This summer has not exactly been inspiring for the Winnipeg Jets.
After posting a 39-32-11 record last season, the Jets missed the playoffs for the first time since 2017. When it became clear that this group wouldn’t contend, the team traded Andrew Copp and Tyler Motte at the trade deadline.
That left Winnipeg with additional holes to fill this summer, on top of the ones that already existed and kept them out of the postseason.
Considering how close the Jets have been to contending for the Stanley Cup in recent years (highlighted by a 2018 Western Conference Final appearance), I felt as though a constructive offseason could get this team right back in contention in the 2022-2023 season.
The Jets have not been impressive this summer.
Unfortunately, the Jets have not been very active since the regular season concluded. Their biggest moves were the re-signings of forwards Pierre-Luc Dubois (one year) and Mason Appleton (three years).
Outside of a handful of additional re-signings and a change at the backup goaltender position, there hasn’t been much noteworthy action to report out of Winnipeg.
No one has been signed to replace the forwards that the team traded away last March, and to make matters worse, Paul Stastny remains on the open market. That puts the Jets closer to losing another piece than to filling any existing gaps.
Winnipeg wasn’t even able to pull off a big move behind the bench. Barry Trotz rumors were swirling at the beginning of the offseason, but nothing ever materialized. The Jets will instead proceed with Rick Bowness, who is fine, but he’s not Trotz.
For what it’s worth, goaltender Connor Hellebuyck can be expected to bounce back after a surprisingly bad campaign last season. That’s the first reason that I had hope for this team, but I can’t see that single-handedly being enough to elevate this team back to contender status.
If the holes in the roster can be plugged between now and October, I still think that the Jets have the upside to be a pleasantly surprising team this year. At the moment, though, the summer has left a lot to be desired in Winnipeg.