Jets’ coach Paul Maurice resigns
What’s Happening: As you may have heard, Winnipeg Jets’ Head Coach, Paul Maurice, resigned from his position on December 17, 2021. When asked about the decision, his rationale was that he was “only able to get [the team] to a certain place” and that the team “needed a new voice.” Little did fans know that conversations started this past summer between Maurice, ownership, and General Manager, Kevin Cheveldayoff, on Maurice’s future. In fact, when asked in his media availability, Cheveldayoff expressed that the news wasn’t a surprise; Cheveldayoff agreed with Maurice’s assessment that he could no longer “push the right buttons.”
Here at Pregame Skate, we agree with Cheveldayoff and Maurice’s overall assessment: “This is a good team. [He’s] a good coach.” However, sometimes, things need to be shaken up for a team to progress. This is one of those times. Now, as Cheveldayoff stated, the team’s future rests primarily on the shoulders of the players … as it should.
For the remainder of the season, Jets fans will see Assistant Coach, Dave Lowry, become the interim Head Coach for the sake of “continuity.” Where things will go from there, Cheveldayoff will reassess in the offseason.
Looking Back: Upon his resignation, Paul Maurice was the second-longest serving Head Coach in the league, only behind the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Jon Cooper at eight full seasons. During Maurice’s tenure, the Jets made the Playoffs five times, including to the Second Round in 2020-21 and the Conference Finals in 2017-18. To contrast with some of the top-performing Head Coaches, from 2014-15 to 2020-21:
Jon Cooper lost in the First Round two times, the Conference Finals twice, the Finals once, and won the Stanley Cup twice
Mike Sullivan lost in the First (or Qualifying) Round three times, the Second Round once, and won the Stanley Cup twice
Barry Trotz made it to the Second Round four times, the Conference Finals twice, and won the Stanley Cup once
Looking exclusively at the Jets’ team performance, during Maurice’s seven full seasons and compared to the rest of the league, the Jets were ninth in Regular Season Points and 17th in Playoff Points.
Moving Forward: First, regarding the Head Coach position, Maurice’s permanent replacement is anyone’s guess. While Joel Quenneville is probably the best-performing Free Agent Coach, we sincerely doubt he’ll be chosen given recent events. Otherwise, if Lowry can push the team to bigger and better things this season, he could cement his place as Coach, similar to what happened with Craig Berube in 2018-19, Rick Bowness in 2019-20, Dan Bylsma in 2008-09, and Dominique Ducharme in 2020-21.
Regarding the Jets as a whole, Maurice’s resignation might be the first of many dominos to fall. Of all positions, Cheveldayoff’s is probably the most secure as he’s done a great job of drafting and developing and assembling competitive teams in a less-than-desired market for Free Agent players.
Thus, as alluded to earlier, it seems like there could be a shakeup amongst the players this offseason (or maybe even earlier) if the team doesn’t perform. At the very least, don’t be surprised if you see chronic Playoff underperformer, Nikolaj Ehlers (12 Points in 31 Playoff Games), get shipped away. Beyond that, many other names could be shopped. If team performance has been an issue, could the team’s leader, Captain Blake Wheeler, be the right trade?
All we know is that something has to give with the Jets’ roster in its prime. The time to win is now, so now’s the time to do what’s necessary to make it happen.
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