The Winnipeg Jets are 18% of the way through the season, and they have been nothing short of magnificent. They are at the top of the NHL, with a five-point margin over last year’s Stanley Cup winner and a +36 goal differential. Let’s dive into ten thoughts about the Jets.

1. The Jets’ forward group has scored 56 goals in 15 games this season, the most in the NHL. According to PuckPedia, they earn just $46.9 million and are the 13th lowest-paid group of forwards in the league. Forwards are paid to score, and these guys are finding the back of the net. Especially the top six—each player has at least 11 points to start the season and earns a combined $32.25 million. These players clearly love hockey and are willing to play in one of the least desirable cities in Canada to the best of their abilities.

2. **Continuing with scoring, the Jets have three players in the top 20 of the NHL points leaders.** Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele are tied for 13th in the NHL, each with 19 points. Nikolaj Ehlers is tied for 19th with William Nylander, Brady Tkachuk, and Jack Hughes, all with 18 points. For a team without any “legitimate” superstars, the Jets’ top guys have been finding the back of the net more than some of the $10 million-plus players in the NHL.

3. There should be more discussion about Connor Hellebuyck for the Hart Trophy. A goalie hasn’t won the Hart Trophy since 2015, when Carey Price won it with the Montreal Canadiens. In 12 games, Hellebuyck has a .935 save percentage and a 1.83 goals-against average. When Price won, he finished the season with a 1.96 goals-against average and a .933 save percentage. We are nearly 20% of the way through the season. If those numbers hold up and he stays healthy, we could see Hellebuyck walk away with a trophy that goalies don’t often win.

4. The Jets have found 14 different ways to win this season. Some games, like the 1-0 win over the Colorado Avalanche, weren’t their best, but they found a way to rely on Hellebuyck. Other times, the Jets have been able to score prolifically, like the three-game streak from October 30-November 3, where they scored at least six goals in each game. They have held onto leads, had come-from-behind wins, earned overtime victories, and delivered dominant performances. The Jets know how to win.

5. While the power play has been unreal so far this season, at 41.9%, the second power play unit deserves more attention. In terms of power-play goals per 60 minutes, Cole Perfetti is on pace for 8.6 goals, Alex Iafallo for 5.9 goals, and Neal Pionk for 5.8 goals. I get excited when I see those guys roll onto the ice for the final 30 seconds of the power play and would like to see them out there a little more often.

6. The Jets have made 235 blocked shots this season, which is tied for 13th in the league. Josh Morrissey leads the team with 29 blocks. Chris Tanev of the Toronto Maple Leafs leads the NHL with 53 blocks. Both the Montreal Canadiens and the Chicago Blackhawks are tied for the most blocks this season, with 289. The Jets don’t need to worry too much about blocked shots when they have the best goalie in the world.

7. Last year in the Western Conference, it took 98 points to make the playoffs, which is a high number when you consider that the Washington Capitals needed just 91 to make the postseason. The Jets have 28 points in 15 games, meaning they are just 70 points away from that cutoff—only 35 wins in 67 games. That’s just 52% of the wins needed between now and the end of the season. This doesn’t seem like a team that would be content with just 98 points, considering they were a 110-point team last year, 110 points should be the minimal goal.

8. Consistency is key for this team. The Jets went through some changes this past offseason, like every NHL team, but the core—and even most secondary players—stuck around. There was also minimal of coaching changes when Rick Bowness retired and Scott Arniel getting hired and adding Dean Chynoweth and Davis payne while losing Brad Lauer. Consistent messaging to the same group of players is essential for long-term success.

9. The Jets are enjoying a two-day break but will spend nine of their next ten games on the road, with the lone home game coming at the end of a back-to-back against the Florida Panthers on November 19. The Jets have played with no excuses all season long, and this team might view anything less than six wins as a disappointment. They’ll spend a week in the Eastern time zone, which should make things easier mentally for the Jets. Seeing how tough the New York Rangers, Panthers, Vegas Golden Knights, and Minnesota Wild have been this year, it will be a good barometer to see if the Jets are for real or still a bunch of frauds.

10. Let’s enjoy this historic start. A 14-1-0 record is the best start to a season in NHL history. This team hasn’t been fooling us. We aren’t watching just one line do all the work, and Hellebuyck isn’t the only reason the Jets are winning—they are truly this good. Having everyone mostly healthy has helped them get off to this start, and if they stay healthy for the postseason, the Jets could cause some serious damage. We may see a lot of out of towners visiting Winnipeg in May and June. Even if they do fall off again in the postseason, it’s still nice to have a buzz around the team and to hear Canada Life Centre as loud as it’s been.