It is time.

The preseason is upon us, and it is time to begin evaluating not just with numbers from last year and our own projection of players, but to finally begin using our eyes to see who jumps out like a frog, and who trudges along like a snail.

The Jets opened their preseason with a 3-0 loss in Calgary on Tuesday. As you’d expect, the lineup was sparse with NHL talent – only 5 NHL regulars were in the game – but with the loaded (if not overflowing) pipeline of prospects, the preseason has presented all Jets fans with plenty of hockey fodder to gnaw on. Although the Jets lost, they dominated possession for a portion of the game, and the scoreline was perhaps not reflective of the type of chances the Jets created. Calgary’s goaltending was fantastic.

A couple of players really caught my attention. I’ll be very curious to see their performance as the preseason trudges along and the competition resembles more of an NHL lineup.

Brandon Tanev

We caught a glimpse of Tanev for 3 games last year, but he absolutely stood out against Calgary, and any hockey fan could see that. Tanev is like a slingshot coming through the neutral zone and he was effective in harassing the opposition’s defence on numerous occasion. If he didn’t create a turnover, then he forced a hurried pass or a chip off the glass. Though it’s early, Tanev looks to me like a player with serious intent of upgrading his 3-game cup of coffee from last year to a full 80-game carafe in 2017.

His speed was obvious. When asked what made his preseason debut a success prior to the match Tanev mentioned that he needs to “play with speed, play smart, play physical, and play a full 200 foot game.”

We saw the speed. I think we also saw some smarts: Tanev primarily was noticed at full speed either with the puck, or when he had support to put pressure on the opposing team’s breakout. It was rare he was seen forechecking alone, signalling there is some tactical awareness complementing those feet of his.

Brandon Tanev is a puck hound, and Paul Maurice loves puck hounds. Tanev doesn’t necessarily need to become a skill or point-producing player to find some room in the top 9 under Maurice. A combination of Tanev-Perreault-Laine for example, could see him playing with talented linemates. Tanev sniffs out the puck, he cycles it to Perreault, who then feeds huge 6’4″ Laine out in the slot for a shot on goal. With the mass of competition the Jets have competing for spots, the combinations are endless, but it is feasible to see how he could complement two other more skillful linemates.

I’m looking forward to seeing him tonight against Minnesota.

J.C. Lipon

J.C. Lipon is one of the many products of Mister Chevyldayoff’s brilliantly executed draft and develop model. Lipon was a 3rd round pick back in 2013, and has played 3 years of pro hockey in St. John’s and Manitoba with the farm squad.

But that no longer matters. What can he do for us now?

At the start of training camp last year, in 2015,  the fourth line center position was largely a battle between Andrew Copp, and Lipon. Copp obviously ended up winning the battle, perhaps because his defensive instincts looked like they could also turn into penalty killing instincts.  And coaches love fourth liners that can penalty kill.

Lipon looks to me though like he has something more in his game as he might be more than just a checking forward. You’re going to hear it a lot this year, but “speed” is certainly something he shows, and his puck handling abilities allow him to use that in an offensive nature – whether it’s to chip the puck and chase or simply carry the puck over the blue line. Really, what comes next for Lipon is showing us not only that he can carry the puck and retrieve the puck, but that he can perhaps pass the puck and shoot it as well. He produced 2 points every 3 games last season on a pitiful Manitoba Moose squad, doubling his scoring rate of the season prior, where he notched 26 points in 75 games.

He may belong on the 4th line this year (or in the minors for that matter), but it appears that if he’s alongside skilled players, he could bring more to the table as he develops.

______ – Scheifele – Wheeler

At the end of last season we saw Ehlers, Scheifele, and Wheeler play 25 games together where all three of them put up the best scoring stretches of the season (and for Ehlers and Scheifele, their career). Ehlers is a terrifically skilled and unique player that I cannot say enough good things about. His ceiling is sky high.

However, coaches talk about “pairs” once in a while, and the idea is that having a duo that complements each other’s games, and makes it easy to shuffle lineups when there is only one real moving part. Scheifele and Wheeler are an obvious pair for a number of reasons:

1. Scheifele is 6’3″, Wheeler is 6’5″. The size of their other linemate does not matter.
2. Wheeler is the current Captain, Scheifele is the future captain. Scheif learning from Wheeler every single day has numerous benefits that do not impact hockey statistics.
3. Playing style: Scheifele is a goal scorer with a heavy release. Wheeler is a burgeoning playmaker who can attract multiple defenders by driving wide, leaving Scheif or ______ open.
4. Matchups: Scheif has enough experience to check the opposition’s best now. Wheeler is obviously capable too. At any point, Maurice can audible to a shutdown line (with plenty of skill) by placing any one of Perreault, Lowry, Stafford, or even Burmistrov on the left.
5. They’re both really really good at ice hockey. Like real good.

Plenty of benefits.

What sparked this was watching the training camp scrimmages of blue vs. white yesterday. Scheif and Wheeler lined up with Petan on the left, which opens up so many options for the coaches. Ehlers has succeeded there – a smallish playmaking, creative winger. That type of skillset should be interchangeable based on who the Jets have, and if Nic Petan can prove he’s NHL ready and flank those two once in a while (I admittedly need to see more from him thus far), then the Jets can drop Ehlers down and show off their immense depth. Any combination of Ehlers, Laine, Little, Perreault, Stafford, Connor, even Armia and Dano would be available to mix and match as the rest of the top 9, which, on paper, seems incredibly deep (and young) to me.

The ball’s in your court, Nic!