Lowry ready to lead Jets into new season

WINNIPEG – Every new season brings with it a sense of excitement and renewed hope.

For Adam Lowry, that feeling is especially strong as he prepares to enter his fourth season as captain of the Winnipeg Jets.

The 33-year-old is already in a much different place than he was 12 months ago. At this time last year, Lowry was recovering from offseason hip surgery, focused less on preparing for the upcoming season and more on getting his body back to where it needed to be.

This time around, he’s healthy, he’s on the ice and, perhaps most importantly, he’s ready to start the season alongside his teammates from Day 1.

“Yeah, it's certainly different,” said Lowry.

“I think going into camp and being ready to go at the start is something that I wasn't able to take advantage or utilize last year so just looking forward to being back on the ice with all the guys and going through the grind that camp is and a little shorter with the schedule changes and things like that. So, a bit of a different look but we're all really excited to get going next week.”

Lowry, Cole Perfetti and Dylan Samberg all not being at 100 per cent to start the season played a role in the Jets getting into a hole in the first half and they just couldn’t recover to put themselves in a playoff spot in the Western Conference. The NHL regular season is now 84 games which has shortened training camp and reduced the number of preseason games to four and that means less time for preparation for the home opener on October 2.

“I think camp is shorter, but we do have some practice time on the other end as well that really dial in the systems, make sure whatever new guys we have we can really integrate them and hit the ground running,” said Lowry.

“I think getting off to a fast start, getting off to a good start is so important in this league and we want to maximize all the time we have, and like you said the first exhibition game comes up real quick so it's important that when camp starts guys are ready to go, guys use all the practice time we can, the games, to get ready so we can have a good start.”

Lowry knows there will be plenty of outside discussion surrounding the uncertainty in the Jets’ crease, but inside the room, he believes the focus has to remain on the players preparing for the season. The captain has already had a chance to skate with new goaltender Stuart Skinner this summer, while defenceman Mario Ferraro and first-round pick Viggo Björck are among the other new faces generating plenty of anticipation around the Jets. Lowry likes what he sees from the additions and believes they can play an important role in helping the team turn the page.

“I think with Mario, his energy kind of reminds me of Schmitty (former Jet Nate Schmidt). So, it's good to have guys like that in the room that bring the positivity,” said Lowry.

“Getting to skate with Stu a bit in the summertime, and I think in talking to Wade Flaherty and stuff. He's been a guy that Flats has had a lot of praise for and really believes in his game and really thinks he can help him. And kind of leading the Oilers to two Stanley Cup Finals, he's a really proven winner in this league, and he'll be a great compliment to whether it’s Helle or someone else, and Viggo, I think we're all super excited to have him around, just to see the skill, that youthful exuberance that he brings to sky's the limit for him. So certainly, super excited.”

Lowry got a firsthand reminder of what's possible this summer when his former teammate and close friend Nikolaj Ehlers lifted the Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes.

He was happy for Ehlers, but watching a friend reach the game's ultimate prize provided something more for Lowry — motivation.

"I think it's motivating anytime you know someone that gets to lift the Cup and talk to them and see what that experience is about," Lowry said.

Ehlers' journey offered a reminder of what's waiting at the end of the road. For Lowry, the goal hasn't changed.

"Our goal as hockey players is to reach that ultimate peak and raise the Stanley Cup over your head," he said. "That goal doesn't change."