6 Winnipeg Jets Players Approaching Milestones in 2024-25 – Hockey Writers –
Make no mistake — team success is the most important thing in sports, and as the Winnipeg Jets approach the 2024-25 season, the focus is right on how they will do after a second-round pick in the first round and a number of significant moves in free agency.
That said, individual success is still something to celebrate and you don't have a strong team without talented people contributing to the campaign. There are more than a few Jets players who are approaching meaningful landmarks that we will take some time to highlight here.
Kyle Connor – 500 points
Currently: 485 points
Kyle Connor is 15 points away from 500 points in his career and could reach the milestone in October.
Related: Jets' Stanley Cup roster spot
The only question is whether the prolific shooter and playmaker will score his 500th point on a goal or assist. In 531 games, his goal and assist totals are near record highs: he put 243 pucks behind the net while dishing out 242 apples.
Nikolaj Ehlers – 500 points
Currently: 457 points
Nikolaj Ehlers has been the subject of trade rumors for months now, but he's staying with the Jets and like Connor, he's closing in on the 500 point mark.
The Danish forward recently hit the 200-goal mark at the end of last season and needs 43 points to reach his next milestone. While he may be traded near the 2025 Trade Deadline if he hasn't signed a new contract with the Jets and isn't in playoff contention, he could hit .500 before any trade takes place.
Even if he doesn't get dealt before reaching 500, he will hit it before the end of the season considering he has 55 points and seasons in his career.
Connor Hellebuyck – 500 NHL Starts, 300 Wins
Currently: 496 starts, 275 wins
Connor Hellebuyck, the workhorse, will likely get the team's first four starts of the season given that there is no running back, so the 500-start milestone is a foregone conclusion. Interestingly, the promotion for their fourth game of the campaign, on Oct. 18 at home against the San Jose Sharks, it's called “Hellebuyck Night.” Someone in the marketing department of True North Sports & Entertainment seems to know exactly what they are doing.
25 wins should also be an easy feat for the two-time and reigning Vezina Trophy winner to accomplish. He has 37 consecutive seasons and the last time he didn't have at least 25 wins was in the 56-game season of 2020-21, when he had 24.
Alex Iafallo – 100 goals
He currently has 97 goals
Alex Iafallo was a consistent scorer in his first season with the Jets, but he should hit the 100-goal mark before too long.
Iafallo — acquired from the Los Angeles Kings in the trade that sent Pierre-Luc Dubois away last June — recorded 11 goals in 2023-24, his lowest in six seasons. While he hasn't really flashed the light in his 502-game NHL career, he has scored 17 goals in one campaign and is pretty much a lock to hit his milestone regardless of where he is placed on the roster.
Vladislav Namestnikov – 300 Points
Currently: 298 points
The versatile Russian forward can play at center or on the wing and move up and down the lineup, but regardless of his deployment in 2024-25, he will reach the 300-point milestone. He can do it in the season opener as well, as he sits at 298 career points (126 goals, 172 assists.)
Namestnikov has been a reliable secondary contributor for all seven teams he has played for throughout his 708-game NHL career, and the Jets are no exception. In 98 games with Winnipeg since being acquired from the Tampa Bay Lightning at the 2023 NHL Trade Deadline, the now 31-year-old has 47 points (13 goals, 34 assists) and a plus-24 average.
Cole Perfetti – 100 points
Currently: 75 points
Cole Perfetti may reach this milestone quickly, or it may take him most of the season. It all depends on his role and his life.
If he plays like he did in the first half of last season he should hit it at Christmas. Through 41 games in 2023-24, the 22-year-old was on the second right wing, recording 29 points (12 goals, 17 assists.)
If he plays like he did in the second half of last season, it might take a while. After his strong start, he fell into an extended scoring drought, suffering a 23-game scoring streak since Jan. 11 to March 23. This led to now-retired coach Rick Bowness dropping Perfetti to the fourth line and moving to the fourth line. press box after the team added Tyler Toffoli to the forward group at the 2024 deadline. He had 11 hits in the regular season and four in the playoffs.
Overall, Perfetti still set career highs with 19 goals and 38 points last season and his game has taken significant steps forward. If he can carve out a top-six role — either as a new second-line center or on the wing again — in what will be his fourth NHL season, the points will come.
Perfetti's durability will also be a factor. He didn't miss any time with injury last season, a welcome development considering he suffered four separate injuries in his first two NHL campaigns that limited him to a combined 69 games.
6 Other Approaches (In Alphabetical Order)
- Morgan Barron – 200 career NHL games (182 played)
- Josh Morrissey – 600 career NHL games (582 played)
- Nino Niederreiter – 900 career NHL games (887 played)
- Neal Pionk – 200 assistants (183 total)
- Mark Scheifele – 800 career NHL games (797 played)
- Gabriel Vilardi – 200 career NHL games (199 played)
Source link
