Winnipeg Free Press
Jets Season Preview
With the Jets roster almost set for the season opener in a few weeks here is a detailed analysis of the roster breakdown.
Depth Chart:
Center:
1. Roenick
2. Ricci
3. Krog
4. Holmqvist
Right Wing:
1. Parrish
2. Young
3. Mayers
4. Dingman
Left Wing:
1. Stumpel
2. Bure
3. Savage
4. Devereaux
Defense:
1. Chelios
2. Mironov
3. Carney
4. McCarthy
5. Dempsey
6. Vandermeer
7. Buzek
Goal:
1. DiPietro
2. McLennan
The Jets have one line that should be very good. With Roenick between Stumpel and Parrish, this line should carry most of the offensive punch for the Jets. The 2nd line of Ricci centering Young and Bure is somewhat of a question mark. Can these 3 forwards cheap in with enough goals to give the Jets 2 scoring lines. The 3rd line consists of Krog in between Mayers and Savage, the question for this line is can they limit the goals against? The 4th line has the youngster Holmqvist at center with tough guy Chris Dingman and Boyd Devereaux on his wings. As long as this line doesn’t give up too many goals they will be alright.
On defense the Jets will look towards Chris Chelios to log big minutes, and to play in all situations. Chelios looks to be paired with Boris Mironov who led the Jets in scoring during the summer tournament. The second pairing has vet Keith Carney with youngster Steve McCarthy, both of who are capable of preventing the other team from scoring. The third pairing as Nathan Dempsey and Jim Vandermeer paired together. Dempsey should see lots of time on the power play while Vandermeer is the muscle of the twosome.
In goal, the Jets are going to lean on Rick DiPietro. This is DiPietro’s first chance to be a starter in the CPHL and the Jets are hoping he can carry them. Noodles McLennan looks to be an adequate backup for DiPietro and probably won’t see more then 10 starts this season.
Concerns:
GM Walsh is mainly concerned with the secondary scoring of his team. If the Jets prove to be a one line team then the playoffs might not be within reach. The only other concern the GM has at this time is can DiPietro handle the workload and pressure of being a true number tender. Walsh feels that his team is in a position to compete for one of the final playoff spots in the conference.
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