrible triad of poor discipline, weak penalty-killing and porous goaltending. It’s a new season, but there has been no significant change in any of these areas. The Jets currently lead the league in times shorthanded per game, have a weak penalty-kill and a poor save percentage. Until these issues change for the better, the Jets will grade no higher than a D. There’s no doubt in my mind that they have significantly underachieved.
Below are the Jets’ individual player grades.
Three factors were considered in assigning grades: performance, results and expectations, as framed by age, previous performance and cap hit/contract average annual value (AAV). Skaters must have appeared in a minimum of 25 games and goalies, 15, to be graded.
Spotlight Player Grades: Patrik Laine (A+) has been as advertised: He is the second iteration of the Finnish Flash. Laine brings fans out of their seats and provides an excitement level that is palpable. Mark Scheifele (A+) has emerged as a No. 1 centre and sits among the scoring leaders in the NHL. Nikolaj Ehlers (A+) has shown no signs of a sophomore slump. His ability to create offence and add excitement makes him and Laine must-see hockey.
Editor’s Note: Follow TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button at @CraigJButton and join the discussion on his Interim Report Cards.
Grading System
A Excellent
B Very Good
C Satisfactory
D Poor
Jets' Grades By Player
| Goalies | Grade | Age | AAV | W | L | OT | Sv% |
| Connor Hellebuyck | C | 24 | $668 k | 17 | 13 | 1 | .908 |
| Michael Hutchinson | D | 27 | $1.2 m | 4 | 10 | 3 | .894 |
| Ondrej Pavelec | Inc. | 30 | $3.9 m | 2 | 2 | 0 | .894 |
| Defencemen | Grade | Age | AAV | GP | G | P | +/- |
| Josh Morrissey | A | 22 | $863 k | 52 | 2 | 12 | 8 |
| Jacob Trouba | A | 23 | $3.3 m | 37 | 3 | 20 | 0 |
| Dustin Byfuglien | B | 32 | $7.6 m | 52 | 7 | 32 | 5 |
| Ben Chiarot | C | 26 | $850 k | 43 | 0 | 6 | -5 |
| Toby Enstrom | C | 33 | $5.75 m | 48 | 1 | 12 | -4 |
| Paul Postma | D | 28 | $888 k | 46 | 0 | 10 | -1 |
| Julian Melchiori | Inc. | 26 | $625 k | 4 | 0 | 0 | -3 |
| Tyler Myers | Inc. | 27 | $5.5 m | 11 | 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Mark Stuart | Inc. | 33 | $2.6 m | 18 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Forwards | Grade | Age | AAV | GP | G | P | +/- |
| Nikolaj Ehlers | A+ | 21 | $894 k | 52 | 17 | 44 | 5 |
| Patrik Laine | A+ | 19 | $925 k | 44 | 22 | 40 | 7 |
| Mark Scheifele | A+ | 24 | $6.1 m | 49 | 22 | 48 | 10 |
| Blake Wheeler | A | 31 | $5.6 m | 52 | 15 | 41 | 2 |
| Bryan Little | B | 30 | $4.7 m | 29 | 13 | 26 | 2 |
| Joel Armia | C | 24 | $925 k | 27 | 3 | 6 | -5 |
| Andrew Copp | C | 23 | $925 k | 39 | 8 | 12 | 5 |
| Marko Dano | C | 23 | $925 k | 28 | 3 | 10 | 2 |
| Adam Lowry | C | 24 | $1.1 m | 52 | 7 | 13 | -3 |
| Shawn Matthias | C | 29 | $2.1 m | 27 | 7 | 9 | 1 |
| Mathieu Perreault | C | 29 | $3.0 m | 36 | 4 | 16 | -12 |
| Nic Petan | C | 22 | $758 k | 31 | 1 | 12 | -4 |
| Drew Stafford | C | 32 | $4.4 m | 34 | 4 | 12 | -2 |
| Chris Thorburn | C | 34 | $1.2 m | 39 | 3 | 4 | -3 |
| Brandon Tanev | D | 26 | $874 k | 38 | 2 | 4 | -6 |