Winnipeg Jets: 10 notable numbers through 10 games of 2024-25 – Hockey Writers –

The Winnipeg Jets are 10 games into their 2024-25 season and their once-small statistical sample sizes are dwindling.

Trends are starting to emerge across teams and the numbers are starting to align with those trends with some degree of accuracy now. Statistics can no longer be completely dismissed as “flukey” or “inflated” or “not reflective” of team performance.

Here, we’ll go into 10 notable numbers for the Jets, who are off to a perfect 9-1-0 start under new coach Scott Arniel.

18: Team Points

With 18 points, the Jets sit first in the Central Division and Western Conference, but the entire NHL.

Related: Jets’ Arniel Skips Best Start of Any New Coach in NHL History

Last season, the Jets had 10 points in 10 games with a 4-4-2 record. Obviously, there is still a long way to go, but October’s points are on par with March and April’s points and the Jets have done a good job of accumulating a lot before the calendar turns to November.

9, 17: Kyle Connor’s Goal and Point Values

Many Jets have started a solid offense (and we’ll get to that in a minute) but none have been hotter out of the gate than Kyle Connor.

The Jets right winger is second in the NHL with nine goals and one third in points with 17 points. In the most recent game against the Detroit Red Wings, he marked his 500th point by getting an assist on Gabriel Vilardi’s game-opening goal 2:48 into the first period (Connor added another assist 17 seconds later and his goal was a three-pointer.)

Connor has at least a point in every game this season and has more points in his past five.

“You will never take something easy in this league. It’s tough every day, it’s the best league in the world,” said Connor after reaching this level. “Getting that accomplished is great. Obviously there are bigger goals in mind, but it’s still fun.” (From ‘Connor’s epic night in Michigan,’ Winnipeg Free Press, October 30, 2024.)

5: Point-Per-Game-Plus Players

The Jets offense has been balanced with three forward lines capable of scoring and a defense that continues to be involved in the offense. Five players used a point-per-game-plus clip: Connor, Mark Scheifele (13 points,) Neal Pionk (12,) Nikolaj Ehlers (11,) and Josh Morrissey (11.) Nino Niederreiter and Cole Perfetti, who have nine points each in 10 games, may return to that stage soon.

The Jets had no point-per-game players last season (excluding Nikita Chibrikov and Brad Lambert, who both had one point a game.) Scheifele and Connor were close behind, with 72 points in 74 and 61 games. points in 65 games, respectively.

44.83: Power play percentage

The Jets’ power play, completely overhauled by new assistant coach Davis Payne, has been firing on all cylinders. They are first in the league with a ridiculous conversion rate of 44.83 percent (13/29) and have scored more than one power play goal in four different contests. That’s not even counting the many goals they scored on delayed penalties or after power plays expired. Indeed, what was a weakness for much of last season (when they only converted 18.75 percent of the time) has become quite a strength.

Both units looked consistently dangerous and created quality chances with quick puck movement and a willingness to put pucks in the net quickly. Connor leads the way with four power-play markers, while six Jets have scored at least once on the man up.

80.95: Penalty Kill Percentage

The Jets’ penalty kill percentage took nearly 10 points by allowing two goals in three short situations against the Red Wings, but it was solid for the most part. The penalty kill is also under new management and assistant coach Dean Chynoweth’s aggressive tactics and deployment of new players have shown positive results; the Jets so far have a 13th-best penalty kill percentage and one short field goal.

The fact that the Jets were disciplined as a whole didn’t help either. They gave up the third fewest power plays in the league with 21.

24: Opposite Terms

The Jets won the William M. Jennings Trophy last season by allowing a league-low 198 goals (an average of 2.41 per game) with a combination of historically tough defense and good scoring.

They are in the early discussion for the award again as Connor Hellebuyck and Eric Comrie have allowed 24 goals, fifth in at least 10 league games (and are right on pace for last season’s 2.40 allowed per game average.) The Washington Champions, tied with them, have played two fewer games and the four teams that have allowed fewer goals have all played at least one fewer game.

2.12, .923: Connor Hellebuyck’s goals against average and save percentage

There was no Vezina Trophy hangover or the luxury of a new contract for Hellebuyck. Fresh off winning the NHL’s top goaltender award for the second time and in the first season of the massive seven-year extension he signed last year, he has been excellent, posting a 2.12 GAA, .923 SV%, 7-1 -0 record, one shutout, and goals. 6.0 Saved Above Expectations.

The 31-year-old has allowed more than three goals in a game just once, against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Oct. 28 when he was left behind by his defenders.

13,997: Average attendance at the Canada Life Center

True North Sports & Entertainment’s (TNSE) strategy to get more bums in the Canada Life Center seats seems to be paying dividends.

The team drew 13,997 fans in their first five home days, 1,324 less than the total of 15,321. The Jets nearly sold out their home opener — and they didn’t have the 33,000-plus fans who showed up for a Winnipeg Blue Bombers game across town at the same time — and they sold out their most recent home game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. .

Last season, the Jets averaged 11,846 for their first five home games and their only home opener drew 12,000. Attendance increased as the season progressed due to the success of the Jets and eventually reached 13,490.

After seeing the season ticket base dwindle and the once-in-a-lifetime waiting list disappear over the past five years due to factors both within and outside of its control, TNSE has implemented a number of flexible ticket package options with little sacrifice, plus more. fan benefits, and we make efforts to improve the overall game day experience. In mid-October, the company said it had 500 more season ticket holders this season than ever before, bringing its base to 10,000.

Success on the ice certainly helps at the gate and the Jets had it earlier this season, going 4-1-0 at home. TNSE says it wants to bring the season ticket holder base back to 13,000, where it was for the first season after the Jets left Atlanta in 2011.