The turbulence faced by the Winnipeg Jets in the offseason and 2019 training camp has been well-documented. The team saw the departures of defensemen Jacob Trouba (New York Rangers), Tyler Myers (Vancouver Canucks), Ben Chiarot (Montreal Canadiens), and Joe Morrow (unsigned), as well as forward Brandon Tanev (Pittsburgh Penguins).

Add in the announcement of Dustin Byfuglien’s undisclosed personal leave and the Jets have significant holes—and these are opportunities for rookies to step up.

While the Jets finished the preseason with a modest 3–3–1 record, coach Paul Maurice used this year’s training camp to audition players for different roles on the backend, and a few players surpassed expectations. 

Defensive Surprises 

The first defensive surprise is Ville Heinola. Cheveldayoff faced some criticism for reaching and drafting Heinola with the twentieth overall pick, but Heinola surpassed expectations and looks ready to jump into the NHL. He’s a smooth skater with strong hockey IQ and above average defensive awareness for someone his age. He looked at home quarterbacking the powerplay and looks like a good pickup from the Trouba trade.

Another defenseman to look out for is Tucker Poolman. Last year, Manitoba Moose head coach Pascal Vincent made a bold statement, proclaiming that Poolman looked like he was playing in the wrong league. Poolman came to camp this year looking bigger, stronger, and smarter than last year and should be ready to transition into a dependable NHL defenseman.

Given Neal Pionk’s low analytics during his tenure with the New York Rangers, expectations of him have been low. In his first few games with Winnipeg, however, he appears to be a solid defenseman with the ability to get his shot on net from the point. He can also move up and down the line-up depending on injuries. 

Forward Surprises 

Considering the team’s many offseason departures, there will undoubtedly be times this year when the offense will be counted on to make up for defensive lapses. Even though the Jets were prepared to start the season without Patrik Laine and Kyle Connor, getting them signed before the season adds to the team’s already potent offense.

Going into training camp, many people assumed Kristian Vesalainen was a lock to make the opening roster. Throughout camp, though, Vesalainen appeared invisible and apparently played himself out of a spot. This doesn’t mean the organization has given up on him, but it does mean he may need more seasoning with the Manitoba Moose before he’s ready to earn a place with the Winnipeg Jets.

After signing a two-year deal this summer, Andrew Copp came to camp looking ready to take on a larger role. While I currently have him pencilled in for the third line (with Adam Lowry and Jack Roslovic), I would not be surprised to see Copp move up the line-up this season.

Season Will Tell 

Throughout the upcoming season, many people will be comparing the new faces to those who have departed, and head coach Paul Maurice will need to answer several key questions. Who’s going to replace Trouba? Who’s going to replace Myers and Chiarot? It’s not about replacing those players but designing a perfect system to utilize the strengths of Pionk, Niku, Poolman and Heinola. The Winnipeg Jets have made the playoffs for consecutive years, but is it because of Maurice or despite Maurice? This season will tell.

As we drop the puck on a new season, let me finish with a bold prediction: the Winnipeg Jets will finish the season with 88 points, good enough for the second wild card spot.