Winnipeg Jets: 2 Biggest Surprises Of The Season So Far

Every NHL team has now played 20 games this season, so we are starting to get a better understanding of what to expect from them moving forward. There have been certain players who have been big surprises thus far and it feels fair to shine a light on them. In this series, we will be looking at two from each team who certainly can be classified as that.

In this piece, let's focus on the Winnipeg Jets. It's been another up and down season for the Jets. They currently have a 13-9-5 record and are fifth in the Central Division. These two players from them, however, have been big surprises, but for different reasons.

Evgeny Svechnikov: During the summer, the Winnipeg Jets signed Evgeny Svechnikov to an AHL deal. However, he would impress the team enough during training to earn himself a one-year NHL contract. Instead of being used a depth forward, the 25-year-old has now played in 26 games. In them, he has two goals and eight points. Although he isn't dominating offensively, his journey to not only making Winnipeg's roster, but also becoming a mainstay in it is quite impressive. Let's see if the 2015 first-round pick takes that next step offensively from here.

Nate Schmidt: The Jets acquired Nate Schmidt from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for a 2022 third-round pick. His trade value was understandably lower during the offseason, as he just had a down year with the Canucks and requested a trade. Yet, this move is already turning into a real win for the Jets, as Schmidt has a goal and 16 points in 27 games. Keep in mind, he only recorded 15 points in 54 games with the Canucks last season. Ultimately, the fit in Winnipeg is there for Schmidt and he should be able to record at least 30 points for the fourth time in his career.

Check out our last piece on the St. Louis Blues. In our next installment, we will be discussing the Carolina Hurricanes.