Post by swervinmervin on Jan 11, 2013 2:05:15 GMT -5
I didn't do too badly with my predictions last year. (I'm having trouble finding them on the massive Jets fans websites that I posted them on). Last year, I had predicted that the overall lack of team defense would take away from the Jets' chances for the playoffs.
If this were a full season, I would be predicting a much better outcome for the Jets this year. And it will be better with this half season - just not as much as I would have hoped. I believe that Coach Claude Noel is a good teacher for talented young players. Unfortunately, a strike-shortened season with a short training camp will "short-circuit" Noel's opportunities to teach his young charges.
The Jets will be better in 2013 than they were in 2011-12 -
- all the young players will improve somewhat from 2012. I am looking for the biggest improvements from Wheeler (no early season slump this time), Byfuglien (healthier, and a hunch), Enstrom (healthy all year this year, hopefully), and Bogosian (when he returns from rehab). I expect other young players to also continue their development (Kane, Burmistrov).
-Jokinen and Ponikarovsky will both be positive changes from last year. Jokinen has already shown leadership abilities. His veteran presence will have a positive effect on the younger players.
- I think the Jets will be better in goal. Montoya will play more often than Mason did last year, and will be better. Pavelec will have a shaky start but then find his groove, and play his best hockey as a Jet so far.
Negatives -
- The Jets will be shaky defensively early in this short season. The forwards need to learn to play better defensively, and their 3rd pairing on defense will suffer early in this short season, and then finish strong. Don't take this the wrong way - I like Postma and Redmond, and I've heard good things about how Redmond is playing. It's just that neither of them have had a lot of NHL experience yet.
- Haven't seen the schedule yet, but we already know what it's going to be like. Brutal. Travel will take even more out of the Jets in this short, Eastern-only year than it did last year. Ouch.
- This young team will not hit its peak until the 24 game mark. As many have said already, this is too late for this shortened season.
Critical factors for success:
(1) Noel. If he can quickly teach these players what they need to know - especially defensively - then the Jets could actually fly out of the gate.
(2) Pavelec - he's got to find his groove early in the season - consistently.
(3) Defensemen - this could be a very, very talented group. They need to show it early this year. Inspired play by Big Buff, Enstrom, Hainsey, Bogosian, and Zach Redmond could lead this group to an unexpected good start.
(4) MTS Centre and the crazy Jets fans - see Noel, Pavelec and defensemen above. If the Jets give the fans things to cheer about early in the season, then the MTS Centre can deliver some extra wins for the Jets this year. Conversely, if Noel, Pavs and the D-Men fail in their task, then the crowds could get restless.
Overall prediction - an exciting finish to the season but ultimately 9th place, despite some offensive fireworks. This team will get better with every passing year. 2014 could be much better.
But hey! I'm loving every minute of it!
If this were a full season, I would be predicting a much better outcome for the Jets this year. And it will be better with this half season - just not as much as I would have hoped. I believe that Coach Claude Noel is a good teacher for talented young players. Unfortunately, a strike-shortened season with a short training camp will "short-circuit" Noel's opportunities to teach his young charges.
The Jets will be better in 2013 than they were in 2011-12 -
- all the young players will improve somewhat from 2012. I am looking for the biggest improvements from Wheeler (no early season slump this time), Byfuglien (healthier, and a hunch), Enstrom (healthy all year this year, hopefully), and Bogosian (when he returns from rehab). I expect other young players to also continue their development (Kane, Burmistrov).
-Jokinen and Ponikarovsky will both be positive changes from last year. Jokinen has already shown leadership abilities. His veteran presence will have a positive effect on the younger players.
- I think the Jets will be better in goal. Montoya will play more often than Mason did last year, and will be better. Pavelec will have a shaky start but then find his groove, and play his best hockey as a Jet so far.
Negatives -
- The Jets will be shaky defensively early in this short season. The forwards need to learn to play better defensively, and their 3rd pairing on defense will suffer early in this short season, and then finish strong. Don't take this the wrong way - I like Postma and Redmond, and I've heard good things about how Redmond is playing. It's just that neither of them have had a lot of NHL experience yet.
- Haven't seen the schedule yet, but we already know what it's going to be like. Brutal. Travel will take even more out of the Jets in this short, Eastern-only year than it did last year. Ouch.
- This young team will not hit its peak until the 24 game mark. As many have said already, this is too late for this shortened season.
Critical factors for success:
(1) Noel. If he can quickly teach these players what they need to know - especially defensively - then the Jets could actually fly out of the gate.
(2) Pavelec - he's got to find his groove early in the season - consistently.
(3) Defensemen - this could be a very, very talented group. They need to show it early this year. Inspired play by Big Buff, Enstrom, Hainsey, Bogosian, and Zach Redmond could lead this group to an unexpected good start.
(4) MTS Centre and the crazy Jets fans - see Noel, Pavelec and defensemen above. If the Jets give the fans things to cheer about early in the season, then the MTS Centre can deliver some extra wins for the Jets this year. Conversely, if Noel, Pavs and the D-Men fail in their task, then the crowds could get restless.
Overall prediction - an exciting finish to the season but ultimately 9th place, despite some offensive fireworks. This team will get better with every passing year. 2014 could be much better.
But hey! I'm loving every minute of it!