Eakin and Ehlers excited to build on late season success as a line

WINNIPEG -Cody Eakin played eight games in a Winnipeg Jets jersey before the pause, but that was more than enough time to be impressed by the skill his two wingers - Nikolaj Ehlers and Patrik Laine - bring to the ice every night.

"These guys create so much space on the ice," Eakin said. "Really from the defensive zone moving forward, just backing guys off, beating guys wide, shooting the puck. It's fun to be a part of."

That trio proved to be an absolute handful for the opposition, especially over the final three regular season games.

They combined for 14 points in wins over Vegas, Arizona, and Edmonton, including two game-winning goals - one of which was Eakin's first goal in a Jets jersey.

"You have two guys on your wings that can really fly and they're really creating offence, creating areas and pockets with speed and generating room all around the ice," said Eakin. "They're both lethal with the puck on their sticks.

"We were having fun. It's good to get back out with those guys and get back on the ice, trying to pick up where we left off."

Jets head coach Paul Maurice is going to give them a chance to do just that, as he kept his forward lines unchanged on the second day of training camp.

Group 2:

Connor-Scheifele-Wheeler

Ehlers-Eakin-Laine

Copp-Lowry-Roslovic

Morrissey-DeMelo

Kulikov-Pionk

Sbisa

Hellebuyck

Group 1:

Perreault-Shore-Appleton

Bourque-Harkins-Shaw

Suess-Gustafsson-Letestu

Beaulieu-Poolman

Dahlstrom-Niku

Comrie

For his part, Ehlers noticed the chemistry with Eakin and Laine developed quickly.

"It's just a matter of getting that back in the weeks before we start," Ehlers said. "We know what we need to do. We just need to go out and play as simple as we can and get back to the way we know we can play."

The 24-year-old Ehlers plays with a lot of speed. That isn't necessarily a surprise to anyone in the NHL, but seeing that pace up close - like Eakin does in every game and practice - is something completely different.

"The ability to beat guys all over the ice was something that I didn't really have a grasp for or didn't know how dynamic he was," said Eakin. "Getting a chance to skate alongside him now you can really see it from practice to games. He's a heck of a player and a heck of a competitor. He's fun to play with."

The four months away from the NHL grind during the pause means Ehlers' legs are well-rested. He also re-watched all his shifts from the 71 games the Jets played in the regular season.

It was something he tried leading into the 2019-20 campaign as part of his off-season prep work, and was a big part of the 25 goals and 58 points he had at the time of the pause.

"I thought my game got a lot better from last year to this year," he said. "I didn't see a reason to stop watching my games if it helped me in a good way, so I kept doing that."

All that hard work was in preparation to be in the best shape possible for an abbreviated training camp in the middle of summer.

The atmosphere may be different in an arena with no fans on August 1, but Eakin doesn't think the on-ice product will be any less thrilling.

And his line with Ehlers and Laine will be right in the middle of it.

"The skates have already progressed, a little faster pace today on day two. I don't think it's going to look like we missed a beat," Eakin said. "Everyone is ready, everyone stayed in shape. Everyone has been skating and working hard. I'm sure the opposing team will be in the same situation. Get ready for some good hockey."