The Winnipeg Jets had a difficult time last season stringing wins together. Two or three wins in a row would always be followed by nearly as many losses. In the end, that pattern cost them any reasonable chance of a playoff spot.
The season was not without hope. The Jets have Patrik Laine, center Mark Scheifele and right-wing Blake Wheeler in the stable. That trio will drive much of the core 
success for Winnipeg.
Offense was not an issue for the Jets in the last campaign as they scored 3.00 goals per game, good for seventh in the league.
The problem was the goals against per game, 3.11, which was 27th in the NHL.
There are many reasons for that and one effort to plug the holes in the blueline was the signing of Dmitry Kulikov to a three-year deal.
Kulikov iced in only 47 games last season wit the Buffalo Sabres due to injuries. He netted two goals and five points.
“I know [Jets center Mark Scheifele] from a couple of summers ago when I trained with him in Canada, and I skated with [Winnipeg captain Blake Wheeler] this summer a couple of times,” he said. “They played a big role in my decision. They pretty much sold me on Winnipeg and talking how good the team is and how good the guys are in the locker room.”
A better showing from the defensive corps would help the Jets drop that 3.11 goals per game allowed.
“I had some options,” Kulikov said of free agency. “When I was making the decision, I was looking at the rosters of the teams that are more closer to contending for the [Stanley Cup] than anything else, and the Winnipeg Jets, I made a decision to join the team because I feel like it’s the team that has all the pieces and they’re moving in the right direction, and I feel like it’s an exciting future for this organization and I’m happy to be a part of it.”
Where the Jets really have needed an upgrade is their goaltending. Mediocrity struck the Winnipeg goalies over the last few seasons.
At one time Ondrej Pavelek was solid goaltender but he was re-assigned to the Manitoba Moose of the AHL last season. He returned and had a few good games but then relapsed.
Pavelec has since signed a one-year deal with the New York Rangers.
To plug the holes in the net, Winnipeg signed former Philadelphia Flyers goalie, Steve Mason, to a two-year deal worth $4.1 million a year.
“It was a term that worked for both sides,” Mason said. “With the Jets’ situation in terms of players coming up for renewals, they couldn’t necessarily project what the [salary] cap was going to be like and how much they would have to work with. And for myself, the Jets provided me with a salary I was extremely comfortable with and also lets us revisit this next summer if we have a good year and maybe, potentially, signing that longer-term deal. For myself, I’m happy with the term, I’m happy with the average of the contract, and my main focus is starting the first year of this contract off right and helping the team have some success which is definitely needed for the organization.”
Mason has been up and down over his time with the Flyers but when he is on he can be brilliant and just the what the Jets have needed.
Backing up Mason will be Connor Hellebuyck who signed a one-year deal worth more than $2 million.
Hellebuyck acquitted himself well last season, splitting time with Michael Hutchinson. But he needs time to develop and the one-year deal is worth the continued time learning his position. He posted a 26-19-4 record and a 2.89 goals-against average, .907 save percentage and four shutouts on the season.
“I’m excited for it,” Hellebuyck said. “I’m happy to be with the Winnipeg organization again. I think the team is very good and has a very bright future. I’m excited to be a part of that future.
“I wasn’t too worried, it’s just part of the business side. I would have liked to get a deal done and that’s what I did. No one wins in arbitration, so I’m excited to get one done early enough.”
Mason can provide mentorship to the younger understudy.
“I view it as a good thing,” Hellebuyck said of Mason;s signing. “It’s good for the team and it’s going to bring the team some confidence in the net. I’m going to learn from him. He’s a veteran guy who’s been through the ropes. I’m going to take what I can from him. And you know what? It’s going to push us both as goalies.”
Better goaltending will help the Jets firm up the porous defense and make them more competitive late in games.
Winnipeg fans are waiting patiently for a winner but that patience is wearing thin in town eager to cheer in the post season.
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