But before moving to the current situation, it is worth mentioning the period of 32, when Canadian teams cannot win the Stanley Cup. This is not only sports but also financial reasons. Take the same Winnipeg. Last year, the NHL Harry Bettman commissioner scared many team fans, saying that Jets had problems with attendance and economic stability. And Winnipeg only recently returned to the NHL map recently when the club was transported from Atlanta. Some problems with attendance are explanations (Winnipeg is a small city, there are few large companies and not such large sales of subscriptions), but now, it seems that the situation has been corrected and there are no statements about possible financial difficulties.
If you return to the “curse” of Canadian teams in the playoffs, you should mention the factor which clubs do not affect: dollar and taxes. Canadian clubs earn in Canadian dollars (which is weaker than American), and the salaries of hockey players are forced to pay in US dollars. In addition, in Canada, average taxes are much higher than in the United States, which is now reminiscent of Donald Trump at every occasion, wishing to annex the neighboring country. At least Trump is not deceived.
It is remembered that once a Ukrainian forward Alexei Ponikarovsky said that in Toronto, signing a contract for $ 1 year and $ 1 million, you get about $ 500,000 in your hands. We will not forget that the US has states with zero or close to zero taxes: for example, hockey players Tampi-Bay and Florida receive almost as much as it is registered in a contract due to a low tax rate in the state. This, of course, adds attractiveness to the teams in the fight for top players.
Star forward John Tavarez, who dreamed of playing in his native Toronto, after signing the contract with the maple, sued the Canadian Tax Service, which, according to the player, paid taxes and salaries, and a signature bonus, and literally all money under contract. However, it is not necessary to associate the successes of Tamps and Florida in recent years only with taxes – the championship team even with favorable languages for hockey players is so easy not to do, and Edmonton was still literally in one victory from the Stanley Cup.
Returning to Winnipeg’s success in the season, it is necessary to distinguish the main factor – the goalkeeper of Connor Hellebak. The US Cyper maintains its elite status and is leading in the season by all major goalkeeper indicators: the best average percentage of cast throws, the average number of passed washers and the number of dry matches (6). Hellebak is a Jets’s main asset, and it is not for nothing
By the way, Winnipeg has only the 22-in size payment, and among Canadian clubs is smaller only in Calgary. A few days later, the Jets fans will be able to estimate that the club has ambitions and financial capabilities to strengthen the team in front of the playoffs.
The team is built so that there are top leaders in each line. In defense, it is Josh Morrissey defender, who, if there is no injury, will go to the 2026 Olympics as part of the Canada national team. Morrissey is the leader in the team for game minutes, and goes to the top 5 of the best scorers. In the attack, such leaders are Kyle Connor and Mark Shayfley. Interestingly, Hellebak, Morrisci, Connor and Shafli – all were drawn by Winnipeg, and did not come through exchanges or free agents.
Both Connor and the Schiflli have already thrown 30+ washers in the season and scored 70+ points. Among those who were replaced, he fits well into the forward Gabriel Willardi, who was taken to Los Angeles. In general, the team is not called crowded stars, but the composition is balanced and quite stable. Winnipeg Scott Arniel trains, which before the arrival in Jets before the current season in the NHL failed to work a year and a half in Colubus. Winnipeg in the season is extremely dangerous in most-the best special crews-and not bad in the minority (16th result).
And yet, listing all the advantages of Jets, it is difficult to call them favorite in the playoffs in the west. On the way to the conditional finals of the Stanley Cup will definitely have to play sooner or later with Edmonton, Vegas, Colorado, Dallas. It is difficult to consider Jets a favorite at least in one of these potential series.
Over the past seven years, the team has reached the playoffs six times and only once reached the conference finals, but mainly flew in the first round. The battles with the “big guys” of the event, the team still requires strengthening, which is why the traid-deadline will be so indicative.
However, Winnipeg has supplemented this season with several Canadian teams ready to challenge American clubs in the fight for the trophy.
Source: Sport.ua