Winnipeg Jets: Top 3 changes they must make after another playoff exit

Changes must happen for the Winnipeg Jets after yet another postseason heartbreak.

For the second straight year, the Winnipeg Jets have failed to win a single postseason series. This season, they didn’t even technically make the Stanley Cup Playoffs, losing in the play-in round to the Calgary Flames in four games.

It wasn’t just that they lost to the Flames that’s embarrassing – it’s how they lost to them. The Jets were outscored in the four-game series by the Flames 16-6. In their three losses, Winnipeg was outscored 14-3. The Jets need to take a long look in the mirror as they try to decide what to do next.

This could be an offseason full of changes for Winnipeg. It’s clear this core isn’t good enough to win the Stanley Cup on their own. Changes need to be made if they want to improve. Let’s take a look at three huge changes the Jets need to make.

Fire Paul Maurice

Look, the Jets didn’t lose to the Flames because of head coach Paul Maurice. Calgary was objectively the better team throughout the series. However, it’s clear Maurice has taken the Jets as far as he can take them.

Maurice has been with the team since the 2013-14 season. He’s made the postseason four times, though the Jets needed the extended format to make the postseason this year. Aside from their Western Conference Final run in 2017-18, the Jets have never won a single postseason series with Maurice.

There’s a reason Paul Maurice is the career leader in losses for coaches. He’s simply not a winning coach. Maurice saw the Jets have a lot of problems throughout the regular season and playoffs. Yet adjustments weren’t made. Under Maurice, the Jets have rarely exceeded expectations. More often than not, they’ve either barely met them or failed to reach them.

The Jets need a new system. Their current one isn’t working. The easiest way to overhaul your system is to fire your head coach. Maurice needs to go.