The Winnipeg Jets watched as their closest competitors in the Central Division loaded up at the trade deadline.
In Dallas, the Stars splurged on Mikko Rantanen, adding another weapon to their high-octane top six. The Colorado Avalanche landed Brock Nelson — Winnipeg’s No. 1 target — to solidify the second-line centre position behind superstar Nathan MacKinnon.
Meanwhile, the Jets’ top two forward lines were unchanged. Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele and Gabe Vilardi have been inseparable this season, sharing 836:31 of ice time at 5-on-5 — by far the most of any line in the NHL. Their league-leading 46 on-ice goals at 5-on-5 are 11 more than the next-closest line. Whichever team draws Winnipeg in the playoffs will focus much of its attention on containing that trio.
Jets coach Scott Arniel told reporters last month that he needs the Ehlers-Namestnikov-Perfetti line to be a factor offensively “so we’re a lot more dangerous than just (Scheifele’s) line.” Are those three players well-equipped enough to handle that challenge, especially after Colorado and Dallas brought in major reinforcements?
Namestnikov has never been a big-time point producer, topping out at 22 goals and 48 points during his career season back in 2017-18. His counterparts in Colorado and Dallas, Nelson and Matt Duchene, are far more accomplished in that regard. Nelson scored at least 30 goals in each of his previous three seasons. Duchene has cracked 50 points 11 times in his 16-year career.
Namestnikov’s average of 6.42 offence-generating plays per 20 minutes at 5-on-5 is 160th out of 344 forwards who have played at least 500 minutes in that situation. Duchene (9.15) and Nelson (8.37) rank 18th and 41st, respectively. (Wyatt Johnston, who is filling in for the injured Roope Hintz in Dallas’ top six, sits 37th in offence-generating plays per 20 at 5-on-5.)
It is understandable why the Jets went hard after Nelson. Namestnikov is a serviceable second-line centre, but not one who makes a measurable impact on the results.
Ehlers makes the Jets’ second line go. The left winger is one of the best possession drivers in the league, ranking 12th in defensive-zone carry-outs and 15th in offensive-zone carry-ins per 20 among 344 qualified forwards at 5-on-5. His shiftiness with the puck on his stick (37th in successful open-ice dekes per 20 at 5-on-5) creates space for his linemates to drive to the net, as seen below on Namestnikov’s goal against the New York Rangers on Tuesday.
On the other side, Perfetti has picked up his play over the past several weeks. He has 15 points in his past 17 games after recording 16 points in his previous 41 games, which included a 14-game goal drought.
Perfetti’s hot streak coincides with his claim that he is trying to be more of “a little prick to play against.” Since Jan. 24, Perfetti leads Winnipeg with 19 puck-battle wins in the offensive zone at 5-on-5 (1.75 per 20). He also is getting to the inside of the ice much more frequently. Over the past 17 games, 30 of Perfetti’s 49 shot attempts (61.2 per cent) have been from the slot. (Prior to this stretch, 50.4 per cent of Perfetti’s shot attempts at 5-on-5 this season had come from the slot.)
“Every shift, he goes out and he’s competitive and he wants to win his puck battles,” Arniel told reporters earlier this month. “His compete level is (really) good, and then (it’s) just the confidence that you see in him. He’s not afraid to make plays. He’s a smart, heady kid (who) knows when he uses his skillset that he can have success.”
On Friday, we will get our first glimpse of the souped-up Central Division when the Jets host the Stars. It is a prime opportunity for Ehlers, Namestnikov and Perfetti to show their stuff.
“We feel like we all have good teams that have a chance to win,” Arniel told reporters after the trade deadline. “(The Avalanche and Stars) made their moves. We’ve done stuff in different ways, and it’ll really come down to the playoffs.”
