Dobber’s Offseason Fantasy Grades – Winnipeg Jets

Brad Hayward

2023-09-08

For the last 20 years (12 with The Hockey News), Dobber has reviewed each team from a fantasy-hockey standpoint and graded them.  The site began these reviews on August 8, and today wraps up the 32nd team. These are not reviews of the likely performance on the ice or in the standings, but more in the realm of fantasy hockey both for the season ahead, and the foreseeable future.  Offensively, will the team perform? Are there plenty of depth options worth owning in keeper leagues? What about over the next two or three years? These questions are what we take into consideration when looking at the depth chart, and the player projections for each team.

Today, the Winnipeg Jets.

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Gone: Blake Wheeler, Pierre-Luc Dubois, David Rittich, Sam Gagner, Karson Kuhlman, Saku Mäenalainen, Kevin Stenlund

Incoming:  Alex Iafallo, Gabriel Vilardi, Rasmus Kupari, Laurent Brossoit, Collin Delia

Impact of Changes: That the Jets were able to receive fair value for a player who publicly wanted to leave was a remarkable feat by Kevin Cheveldayoff. The three Kings players above, plus a second-round pick? Not bad. Vilardi is the key here.  If he can stick as second-line center, the Jets have enough offense around him to have this 2017 first-round pick really thrive.  He'll hit his 200th game Breakout Threshhold midseason.

In goal, Brossoit is an upgrade from Big Save Dave Rittich, and may help keep Connor Hellebuyck under 60 starts. Career 0.908 save%, and 0.927 last season with Las Vegas.  

Ready for Full Time: Cole Perfetti.

Yes, Perfetti had 51 NHL games in 2022-23, but an upper-body (rib?) injury ended his season on February 19th. With Dubois and Wheeler gone, a spot in the top-six should be his expectation. Perfetti had 30 points in 51 games (48-point pace), and he should see 55+ points this year.

Fantasy outlook: Winnipeg has a quality roster, with elite scoring options Kyle Connor (averages 35 goals and 70 points for the past six years), Mark Scheifele, and a now-healthy Nikolaj Ehlers. On the back end, Josh Morrissey posted by far his best scoring numbers, with 74 points – probably some regression to be expected? And there are banger options in Neal Pionk and Brenden Dillon.  

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The Jets will fly (pun obviously intended) only if Hellebuyck is their pilot. The 30-year-old Vezina winner (2020) is in a contract year and could be the biggest UFA fish out there next offseason. He'll be plenty motivated. He should be a top-five goalie in fantasy drafts.  

A sleeper here? Jansen Harkins, who's had peeks of NHL action over the past four seasons, but then struck for 50 points in 44 contests for the AHL Manitoba Moose. A third-line call-up before the New Year awaits.

After 2023-24:  Scheifele and Hellebuyck are in the last year of their contracts, and aren't easily replaced. They will each want fatter contracts, and very likely in new cities. While Winnipeg looks very much like a playoff contender this season, without those two stars, a rebuild might be in full swing.

Overall grade: B- (Last year: B-)

Read the rest of the offseason fantasy reviews here.

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YAROSLAV ASKAROV S.J
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