DeMelo returns to Winnipeg with perspective and belief

WINNIPEG - Going from Presidents’ Trophy winners and Stanley Cup contenders to missing the playoffs was a bitter pill to swallow for everyone who wore a Winnipeg Jets jersey last season.

But the benefit of having veteran players like Dylan DeMelo is that they know how to put a tough season behind them, learn from it and move forward. DeMelo still believes this is a good hockey team, and he's not letting last season change that belief.

“For myself and I think the team, until we win the Stanley Cup, we're going to keep asking questions, going to keep trying to find ways in order to get over that hump,” said DeMelo.

“Obviously, last year was a huge disappointment. But we still feel confident in what we got. I hope everybody had a great summer and hearing guys and talking to guys, it's a pretty motivated group to write the wrongs from last year.”

Despite the way the season ended, DeMelo was granted an opportunity to extend it when he was offered a chance to join teammates Mark Scheifele and Gabriel Vilardi and play for Canada at the World Hockey Championships. It was the first time the London, Ontario native represented his country, and he loved every minute of it.

“Obviously, was hoping to play in the playoffs. Luckily in the past, I've played many playoff runs and kind of never had that opportunity, but to get it and to be able to share that with Scheif and Gabe and meet some guys across the league and some really cool players and have a good time, see a little bit of Switzerland and France when we were there, and also have my family come out and share that experience as well, it was really cool,” said DeMelo.

“Hockey Canada took care of us and it was a great tournament. Unfortunately, we didn't get kind of the result we wanted to, but amazing tournament.”

Teammate Adam Lowry has played for Canada at Worlds before and knows the kind of boost it can give a player through the summer and beyond.

“It can do a lot for your confidence. It can do a lot, kind of springboard you into the off season and then into the next season. So, Dylan's a bright guy. He usually tries to take advantage of those situations. And in talking to him, he really enjoyed the experience,” said Lowry.

“So, I was very happy to see him get to go over there with Gabe and Mark. And unfortunately, they weren't able to win it and do as well as they could have, but I think it's going to be a beneficial experience for him for sure.”

DeMelo didn’t know it at the time – but he would be going up against a soon-to-be teammate in Viggo Björck, who Winnipeg selected eighth overall in June.

The Jets haven’t had a chance to draft this high in years, and DeMelo got an early look at what their newest first-round pick can bring while playing against Sweden at the World Championship. Björck didn’t look out of place playing against NHL veterans, and DeMelo was impressed by the 18-year-old’s speed, skill and willingness to compete.

“It’s exciting. Exciting for our group, exciting for the organization,” DeMelo said. “To be able to get a guy like that. We haven’t drafted that high in a long time. So, to get a guy that looks like he can step in and hopefully be a contributor right away is crucial for our group. A young guy, a lot of energy, a lot of speed. He’s got some skill for sure.”

DeMelo saw that competitiveness firsthand at Worlds, where Björck wasn’t intimidated by the level of competition — even when he found himself going up against some of the biggest names in the game.

“At Worlds there I felt he was really tenacious and really went after guys and wasn’t kind of starstruck, I guess, until after the game, asking Sid (Crosby) for a stick,” DeMelo said. “I was teasing him, saying, ‘Geez, you’ve played one game against him, and you had more stones to ask him for a stick than I’ve had in my career.’”

The story is a good example of the perspective DeMelo has gained since arriving in Winnipeg in 2020. He’s about to begin his seventh full season with the Jets, and along the way, the Manitoba capital has become more than just a place where he plays hockey. He’s made friends, built a life and raised his family here.

So, while there may be questions surrounding Connor Hellebuyck’s future with the Jets, there’s no question where DeMelo stands when it comes to Winnipeg.

“I’ve loved my time here,” DeMelo said. “It’s my home away from home, so for me, this place is an amazing place to play. An amazing place to raise a family.”