Today we shall look at point projections for Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor, and Josh Morrissey. Based on last year, heading into 2024-25, these three players are the class of the Winnipeg Jets right now. They each bring it every night, and as a result, they have been very consistently able to hit peak performances, especially recently. Therefore, without further ado, we get down to predicting the amount of points each of the these three Winnipeg Jet players will attain.
Kicking-Off the 2024-25 Winnipeg Jets Player Point Projections with Mark Scheifele
Ever since the 2015-16, Mark Scheifele’s 22-year-old season, he has been a very consistent NHL point producer. If you average out his nine seasons since that time, it is quite impressive. Moreover, it would work out to 71 games played, 30 goals, and 41 assists. In six of those seasons he was a point-per-game player or better. Last year he didn’t hit that mark, but had 72 points in 74 games. There’s no reason to suggest that Scheifele can’t once again hit his stride.
Additionally, he consistently puts up very high shooting percentage numbers, including hitting the 20% mark twice in his career. He has been over 20 minutes a game on average for each of the past eight NHL campaigns, and routinely puts in a points-per-60 minutes of around three. In any sense, if Scheifele plays in 75 games, it’s all but a foregone conclusion he hits 70, if not 75 points.
The Jets Kyle Connor Effect
As consistent as Scheifele has been, Kyle Connor has been that consistent of a goal scorer for the Jets. Connor’s best season so far was quite impressive. He walked away with the Lady Byng Trophy. In addition, he had career-highs with 47 goals, 93 points, 21:47 in ice time, 317 shots on goal, and 3.2 points/60 minutes. Needless to say, it was a very successful year for Connor. It established him as one of the most consistent, scoring wingers in the NHL in the league currently.
If you study Connor’s goal-scoring output, in each of his seven full seasons at the NHL level, he has hit 0.38 goals per game or better. Averaged out over 82 games, that’s good for just over 31 goals. And that was his worst season. That career year we referenced, it was 0.59 that campaign. The 27-year-old still shows no sign of slowing down. Therefore, look for Connor to put up 35 goals and at least as many assists, more if he squeezes in a full 82.
Josh Morrissey is In an Elite Class Among NHL Defencemen
Last up is the defenceman of the group. One thing Morrissey can’t be relied upon is hits. In 2021-22, he had his career-high 150 hits in 79 games played. However, in 2019-20 he had just 34 in 65 games for the Jets. Furthermore, it took him a while to hit his current levels, but the past two seasons has elevated Morrissey to elite status among NHL defencemen. Hence, he has sky-rocketed up the list for inclusion on a best-on-best Team Canada. If we based our projections on his averages from the past two seasons, and given that his power play time stays the same, he’s a reliable source from offence from the defence. He’s going to put up double-digits in goals, be around 60 assists, play over 24 minutes a game, and find a way to control the game from the backend by pushing the offence. The Jets are lucky to have him and his numbers stand to reason why.
Main Photo Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
