Jets season preview: Hellebuyck could be key to Cup hopes

The 2018-19 NHL season begins Wednesday. NHL.com is taking a look at the five keys, the inside scoop on roster questions, and the projected lines for all 31 teams. Today, the Winnipeg Jets.

Coach: Paul Maurice (sixth season)
Last season: 52-20-10; second place Central Division, lost to Vegas Golden Knights in Western Conference Final
RELATED: [Complete Season Preview coverage]

5 KEYS

1. Hellebuyck's consistency

After ups and downs during his first two NHL seasons, goalie Connor Hellebuyck improved his balance and economized his motion last season. He went 44-11-9 to tie Andrei Vasilevskiy for the most wins in the NHL, had a 2.36 goals-against average and .924 save percentage (an NHL career high), and finished second in Vezina Trophy voting to Pekka Rinne of the Nashville Predators. Hellebuyck's challenge this season is to at least perform at that level; exceeding it would be a huge boost for the Jets.

2. Handling high expectations

Winnipeg, the smallest Canadian market in the NHL, has been intensely focused on the Jets since the franchise relocated in 2011, and their success last season has only fueled belief that they will take another step toward winning the Stanley Cup.
"There's going to be way more adversity this season than people think we should have," coach Paul Maurice said. "That's what changes the expectations, the idea that somehow, some of this is going to get easy.
"That's the kiss of death for you. You certainly don't want that in your (dressing) room but I understand [that fans think] we should be winning everything 5-1. ... And we're going to have to handle that in-house, and that's the big chunk of my job this year."

3. Centers of attention

Winnipeg must fill a void at center from within after Paul Stastny signed with the Vegas Golden Knights as an unrestricted free agent July 1.
There was speculation that Jack Roslovic might be promoted to fill Stastny's role on the second line that includes Patrik Laine, who was second in the NHL with 44 goals last season behind Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin (49). But training camp lineups suggest veteran Bryan Little will return to that role, one he occupied before Stastny was traded from the St. Louis Blues on Feb. 26. To start the season, it appears the Jets' four centers will be Mark Scheifele, Little, Roslovic and Adam Lowry.

4. Finding the right defense pairs

Josh Morrissey and Jacob Trouba will again be Winnipeg's first-pair defensemen. Behind them, and with left-handed shot Toby Enstrom not re-signed, Maurice is looking for ways to find enough ice time for veterans Dustin Byfuglien and Tyler Myers, each a right-handed shot. The two were paired during the preseason, with Myers playing the left side, and Maurice said Myers will play each side during the regular season.
When Byfuglien and Myers are not paired, each likely will play with Dmitry Kulikov, Joe Morrow or Ben Chiarot. The developing Tucker Poolman and Sami Niku, the American Hockey League defenseman of the year last season with Manitoba, are knocking at the door.

5. Sustaining special teams success

The Jets had a net improvement of 28 goals from their special teams last season. Helped by Laine's NHL-leading 20 power-play goals, Winnipeg jumped from 48 to 64 power-play goals (from 12th to fourth in the NHL) and reduced its power-play goals-against from 62 to 50 (going from third to 16th).
"We can still go a little bit further ... and shoot to be in the top five of penalty killing," said captain Blake Wheeler, who quarterbacked one Winnipeg power-play unit and led the NHL with 34 power-play assists. The Jets were tied for seventh with a penalty kill percentage of 81.8 percent. "On the power play, we have guys in the right spots and the three one-timers on our unit (Scheifele, Laine and Byfuglien) makes for a pretty good matchup problem."

ROSTER RUNDOWN

Making the cut

With Roslovic having the inside track to make the roster after his performance in the second half last season, when he had 14 points (five goals, nine assists) in 31 games, it appeared there was one job available. That seems likely to go to forward Brendan Lemieux, who got plenty of preseason ice time at left wing with Roslovic and played his first nine NHL regular-season games last season. Forwards Kristian Vesalainen, Winnipeg's first-round pick (No. 24) in the 2017 NHL Draft, and Marko Dano, who had three points (two goals, one assist) in 23 games last season, are also candidates; Vesalainen played more with Roslovic in practice late in camp.

Most intriguing addition

Lemieux is the son of 1995 Conn Smythe Trophy winner Claude Lemieux, who won the Stanley Cup four times. The younger Lemieux plays with a similar edge and has displayed good hands, scoring 19 goals in 51 games for Manitoba last season and 73 goals in 102 games for Barrie and Windsor in 2014-15 and 2015-16, his final two seasons in the Ontario Hockey League.

Biggest potential surprise

Morrow provided steady depth for the Jets after being acquired in a trade with the Montreal Canadiens on Feb. 26 and could partner with Byfuglien. He had five points (one goal, four assists) and was plus-7 in 18 games for Winnipeg. He also scored the winning goal against the Minnesota Wild in Game 1 of the Western Conference First Round.

Ready to break through

Winnipeg's trust in Roslovic increased steadily last season, his second as a pro. He had 35 points (15 goals, 20 assists) in 32 games for Manitoba before joining the Jets in January, and had three assists in 10 Stanley Cup Playoff games. His combination of quickness, skill and hockey sense could point to plenty more impact ahead.

PROJECTED LINEUP

Kyle Connor -- Mark Scheifele -- Blake Wheeler
Mathieu Perreault -- Bryan Little -- Patrik Laine
Brendan Lemieux -- Jack Roslovic -- Nikolaj Ehlers
Andrew Copp -- Adam Lowry -- Brandon Tanev
Josh Morrissey -- Jacob Trouba
Joe Morrow -- Dustin Byfuglien
Dmitry Kulikov -- Tyler Myers
Connor Hellebuyck
Laurent Brossoit