Jets bring in Bowness after disappointing season

After the NHL Draft, free agency and other offseason moves, NHL.com is examining where each team stands ahead of the 2022-23 regular season, which starts on Oct. 7. Today, the Winnipeg Jets:

2021-22 season:39-32-11, sixth in the Central Division; did not qualify for Stanley Cup Playoffs

Key arrivals

David Rittich, G: The 29-year-old signed a one-year contract July 13 after he went 6-3-4 with a 3.57 goals-against average and .886 save percentage in 17 games (12 starts) for the Nashville Predators last season. … Rick Bowness, coach:The 67-year-old was hired July 3 to replace Dave Lowry, who took over after Paul Maurice resigned on Dec. 17. Bowness, who began his coaching career as an assistant with the Jets in 1984-85 before coaching them for 28 games in 1988-89, spent the past three seasons with the Dallas Stars before resigning on May 20. With the Stars, he was 89-62-25 in 176 regular-season games and 18-16 in 34 playoff games, including leading them to the Cup Final in 2020. Bowness is 212-351-28 with 48 ties in 639 regular-season games over 12 seasons as a coach with the Jets, Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators, New York Islanders, Phoenix Coyotes and Stars. He is 26-23 in 49 postseason games.

Key departures

Eric Comrie, G: Comrie signed a two-year contract with the Buffalo Sabres on July 13. He was 10-5-1 with a 2.58 GAA, .920 save percentage and one shutout in 19 games (16 starts) last season. … Zach Sanford, F:Sanford signed a one-year contract with the Predators on July 15. He had 21 points (nine goals, 12 assists) in 80 games last season, including four assists in 18 games after he was acquired by the Jets in a trade with the Senators on March 21. ... Paul Stastny, F:Stastny, who is an unrestricted free agent, had 45 points (21 goals, 24 assists) in 71 games last season.

On the cusp

Cole Perfetti, F: The 20-year-old, who was selected with the No. 10 pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, had seven points (two goals, five assists) in 18 NHL games last season and 15 points (six goals, nine assists) in 17 games with Manitoba of the American Hockey League. … Kristian Reichel, F:The 24-year-old had two points (one goal, one assist) in 13 games with the Jets last season. Signed as an undrafted free agent June 15, 2020, Reichel also had 13 points (five goals, eight assists) in 30 AHL games. … Morgan Barron, F:The 23-year-old had five points (two goals, three assists) in 27 games last season, including four points (two goals, two assists) in 14 games with the Jets after he was acquired in a trade with the New York Rangers for forward Andrew Copp on March 21.

What they need

With Stastny likely not returning, the Jets will need Perfetti or someone else to step into a top-six role with Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele, Blake Wheeler,
Pierre-Luc Dubois
and Nikolaj Ehlers.

They said it

"We have an exciting group of talented young players with the Jets, so now my focus immediately turns to what it will take to get back into the Stanley Cup Playoffs." -- coach Rick Bowness

Fantasy focus

Ehlers' potential would greatly benefit if Bowness gives the wing more time on the first power-play unit. Last season, the 26-year-old was sixth among Winnipeg forwards in power-play ice time per game (2:14), so it's possible he shatters his NHL career high in power-play points (13, twice) under a coach who maximized the production of Jason Robertson and Roope Hintz with the Stars over the past two seasons. Ehlers also averaged more than a point per game after returning from a knee injury last season (30 points in final 28 games), and he is quietly tied for 19th in the NHL in even-strength points over the past three seasons (131 in 180 games). -- Pete Jensen

Projected lineup

Kyle Connor -- Mark Scheifele -- Blake Wheeler
Nikolaj Ehlers -- Pierre-Luc Dubois -- Cole Perfetti
Morgan Barron -- Adam Lowry -- Mason Appleton
Jansen Harkins -- Dominic Toninato -- Kristian Reichel
Josh Morrissey -- Dylan DeMelo
Logan Stanley -- Neal Pionk
Brenden Dillon -- Nate Schmidt
Connor Hellebuyck
David Rittich