The Winnipeg Jets hot start can be largely attributed to their star players. With wins against the Stanley Cup-contending Edmonton Oilers and then another Connor, Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks, things starting are off on the right foot in the Canadian province of Manitoba. So just who’s helping to lead the charge for the Jets you may ask? Well, none other than top-line centre Mark Scheifele, backed by his impressive stats, and their own superstar Connor, their outstanding goaltender, Connor Hellebuyck.
Mark Scheifele Impressive Stats Now Includes 300-Career Goals
To start with their offence, Mark Scheifele is leading the charge. Scheifele scored the overtime winner last night against the Hawks. Moreover, it was a milestone marker for the Jets veteran forward. The goal was the 300th of his terrific NHL career. It caps off what is a scorching hot start for the Jets lifer, who now has three goals and one assist through the first two contests of 2024-25.
These types of numbers are impressive but are what Jet fans have grown to expect. We already discussed point projections for Mark Scheifele stats’ among other Jets star offensive players. Therefore, what we concluded was if Scheifele plays a (near) full NHL slate of games, he will have (a minimum of) 70 points. Of course, it’s not hard to see in another way if you average out his career stats in one 82-game span. If you do as such, Scheifele’s stats work out to be 31 goals and 43 assists. Moreover, that includes the first three full seasons of his career, where he was far below that level and where he is today. Based on his start, the sky appears to be the limit.
What About Their Other Star, the One in Net
The other star Jet player off to a hot start is goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. Hellebuyck shutout the high-flying Oilers offence 6-0 in the season opener. He did so by stopping all 30 shots he faced. In addition, he then backed it up with the overtime victory against the Hawks. He stopped 25 out of 26 shots in that victory. It’s early, but Hellebuyck has a save percentage of .982 combined through those two games. However, when you are talking about a goalie with a career mark at a .917 SV%, you may start to see where this is headed. An incredible four times, Hellebuyck has posted a season SV% of .920 or better. In those same four seasons, he finished no less than third in the Vezina Trophy voting, winning twice.
With these stellar performances by Hellebuyck and Scheifele, it makes for a great start to head coach Scott Arniel’s tenure. Maybe if the depth guys, like Nikolaj Ehlers, can ride this wave of momentum there will be no stopping the Jets. They already have one of the biggest items out of the way for playoff contention, goaltending. Their top players excel at 5v5, and one reason why they were able to shock Edmonton in the opener. If they continue to work on their power play woes and add the depth scoring, the potential is there for a big season in Winnipeg.
Main Photo Credit: Sergei Belski – USA TODAY Sports
