Garret: Halak! In all seriousness, Jets need to find a capable, proven, and cheap back up for next season, as I think next year we should hope to see Hellebuyck take a capable control over starting.

Art: I am willing to bet my life savings that Pavelec – as much as we’ve joked about him getting a new contract with this little win streak he’s had – is done with the Jets after this season no matter how the rest of this season goes. Doug MacLean of Sportsnet made the point that he didn’t think the Jets ever intended to bring Pavelec up from the AHL at all this season but got desperate. Hellebuyck is the man next season but I agree with Garret, a veteran backup would be nice.

Dustin: I’ve struggled with the ‘is a hot dog a sandwich’ thing for some time now, but I do know that Ondrej Pavelec is playing for his NHL career right now. He is done as a Winnipeg Jet, the only question in my mind is whether he’s dealt before the deadline or if he walks in free agency. I wholeheartedly believe that he wants out of here even more than the Jets want him to go. Connor Hellebuyck’s future competition is coming from Eric Comrie, not Ondrej Pavelec, but I hope this management group has learned their lesson and don’t put all their eggs in that basket next year.

Jacob: The Jets need to do what they failed to do last offseason: Acquire a veteran backup that can not only support Hellebuyck, but provide aid on an off night. The Jets primary focus should be getting Hellebuyck’s confidence back to where it needs to be. A competent back up ( and that’s not Michael Hutchinson) is what’s needed. 

Garret: Myers has struggled in the more advance metrics, while Trouba is elite. Trouba is also younger. So, without a doubt, I say Trouba is more important to keep. Myers is still a capable #5 to play behind the Jets current top-four. They just need a better LHD option to go with him than Stuart or Chiarot.

Art: I’d be all for the Jets letting Myers stay exposed for the expansion draft, but I’m almost certain if they do, Vegas will snap him up. And not that I think Myers has any real value other than he’d be a great third (or borderline second if you’re dealing with injuries) pairing defenseman, but his cap friendly contract would be a great trading chip for the Jets to use but at this point there won’t be an NHL team that will trade for him given his injury and the fact they’d need to protect him as well. I’d like to see Myers back with the Jets next season, but I don’t see how it happens.

Dustin: More than his fancynumbers, more than than his contract, I think the most important factor here is his health. If Myers can fully recover from whatever it is that’s ailing him, I think the Jets should hang on to him. But NOT over Jacob Trouba. If Trouba wants to stay here, I think the Jets should do everything in their power to keep him happy. 

Jacob: It’s complicated because of the expansion draft. Despite the injuries and other issues, the Jets should still protect him and fall in line with the eight skater protection route. The reasoning behind such is the Jets simply cannot afford to lose a defenceman and even if Myers has played his way out of the top-four, he could bring legitimate value on the third pairing.  With the way Trouba has played recently, there’s simply no way he can be left unprotected, especially in favor of Trouba. 

Garret: No.

Art: Not all, especially in their own zone. This is why so many people are wondering if Paul Maurice is the right man for the job. That said, I feel they are a bit more disciplined this season than they had been last year, but they still take way too many stick penalties.

Dustin: Hey, that’s two questions! BUt the answer to both is a resounding ‘No’. The defensive systems appear to be a mess and we’ve seen the special teams be less than impressive plenty of times over the past couple of years. To make matters even worse, the discipline needs a lot of work, but many of the players are young and they can still learn. We saw that in Nikolaj Ehlers this week as his play without the puck greatly improved after the message was sent.

Jacob: Exhibit A is there defensive mechanisms. The Jets not only tend to get out of position in their own zone, but they become passive at the wrong times. The Jets find themselves pinned in their own zone from time to time and any NHL team is going to score if they have minutes of time to set up and create on a weak defensive team.   

Garret: He *could* consistently score at P.Kane’s level, but I won’t expect it (Hope for the best, plan for the worst, and expect somewhere in between). That said, I think Ehlers could have a better defensive game.

Art: Kane is a 30 to 40 goal a season guy and I don’t see Ehlers being that kind of offensively dynamic a player, but two things are in his favor to be just as an important player to the Jets as Kane is to the Blackhawks.. Ehlers has the potential to be a more complete player at both ends of the rink and I think he and Patrik Laine have an amazing chemistry together which will only get better over the next season or two where both players can pass and shoot and may end up being one of the league’s best one-two punches no matter who their center is.

Dustin: Disclaimer: Trikky Nikky is my favourite. I truly think the sky is the limit for this kid. Especially being paired with Patrik Laine. I think the potential is definitely there for him to be counted among the league’s best players in a couple of years. His passing is amazing and his creative playmaking is off the charts. Of all the young exciting youth the Jets have, I truly think Nikolaj Ehlers will be the best of the bunch.

Jacob: Patrick Kane is a first-ballot hall of fame player and someone that has established himself in the elite category. While I think Ehlers has all-star potential, I can’t anticipate him getting to that point. With that being said, alongside Patrik Laine and Mark Scheifele, he could be an 80-90 point player, but I can’t see him reaching that point for another 2-3 seasons , at least.