Can Kevin Cheveldayoff do anything to get out of the mushy middle?
Photo credit: The Free Press
As the NHL offseason comes to its closing point, Jets fans are concerned that the squad hasn't done enough to be true playoff contenders.
Recently, Ken Wiebe has completed a Q&A pertaining to fan concerns about the Jets, and the idea of the Jets being stuck in the "mushy middle" has struck a conversation.
Q: The Jets are stuck in the mushy middle. Not a contender, but also not bad enough to be a rebuilding team. Is there anything Kevin Cheveldayoff can do to get out of the mushy middle? - @Oaktree65472824
Wiebe: On paper, the Jets enter the season as a team that should be jockeying for position in the Central Division with the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche, but could be pushed into battling for one of the two available wild cards in the Western Conference.
The beauty of projections is that they're just an educated guess (at least in most cases). At this time last summer, few people predicted that the Jets would finish tied for fourth in the NHL standings by eclipsing 100 points for the second time in 13 seasons since the franchise relocated from Atlanta.
ewer had the Jets playing the type of committed defence that would lead them to winning the Jennings Trophy for allowing the fewest goals in the NHL last season. The fact that didn't translate into playoff success was concerning, which is why it's understandable some view the Jets as a team in the middle.
With an improvement on both special teams, the Jets should be right in the thick of things once again - provided the commitment to team defence continues. Whether it's from internal candidates or trade acquisitions down the road, the defence corps needs to take a step forward for the Jets to go on a long playoff run. Time will tell if the Jets are going to be a contender or be stuck in the mushy middle.
With the addition of new assistant bench bosses Dean Chynoweth and Davis Payne, the Jets certainly put themselves in a better position to improve their special teams.
The core of the team still remains regarding Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor, Connor Hellebuyck, and Josh Morrissey. If the team manages to keep their head above water, an added depth rental at the trade deadline would undoubtedly put them in the Stanley Cup conversation.
source: The Free Press
Perfetti's contract status, Ehlers' future are hot topics in Jetsville
Perfetti's contract status, Ehlers' future are hot topics in Jetsville
| POLL | ||
25 AOUT | 127 ANSWERS Can Kevin Cheveldayoff do anything to get out of the mushy middle? Will the Jets stay in the "mushy middle"? | ||
| Yes | 89 | 70.1 % |
| No | 38 | 29.9 % |
| LIST OF POLLS | ||
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