Jets Search For Fresh Blood

Oftentimes, the exhibitions game can make or break a team. Throughout the pre-season, coaches carefully and strategically pick which players will define a team. Potential candidates give it their all, and rise up to the difficult challenge of making a solid impression in a short amount of time. It’s an intricate process, but it’s essential in determining the fate of a team during the Jets regular season.

For the Jets, the pre-season is defined by the search for fresh blood. Out with the old, in with the new! It’s no secret that the Jets have often opted for younger, less experienced players rather than hockey veterans. The Jets value budding, relatively unknown players, and cling to the hope that the next legendary face of hockey is hidden within their ranks. These values are particularly noticeable during the pre-season, when younger players push veterans to the cutting board. Recently, Jets forward Eric Tangradi received the axe. Tangradi played 55 games with Winnipeg last season, and has recently been re-assigned to the St. John’s IceCaps. This may not seem like a big deal, but it demonstrates the strength of the new players in the Jets training camp.

In other news, the Jets have suffered from a pretty lackluster pre-season, despite ending the exhibition games on a high note. The Jets closed out the pre-season on October 4^th with a remarkable 4-1 win against the Calgary Flames at Winnipeg’s MTS Centre. Meanwhile, the pre-season has also showcased the new line of Blake Wheeler, Mark Scheifele, and Evander Kane. The new line may be a little rusty, but boasts an enormous amount of potential. With just a little bit of tweaking, this powerhouse trio can breathe life into a relatively new team that still hasn’t adapted to the inner workings of the NHL.

The regular season begin on October 9^th, when the Jets take on the Arizona Coyotes at the Gila River Arena. The team’s first home game will take place on October 17^th, when the Jets welcome the Nashville Predators.