Vilardi and Top Line Dominating & Jets at World Juniors
Gabriel Vialrdi is leading the new-look top line for the Jets while the team is rolling, and the Jets have good representation at the WJC.
Welcome to the THW Winnipeg Jets Substack newsletter, with all the latest from our team of Jets writers.
In today’s edition, we have a look how the new top line have taken shape with the emergence of Gabriel Vilardi in the absence of Kyle Connor, plus a look at the top Jets prospects partaking in the Wold Junior Championship tounament.
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Now on to the good stuff…
Jets’ Top Line of Ehlers, Scheifele, & Vilardi Dominating
December 22, 2023 by Declan Schroeder
Ever since being put together five games ago, the Winnipeg Jets’ top line is dominating and is showing no signs of slowing down.
As the old saying goes, adversity breeds excellence.
For the first part of this season, the Jets’ top line was comprised of Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele, and Alex Iafallo. But with Connor being taken out for six-to-eight weeks by a Ryan Strome knee-on-knee hit against the Anaheim Ducks on Dec. 10, head coach Rick Bowness and company were forced to do some wholesale line shuffling.
3 Jets Prospects to Watch at 2024 World Juniors
December 21, 2023 by Declan Schroeder
The 2024 World Junior Championship in Gothenburg, Sweden begin on Dec. 26. It’s a long-standing tradition for hockey fans from around the globe to tune into the post-Christmas tournament featuring the world’s most elite under-20 players, and Winnipeg Jets fans are no exception.
The Jets have three prospects participating in the World Juniors, two of whom are returnees to their country’s clubs and one who’s making his World Juniors debut. Here’s a brief look at each and what to expect from them.
3 Jets Who Need to Step Up in Kyle Connor’s Injury Absence
December 15, 2023 by Connor Hrabchak
It has been confirmed by the Winnipeg Jets that Kyle Connor is set to miss 6-8 weeks with a right knee injury. Connor was in the middle of a career year, as he had 17 goals and 11 assists through the first 26 games of the 2023-24.
It won’t be possible to replace Connor’s finishing talent on the top line, and the power play may struggle in his absence. The 6-8 week timeline would bring him back right after the NHL’s All-Star Break in late January, or early February. The Jets will have to avoid going through an offensive drought without their top goal scorer. Here are three players who will need to step up in Connor’s absence.
Strome plays for Kings not Ducks, and Villardi was very vocal about how it was a dirty hit and Strome is a dirty player