SPORTS & RECREATIONNot Yet in the Groove

Only five games into the season and it has already been a whirlwind start for the Jets. The team has experienced their first outdoor game, changes in net, and record-setting performances by the young guns.

With the trades and negotiations in the off-season, one of the most noticeable moves has been placing veteran netminder Ondrej Pavelec on waivers and sending him down to the AHL’s Manitoba Moose. Pavelec, who has spent his entire NHL career with the franchise (including its stint in Atlanta), was entering the last year in his five-year deal. When his salary exceeded the cap, he was one of a handful of cuts to the roster at the beginning of the season. Pavelec ended last season playing 33 games, and with a 13-13-4 record and .904 save percentage, the veteran was beat out by Connor Hellebuychk and Michael Hutchinson in the team’s training camp.

Starting the season, Hutchinson and Hellebuyck have combined to appear in 102 NHL games (73 and 29), and have posted save percentages of .911 and .914 respectively, compared to Pavelec’s 371 career games and an overall .907 save percentage. While both players started the preseason out strong, and have shown that they have the potential to be starting goaltenders, their performance so far this season has been less than exciting. Both netminders have had inconsistent performances, allowing a total of 19 goal against and individual save percentages under the NHL average of .900, ranking near the bottom of the league.

Although the season has only just started, one can’t help but wonder if sending a sure thing in Pavelec down to the farm team was the right decision so early. However, Pavelec’s performance with the Moose isn’t much better, with second year pro Eric Comrie posting better numbers through their first three games. It looks like head coach Paul Maurice might be on the right track in doing a lot of rearranging this season. 

While the team has had some subpar performances thus far, one thing is certain: Patrik Laine is living up to the hype. The 18-year-old came out of the gate strong, notching two points (1 goal, 1 assist) against the Hurricanes in his first career game. The rookie was the talk of the town three games later as he followed up his impressive first performance with his first career hat trick against Toronto on October 19. Laine is the youngest player in franchise history to score a hat trick, doing so in his fourth game. 

The Jets are currently sitting at a 2-3-0 record with 14 goals for, and three players—Scheifele (3), Wheeler (3), and Laine (4)—posting half of them. In the two games in which Laine scored, the Jets won. Both wins were also in overtime with the Jets having come from behind. They were behind 4-1 in Carolina on opening night, and down 4-0 in Toronto during what would turn out to be a memorable evening. Outside of the team’s two wins, the Jets have only scored four goals in their three losses.

While it looks like the season is just getting started for one Jets star, the season might be coming to an end for another. Time is ticking on Jacob Trouba, as the defenseman is still without a contract. If he doesn’t sign with a team before December 1, he won’t be able to play anywhere in the NHL this season.

Needless to say, it looks like the team is likely going to do some more shuffling before they find their groove.