3 Takeaways From Winnipeg Jets’ First 3 Preseason Games – The Hockey Writers –

The Winnipeg Jets are halfway through their six-game preseason slate and there’s been plenty to glean from their first three matchups. Here, we’ll dive into three takeaways from the contest versus the Minnesota Wild and a pair against the Edmonton Oilers.

1: Arniel And New Coaching Staff Beginning to Set Themselves Apart

While it can be unwise to read too much into preseason lineups and player deployment considering the number of young prospects getting action and how much lineups can change from game to game, some decisions and moves are well worth noting. There have been a few clear instances already of new head coach Scott Arniel and his pair of new assistant coaches in Dean Chynoweth and Davis Payne setting themselves apart from the Rick Bowness era.

Using Nikolaj Ehlers on the top unit of a new-look top power-play unit; using Colin Miller heavily and on the second power-play unit; and using Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele on the penalty kill are just a new ideas already being tested out.

Fans and pundits alike have griped for years that Ehlers has been consistently under-utilized despite being one of the Jets’ most dynamic players and one of the best analytically. He has rarely gotten top power-play unit time, mainly being deployed on a second unit that has historically gotten 30 seconds or fewer on any given man advantage — really, scraps of titme that didn’t allow anyone to do much of anything.

However, the Dane has been tapped by Payne — who is newly responsible for improving a pass-happy power play that finished 22nd in the league last season, to play the “bumper” position in a 1-3-1 setup. Arniel called the bumper the “most important” power-play position and having someone as offensively gifted as Ehlers in it should allow the Jets to generate quality chances even if Connor and Scheifele — who got their first taste of preseason action on Sept. 25 against the Oilers — get keyed on.

Miller appears set for a much-increased role with Brenden Dillon and Nate Schmidt’s departures. The veteran defender has suited up for two of three games, logging almost 23 minutes against the Wild on Sept. 21 and just over 15 minutes against the Oilers on Sept. 25. Payne has tapped the 31-year-old to quarterback the second unit and Miller looked excellent in the role, moving the puck well and blasting home a goal from the point in each…