Kyle Connor Post-game As the Winnipeg Jets prepare for the next NHL season, the buzz around their projected lineup has started to commence with fans wondering what they can expect to see from the 2024-25 team. It's very early to say what the coaching staff decide to roll out with but the Hockey News [https://thehockeynews.com/lineups/central/winnipeg-jets-projected-lineup-and-depth-chart]has started their early predictions for the Jets lineup and it appears to have some accurate aspects to it. We look to break down the projected top 12 forwards and how likely it is for the lines to come into fruition come opening night versus Edmonton. First line: Kyle Connor - Mark Scheifele - Gabriel Vilardi Starting at the top, Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele played with each other regularly last season and the addition of Gabriel Vilardi isn't a surprise. When Vilardi was healthy, the trio played together for nearly 196 minutes, according to Money Puck's line analytics [https://moneypuck.com/lines.htm]. When Vilardi was out for 35 games, Connor and Scheifele also spent ice time with wingers Nikolaj Ehlers and Alex Iafallo, who they played 207 and nearly 300 minutes with respectively. If Vilardi continues to struggle with health, we can expect Connor and Scheifele to stay together with Ehlers joining them as Iafallo is slated for bottom line minutes. Second line: Nikolaj Ehlers - Vladislav Namestnikov - Cole Perfetti This one is still in purgatory as Perfetti still doesn't have a contract and is an unrestricted free agent. The trio certainly know each other as they played together for 194 minutes and should remain intact if Perfetti signs. They will see a boost in ice-time if the line moves from the third to second option as Monahan and Toffoli are no longer around. The trio had combined for 11 goals last season which was tied for the fourth-highest scoring line combination on the team (even tied with the projected first line). They were also great defensively as they allowed just six goals. Third line: Nino Niederreiter - Adam Lowry - Mason Appleton The Jets third line is an easy question to answer as Niederreiter, Lowry and Appleton played with each other more reguarly than any other line on the team with 72 games played together or 682 minutes. They were top five in the league for minutes played by a line combination and had the best defence of any line that had played together more than 225 minutes, allowing just 1.32 goals per 60 minutes. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nyc0AB4M-Ko[/embed] The trio had finished as the Jets highest-scoring line combination of the season with 23 goals, likely due to their chemistry. They were rarely switched up but when they were it was briefly with Iafallo or fourth-liner Morgan Barron, who are both expected to man the team's final line. Fourth line: Morgan Barron - David Gustafsson - Alex Iafallo This trio is the one most subject to change as most camps have not started yet and players can easily move around. This line has never played with each other and has seen Iafallo more reguarly up the lineup while Gustafsson and Barron played with several other forwards in a fourth-line role. These two may be shaken from their spots as the Jets did bring in Jaret Anderson-Dolan from the Kings and also have a slew of young forwards in the AHL that are eager to make the jump to the next level. We will get a better idea of what is to be expected at the bottom of the lineup closer to the beginning of preseason. Click here [https://thehockeynews.com/lineups/] for more projected lineups and depth charts at the Hockey News’ new Lineups site.
