3 Winnipeg Jets players keeping them near the top of the standings

The Winnipeg Jets have been one of the best teams in the Western Conference this season. Right now, they sit at 17-9-2 which is near the top of the standings in the Central Division.

It is a three-horse race for the division lead between them, the Colorado Avalanche, and the Dallas Stars. All three of them figure to be in the playoffs as the division top-3.

A lot of people thought that the Jets would fall off after last season. That has not been the case though. They continue to win games with their core which has been great for a long time now.

They haven't won the Stanley Cup with this core but they have been in the Conference Finals. There is no doubt that they have been a respectable franchise over the last handful of years.

The Winnipeg Jets are one of the top teams in the NHL right now

Who deserves all of the credit for this season? Well, hockey is a team game but these three players have gone above and beyond:

1. Kyle Connor

Kyle Connor is an incredible player. He is one of the best offensive players in the league right now. Connor currently has 17 goals and 11 assists for 28 points in 26 games played.

Unfortunately, Connor is out for 6-8 weeks with an injury. The Jets are going to take a big hit in terms of production on offense but they need to tread water while he is out. Up to this point, however, he is the number one reason their record is what it is.

2. Connor Hellebuyck

You can't win much without good goaltending. Instead of trading him or letting him play this year on an expiring contract, the Winnipeg Jets extended Connor Hellebuyck during the previous off-season. He has been everything they've needed him to be and more.

So far this year, he has a 14-6-1 record with a .916 save percentage and 2.42 goals against average. The former Vezina Trophy winner is in the running to win his second with the way that he's been playing.

3. Mark Scheifele

Defenseman Josh Morrissey deserves a shoutout as an honorable mention but Mark Scheifele is the guy here. With Kyle Connor out of the lineup, he is the most important forward in terms of offense.

So far this year, he has 11 goals and 20 assists for 31 points in 28 games played. By the end of the year, we could be talking about a 90+ point season for him. Up to this point, he is one of the biggest reasons that this team is where they are in the standings.