NHL: Top 10 scapegoats heading into the 2019-20 season

6. Martin Jones

Age: 29

Contract duration: Six years, $34.5 Million (becomes UFA in 2024-25)

2018-19 stats: 62 games, .896 Save %

This year will be a decisive year for the formally undrafted goaltender as Martin Jones will try and re-establish himself as a top goaltender in the league.

In the first year of his lucrative $34.5 million contract, Jones failed to establish any kind of trust with San Jose Sharks fans after posting a career-worst 2.94 GAA.

His reputation with the fans only got worse in the playoffs when he allowed 58 goals in 20 games. Had the Sharks had a stronger goaltender down the stretch, their chances of making it back to the Stanley Cup Finals would have been a lot stronger.

5. Paul Maurice

Age: 52

2018-19 Season: 47-30-5

Paul Maurice is no doubt in the hot-seat heading into this season after the Winnipeg Jets failure to make it out of the first-round against the St. Louis Blues. The upset was a shock to the system for the Jets’ fans expecting a deep run in the postseason following a visit to the semi-finals the year before.

Now, the head coach must lead a team that has already lost significant pieces to the roster: Tyler Myers, Jacob Trouba and Kevin Hayes (whose tenure only lasted from the trade deadline through the playoffs). And not only has the 52-year-old coach lost a handful of key assets, but many are also suggesting that he has lost the room as well.

If the challenge wasn’t already difficult enough, they are at risk of losing two more crucial players in Kyle Connor and Patrik Laine who remain RFAs. With the amount of cap space that the Jets have opened up this year, it is perplexing that neither of them has signed yet.

With the disappointments this team has faced in the past couple of years, no doubt fingers will inevitably point towards the coaches for reasons as to why their two future superstars remain on the fence.