AS I SEE IT COLUMN: The Winnipeg Jets – Credit where (loads of) credit is due

So the Jets are the best team in the NHL. For all the heartache the NHL has been to hockey fans in Manitoba all these many years – think of the times when we had a good team but had to struggle to get past the mighty Edmonton Oilers dynasty, or when we had really lousy teams – the idea that our dearly beloved Jets are better than the Leafs, the Oilers, the Stars, the Capitals and every other team in the league – heading into the postseason – is hard to fully comprehend.

But it’s true.

We thought this might be possible several years ago – think about The Hockey News cover story in 2015 that suggested the Jets would win the Stanley Cup in 2019 – but I don’t think anyone saw this year’s version of the Jets as the top team in the NHL.

There are lots of reasons for the Jets success.

First and foremost is the play of goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. He is unquestionably the best goaltender on earth. He is a shoe-in for another Vezina and could win the Hart trophy, which recognizes the most valuable player in the NHL. A goalie hasn’t won the Hart since Montreal’s Corey Price did it in 2015.

Over the past few years, this space has been undeniably hard — but ultimately fair — on Hellebuyck. The main criticism has been his playoff performance almost never comes even close to matching his stellar play during the regular season.

The Jets’ hope for a deep playoff run rests squarely on Hellebuyck’s shoulders. If he plays like he has the past few regular seasons — especially this one — the Jets have an excellent chance of contending for the Stanley Cup.

In the playoffs, everything, absolutely everything, starts and ends with goaltending. If Hellebuyck plays to the best of his ability, any team the Jets face in the postseason will have a very difficult time scoring. And the confidence he instills in the players in front of him is an intangible that could carry the team a long way.

Second is the Jets’ team chemistry. The Jets have arguably had more talented teams than this current edition, but it was abundantly clear that there was some kind of cancer in the dressing room.

Something, or someone toxic, was keeping the team from reaching its full potential.

We’ve heard for years that the team was close, but that was seldom apparent on the ice. In fact, frequently the exact opposite was true.

This year is different.

Third is head coach Scott Arniel.

He has managed to get the core group to buy into a ‘defence first’ posture that has filtered down to the whole team.

Arniel gotten the Jets to generate high-octane offence which is built from that stifling defense. To put it another way, he’s manufactured a player buy-in that no previous Jets coach has been able to attain.

So with the playoffs off to a great start for the Jets, they are fully deserving of all the credit they are receiving around the league.

But now a whole new season has begun.

The President’s Trophy, the Vezina, the Hart and any other awards the Jets win will mean nothing if the Jets don’t translate the momentum they are currently enjoying into a deep playoff run; an early exit and the season will be yet another bitter disappointment.

The Jets are full value for the accolades they are receiving. Kudos to the players, the coaching staff, and the entire Jets organization. Well done!

Go Jets go!