3 Upgrades Winnipeg Jets Need In The New Year

The Winnipeg Jets are in a good place in the standings fighting for the top spot in their division. They have surprised some and look like they will be a dangerous team come playoff time. No team is perfect and injuries could occur, so here's a look at what the Jets need to upgrade or add this season.

2nd Line Center

The Jets lost their second line center in Pierre-Luc Dubois when they traded him for three players in the offseason. That trade has greatly benefited the Jets more so than the Los Angeles Kings. But it appears as though Gabe Vilardi, one of the pieces that came back, is better suited for the wing in the top-six. Cole Perfetti has been tried at center in the second line, but he too has shifted over to the wing. The team has Vlad Namestnikov in that spot. This will not turn out well if he's in that role later in the season and there isn't an upgrade. The team has proven they deserve reinforcements.

Top-4 LD

The Jets have a decent defense group, but it could use a boost for sure. The top line is fine as is, but the top-six would look a lot deeper if another body was added to the left side and pushed Brenden Dillon down. He already doesn't play top-four minutes. This would allow Dylan Samberg and Nate Schmidt to battle it out for the final spot in the lineup and create even more competition, plus solidify the top-four.

4th Line Winger

Kyle Connor and Rasmus Kupari are injured at the moment, but when they return, they will be inserted back in on the first and fourth lines. If nobody else is out with injuries, this would take David Gustafsson and Axel Jonsson-Fjallby out of the lineup most nights. I don't expect this team, like any team, to go without injuries. I would bet the Jets look at a cheap depth option. Their players aren't the most durable.