The Winnipeg Jets are off to an 8-0-0 start. It's been a team effort to maintain their undefeated streak, but there are a few Jets in particular that have stood out over the last few games. Let's take a look at a few outstanding players who have made their mark so far.
1: Neal Pionk
Pionk got off to an unprecedented start. With one goal and nine assists, he has already surpassed his per game average. The 29-year-old is currently on a five-point streak, and had a career-high four-point game last week. He also looks comfortable on the ice defensively, which should give fans hope for his abilities this season. If he can maintain his current pace, he could have an amazing campaign.
His success may be due in part to his new defensive partner, Dylan Samberg. Last season, Pionk was often paired with Brenden Dillon, and Samberg has really stepped up in his absence. The two have been quite strong to start the season, at times outscoring top two players Josh Morrissey and Dylan DeMelo. The Jets defense looks to be a juggernaut again if Pionk can maintain his current level of play.
2: Eric Comrie
Fans were a little skeptical when the Jets placed Kaapo Kahokonen on waivers, thus giving Comrie the starting spot. So far, he has proven his worth. With wins in both of his starts, he looked good to start his third season with the team. In his first game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, he made 42 saves and allowed three goals. Against the Calgary Flames, he allowed three more goals and made 29 saves. As of now, he has a save percentage (SV%) of .915 and plenty of time to continue improving.
Related: 3 Takeaways from the Winnipeg Jets' First 3 Games of 2024-25
Part of the hesitation in relying on Comrie was his past stats with his last few teams. With the Buffalo Sabers last season, he had an SV% of .874, and the season before that he finished at .886%. Overall, he had a very good start to the season and could be a good player for the team.
For those who are curious, Laurent Brossoit has had a terrible start to his season with the Jets, losing both of his first two games.
3: Nino Niederreiter
The Swiss NHL veteran is off to a great start. In his last three games, Niederreiter has 6 points (four goals and two assists), and is currently on pace for points per game. He scored two of his four goals in the same game against the Seattle Kraken.
Niederreiter signed an extension last December, and has since proven his worth to the team. He finished last season with 34 points and established himself as a core member of the third line with Adam Lowry and Mason Appleton. The entire line has had success starting this season, but Niederreiter in particular has been outstanding.
4: Second Line
This one might be cheating a bit, but it was hard to pick one player when all three had success early in the season. The second line – composed of Nikolaj Ehlers, Vladislav Namestnikov, and Cole Perfetti – got off to a rough start. In their first few games, their ice time was limited, and they saw very little results offensively. Fans were most concerned about the long-term success of the second line, an issue that has plagued the team for several seasons.
Recently, they seem to have turned it around, and all three have seen huge improvements in their games. Ehlers has 10 points, Perfetti has nine, and Namestnikov has six in eight games. On October 18 against the San Jose Sharks, the second line combined for 11 points and Perfetti and Namestnikov had four points each. Since then, the line has seen a significant increase in ice time, and if they keep it up, it may be safe to say that the Jets' woes regarding their second line may be over.
Honorable Mentions
As mentioned earlier, Samberg is off to a good start. His pairing with Pionk is trending in the right direction, and they will be a real defensive threat this season if they can continue their good work. Colin Miller has also looked good so far and currently has four points. The defender gets a chance to stand out in the team as the new coach Scott Arniel has appointed him as part of the players who will start the game.
It's hard to pick one or two players here because there are so many who are starting the season well. Besides the aforementioned, here are all players with at least a point per game: Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor, Josh Morrissey, and Appleton. The Winnipeg Jets are off to a historic start, and are in for a great season if they can continue their production.
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