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Jets Nation Round Table: End of the Season Edition
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Cam Farquharson
Apr 7, 2016, 17:58 EDTUpdated: Invalid DateTime
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This week the Jets Nation crew discusses what has been their favourite part of the season, the worst part and try to make a prediction for the Jets’ off season. 
As the 2015-16 season season winds down for the Jets, what has been your favourite part?
Garret: My favourite part has thus far been Nikolaj Ehlers, but as a draft enthusiast the best part is still to come.
Art: I’m going to say that the Jets making a long term commitment to Dustin Byfuglien was my favorite part of the season. I know there were many that were fearful the Jets would end up losing both and I admit I thought that might happen as well, but I was actually more fearful that the commitment would be made to Ladd and not Buff. No disrespect to the former captain, but as we’ve covered at length here Byfuglien is the type of player that can sustain his level of play over the next four to five years whereas I’m not sure Ladd would have been able to for the money he is going to get this summer.
Mack: it hasn’t happened yet, but can I say the draft? I’m going to say the draft.
Cammers: Ehlers has been pretty awesome to watch. He has quickly developed into a legitimate NHL player that can contribute on a nightly basis.
What has been the worst part of the season?
Garret: Losing, losing badly, and perhaps not losing enough to get a franchise changing player.
Art: Seeing the special teams struggle for yet another season. This team was pretty good 5 on 5 and I could even live with them taking as many penalties as they did if they had an even average penalty kill, but they didn’t and it sunk them on so many nights where I’d watch a game, see them lose by a goal or two and think “they didn’t play that bad, where did it go wrong for.. *looks at other team’s power play that went 2 for 5* .. oh right. That happened”
Mack: I’m actually really struggling with this question. It’s been a slow, crushing, year-long disappointment, so I’m just going to hedge and say “all of it.” No part of this season has been particularly engaging: the Jets never really looked like a playoff team, few of the young players showed all that well (Ehlers is the exception here), and they are far from a lock to get a top-three pick out of it. I think next year could well be a return to the playoffs, but this one’s been a stinker.
Cammers: For me, the 2015-16 season has been a let down. The Jets made the playoffs for the first time and they were unable to follow up, in fact it felt like they took a huge step back in some areas. Most of this is the lack of depth by opting to let some key players walk, so that has been the worst part of the season for me. Having an excellent top-6 with a brutal bottom-6 to follow up.
Do you have any predictions for the Jets off season? Other than they’ll draft some players…
Garret: I think the Jets will bounce back some, although not sure how much. I think the Jets continue their retooling process and there could be growing pains out of it. The Jets will still likely have some of their deadweight, but it will be another year.
Art: I wish I could predict this team will be proactive, realize after five years things aren’t working out and make some needed roster moves (Stuart, Thorburn, Peluso, Pavelec.. See ya!) but I’ve started to accept that this team is stoic in its planning and will somehow figure they are right on course and “just need a few things to break their way” for a better season next year. I’m hoping I’m wrong, but outside of drafting players and maybe picking up a AHL-level player off of free agency, I don’t see the Jets doing anything radical.
Mack: I actually think the Jets are going to shore up their depth this summer. Watching this season go off the rails while inexpensive free agent signings have lit it up elsewhere (Stempniak, Parenteau, Boyes, etc.) should be enough for Chevy to make some moves this summer. The Jets’ depth was just not good enough this year, and it came back to bite them in the ass.
Cammers: I think the Jets are going to rework their coaching staff. Paul Maurice is not the issue, but the special teams coaches need to either be replaced or completely rework their systems. The Jets are last in the league for penalty kill and 25th for their power play. Something has to give.

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