Massive blunder by rivals opens door for Avalanche division takeover
Photo credit: David Zalubowski / AP
The Winnipeg Jets' massive offseason blunder has opened the door wide for the Colorado Avalanche to reclaim their dominance and take over the Central Division heading into the 2025-26 season.
With questions now swirling around the Jets' decision-making and long-term vision, the Avalanche are perfectly positioned to capitalize and reassert themselves as the team to beat in the West.
Rivals' blunder paves way for Avalanche takeover.
Josh Cybulski from Pro Hockey Rumors writes that the Jets dominated the regular season, capturing the Presidents' Trophy behind a phenomenal year for goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, who earned both the Vezina and Hart Trophies. However, their momentum didn't carry into the playoffs, where they fell short with a second-round exit to the Dallas Stars.
The big question now is: Have the Jets made the right moves this offseason to remain a serious contender in the Western Conference, or will last season's success prove to be a one-year wonder?
"On the surface, teams that lose one of their top players to free agency generally don't come away with a better group. That is precisely where the Jets find themselves after forward Nikolaj Ehlers took his talents to the Carolina Hurricanes, signing a six-year $51MM contract." -Cybulski
With Ehlers officially our after months of speculation surrounding his future and frustrations over limited ice time, the Jets wasted no time making moves to fill to void left by his departure.
In response, Winnipeg dipped into the free agent market and assembled a handful of intriguing options to help offset the offensive gap left by Ehlers. Their first splash was re-signing 37-year-old Jonathan Toews, bringing him back to the NHL after a two-year absence due to health concerns.
"It's a gamble for the Jets to rely on Toews returning to his best, but if he does, he could replace a significant part of the offense Winnipeg lost when Ehlers went South. However, if he doesn't, the Jets still have the option to pivot and use some of their substantial cap space to bring in extra help during the season. Winnipeg has nearly $20MM available under the cap with four players left to sign, so they should be able to leave room for mid-season acquisitions." -Cybulski
The Jets bolstered their depth this offseason by adding veteran forwards like Tanner Pearson, Cole Koepke, and Gustav Nyquist to strengthen their bottom six and add experience across their lineup.
"Ultimately, the Jets made a series of low-risk, short-term signings in hopes of catching lightning in a bottle. These stopgaps will hold things together for the Jets as they aim to build on the success of this past season." -Cybulski
It's uncertain whether Toews, Nyquist, Pearson, and Koepke can fully offset the loss of Ehlers, but if they step up, the Jets might remain a top contender. If they fall short, Winnipeg still has the option to pursue an in-season trade to strengthen the roster.
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 20 | 42 ANSWERS Massive blunder by rivals opens door for Avalanche division takeover Will the Avalanche finish ahead of the Jets next season in the Central Division? | ||
| yes | 28 | 66.7 % |
| no | 14 | 33.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
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