The first calendar month for the Winnipeg Jets is coming to an end and we wanted to know your big questions about the near perfect Jets. If you ever have questions about the Jets feel free to send Angus an email angushout@gmail.com or slide into his instagram DM’s. @angushout or @jetsnationdotca  and you might find your question in next months mail bag.

Javan.Wiens on Instagram asks Do you think the Jets will still play well after they lost to the Maple Leafs?

Angus- We saw the game against the Detroit Red Wings winning 6-2 I was expecting a win from the Jets but not that big of a win after losing to the Maple Leafs. Long term will this team play well? I will say yes; up until the Jets get to four nations tournament then its a coin flip for this team.

Really the only person we need to worry about Connor Hellebuyck. This team lives by the goalies and dies by the goalies and if he uses all of his gas up to win gold at a four team tournament it could be the end of the Jets run at the top this season.

Connor- The game against the  Maple Leafs was a tough loss, but a lot of that “losing feeling” was because it was the Leafs, and nobody likes losing to them. Hellebuyck has been great through 10 games, but that night wasn’t his best, but keep in mind that the team in front of him wasn’t the best either.

In the short term, the Jets should be able to keep playing well based on the strength of their upcoming schedule. The Jets bounced back with a strong performance against the  Red Wings, and will get the Columbus Blue Jackes next. No game is easy in the NHL, but that’s a game that hopefully the Jets can get a W. After that, the schedule does get tougher, but the Jets are at home for the next 4 games. The Tampa Bay Lightning, Utah Hockey Club, Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars will all provide a tough test for the Jets coming up.

Long term, I’m still confident that the Jets can replicate a similar record to last season. They might not have every single piece needed for a championship quality team, but they do have the pieces that will get them back into the playoffs. An in form Hellebuyck, a high scoring top line, and a quality top 4 defence is essentially what needs to be in check for the Jets to continue to have success this season.

Unknownjetsenthusiast asks- Does Kyle Connor score 100 points at the pace hes going right now?

Angus- You mean Mr. 500 NHL points- Kyle Connor who is on pace for 139 points and has nine goals in 10 games. Yes he will clear the 100 point season by a landslide if he stays healthy this season. Even after the Jets were up 5-2 you could still see Connor working his ass on both sides of the puck. The guy is hungry. I am willing to bet a crisp $100 bill that he will score his 600th NHL point by the end of the season (barring an injury).  So I think we will see 100 points in 72 games for him.

I saw Connor at a golf tournament this summer and before he left I asked about a 50 goal season and I got a confident but laughy “we’ll just have to wait and see”. In my mind the tone from him was I’m not just going to score 50 goals I’m aiming for 60.  He is currently on pace for 70 goals that number is going to come down and even it’s 58 goals that’s still still the most in 2.0 history. Connor has more often than not had just two less assists than goals at the end of the season. My prediction is he scores 114 points.

Connor- Before this season started I probably would have said no way to 100 points for Connor, mostly because I see him more as one of the best pure goal scorers. However, after the incredible start for him through 10 games, I say a 100 point season is for sure in reach.Connor has not only showcased his ability to snipe pucks into the net, but also some high end passingvand playmaking. Connor has 8 assists in 10 games now, which includes some sweet primary assists to the eventual goal scorers.

With 17 points in 10 games, Connor is currently on the 100 point pace, and I see him reaching 100 if his linemates continue to produce at a similar rate. Gabriel Vilardi and Mark Scheifele have both worked well with Connor this season, and there’s no stopping this trio when they’re all playing to the best of their abilities.

_grahamtaylor asks – Will the Jets add a D at the deadline, if so who?

-Angus This team just needs the most mild upgrades to be great, especially in the post season. I would look at upgrading the left shot defence find someone like Brendan Dillon and shuffle Dylan Samberg back down to the third pairing. Rasmus Andersson from the Calgary Flames is someone I would like the Jets to kick the tires on. A cap hit of just $4.5 million if the right pieces were moved to make the cap space work I would be all over that trade. He also has one year left on his deal after this year.

Having a second pairing of Pionk and Andersson would be an unreal pairing who would go out there and put up so many points together they would hit everything in sight. They could also be an awful pairing together where they are a -12 at the end of the season they are both chaos. Even if its not Andersson that the Jets go and get they do need to move on from the Logan Stanley five-year trial period and getting Ville Hienola in after not playing the first six weeks is a bad idea.

Connor-With the uncertainty of Ville Heinola’s health, and some consistency concerns from players like Logan Stanley, the Jets should add another quality defenceman at the deadline this year. Bottom 6 defence like Colin Miller and Haydn Fleury have been fine in their appearances, but they might not be good enough come playoff time. As for the top 4 defence, I’m content with them right now, as Morrissey, DeMelo, Samberg and Pionk are all doing what’s expected of them in their current roles.

As for potential targets the Jets could add, it’s a bit difficult to take a guess this early in the year. Someone who I’d want the Jets to add (even if he may not be available) is Ducks veteran defence Cam Fowler. The Jets would obviously need to pay a bit of a premium, especially if they want the Ducks to retain on Fowler’s current 6.5 million dollar salary. I just think that Fowler would benefit playing for another team, and his veteran guidance would be great for the younger defence on the Jets.

A second option that the Jets should look at close to the deadline is Sabres right handed defenceman Henri Jokiharku. The Sabres are loaded with young defence, including Owen Power, Rasmus Dahlin and Bowen Byram, so they have a few that could be expandable. Jokiharju is still only 25, has an AAV around 3 million, and has been effective against other teams top players (according to PuckIQ analytics). Jokiharju won’t be cheap, but if the Jets can find a way to acquire him, it would greatly help round out their defence.