The Winnipeg Jets are looking forward to proving their doubters wrong this season, according to their 24-year-old defenseman Josh Morrissey.
The team went through a difficult summer, having lost important defensemen Jacob Trouba, Tyler Myers and Ben Chiarot. They’ve also had to contend with contract standoffs involving Kyle Connor and Patrik Layne, all while watching the likes of the Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars strengthen their squads in a Central Division referred to as the NHL’s Division of Death.
The Jets made it to the 2018 Western Conference Final before bowing out in the first round of last year’s playoffs but the ordeals they’ve had to go through during the last few months has left people thinking that they won’t be as strong as they were as they head into the new season – at least that’s how Morrissey sees it.
“We’re excited to try and prove some people wrong this year and not have as high expectations as we did last year,” he told Sportsnet’s Ryan Dixon. “As much as most guys try to avoid reading the headlines, it’s impossible to avoid completely. As a young team, it’s kind of a good thing because it helps develop a bit of a chip on your shoulder. We are young, we’re getting better, but I think it’s a maturation process.
“Obviously it would be easy to look at [last April’s playoff loss to the St. Louis Blues]as a huge disappointment and for us players, it was a disappointment. At the same time, I think we’re really on our journey as a team. We’re a young group. I don’t know the numbers exactly, but I still think, in the playoffs we were one of the youngest teams out there and we’re going to potentially be even younger this year.”
The Jets are 5/1 to win the Central Division with Bet365, with the Avalanche the current favorites at 5/2. The Stars are 17/4 with the same bookmakers, while the Nashville Predators are 7/2 with William Hill. Fans could take advantage of the best NHL tips and predictions from canadiansportsbetting.ca, who’s well in the know as it pertains to the top sportsbooks to bet on Hockey.
The Tampa Bay Lightning are the favorites to win the Stanley Cup and William Hill’s offering 15/2 odds on them lifting the trophy at the end of the season. The Vegas Golden Nights are 9/1 with Ladbrokes while the Boston Bruins are 10/1 with Betvictor. The Avalanche are attached to 12/1 odds with Bet365 and the Jets are a bit lower down on the favorites list at 25/1 with 888sport.
Morrissey reckons the team could still perform well despite losing some of its best players as they’re still young, as opposed to being an old squad reeling from the loss. While he laments on the fact that top stars left the team, he says that the departures have left more room for younger players to step up and maximize their potential.