JETS ARE CANADA’S BEST CUP HOPE

Three years ago, The Hockey News put the Winnipeg Jets on the cover of its Future Watch magazine, with the headline: “Meet your 2019 Stanley Cup Champions.”

At the time, it was a bold prediction. As of now, it looks like they waited a year too long.

Winnipeg is easily Canada’s best chance at winning a championship. Then again, it’s not like there’s a ton of options. While five of seven Canadian teams qualified for the playoffs last year, the unexpected turn of events in Edmonton, Ottawa and Montreal means that probably only three teams will qualify this season.

The good news is that with Pittsburgh, Chicago and some of the usual Cup favourites struggling to make the playoffs, this could be the best chance of ending the 24-year drought.

For me, the Jets check every box of a Cup contender: No. 1 centre (Mark Scheifele), No. 1 goalie (Connor Hellebuyck), game-breaking wingers (Blake Wheeler, Patrik Laine and Nikolaj Ehlers) and a defence in which everyone knows his role. The fact that they are 173-1 is also a huge strength for a team that is leading the Central Division. On paper, the Maple Leafs could be right there with them. But first, head coach Mike Babcock has to keep Leo Komarov on the fourth line, put Roman Polak in the press box and trust the kids with more and more minutes. As for the Flames, they remain a dark horse. Mike Smith is giving the team Vezina Trophy-like goaltending and Johnny Gaudreau is among the best wingers in the league right now. But I’m not sure they have the scoring depth to go on a long run.

Did The Hockey News call it three years ago?