Jets have reasons to be optimistic despite losing in Cup Qualifiers

The Winnipeg Jets were eliminated from the Stanley Cup Qualifiers by the Calgary Flames, losing 4-0 in Game 4 of the best-of-5 series Thursday at Rogers Place in Edmonton, the Western Conference hub city.

The Jets were the No. 9 seed in the West after finishing the regular season with a .563 points percentage (37-28-6).

Here is a look at what happened during the 2020 postseason for the Jets and why things could be even better next season:

The Skinny

Potential unrestricted free agents: Cody Eakin, F; Nicholas Shore, F; Logan Shaw, F, Mark Letestu, F; Gabriel Bourque, F; Dmitry Kulikov, D; Nathan Beaulieu, D; Dylan DeMelo, D; Luca Sbisa, D; Anthony Bitetto, D; Laurent Brossoit, G.

Potential restricted free agents: Jack Roslovic, F; Jansen Harkins, F; Mason Appleton, F; Sami Niku, D.

Potential 2020 NHL Draft picks: 4

What went wrong

Injuries: Forwards Mark Scheifele, Patrik Laine and Mason Appleton were injured in Game 1 and did not return in the series. Scheifele sustained a leg injury, Laine sprained his left hand, and Appleton sustained a shoulder injury. Winnipeg entered the postseason without second-line center Bryan Little, who was not on the roster after having surgery to repair a perforated eardrum in February. Simply too many important holes to fill.

Penalty killing: The Jets allowed five power play goals by the Flames in 17 opportunities. The damage was done in clusters; the Jets allowed two power-play goals in Game 1 and lost 4-1 and allowed three power-play goals in Game 3 and lost 6-2. Winnipeg's penalty killing was fourth best (85.5 percent) in the NHL from Jan. 1 to the end of the regular season, but worst in the League (71.4 percent) from Oct. 2 to Jan 1, and that form was reverted to against the Flames.

Offense failed: The Jets scored six goals in four games against the Flames, with forwards Nikolaj Ehlers and Andrew Copp each scoring two. Kyle Connor, who tied Scheifele for the Winnipeg lead with 73 points (38 goals, 35 assists) in the regular season, had one assist against Calgary, as did forward Blake Wheeler, who was third on the Jets with 65 points (22 goals, 43 assists). Scheifele and Laine were missed on the power play, which went 2-for-17 in the series.

Reasons for optimism

Salary cap flexibility: Even with a flat NHL salary cap of $81.5 million for next season, the Jets figure to have some flexibility, after defenseman Dustin Byfuglien's contract ($7.6 million average annual value) was terminated by mutual agreement on April 17 and the unlikely return of Kulikov ($4.33 average annual value). That's a big difference from this season, when the Jets had little flexibility. Winnipeg has no high-profile free agents to deal with this offseason and its core forwards are signed for next season. Laine, who has one year left on his contract, is the only one of Winnipeg's five top scorers this season who will need a new contract before 2024-25.

Young Core: Winnipeg's 25-and-under group is strong and includes forwards Laine, 22; Connor, 23; Ehlers, 24; and defensemen Josh Morrissey, 25 and Neal Pionk, 25. There is optimism that at least one or two of its defenseman prospects -- Ville Heinola, 19; Dylan Samberg, 21; Sami Niku, 23; and Logan Stanley, 22 -- could progress to join that group.

No. 1 goalie: The Jets are set with Connor Hellebuyck as their goalie for the foreseeable future. Hellebuyck (31-21-5, 2.57 goals-against average, .922 save percentage, NHL-high six shutouts) is a finalist for the Vezina Trophy, awarded to the goalie voted to be the best in the NHL, for the second time in his career. The 27-year-old is signed through 2023-24.