Winnipeg Jets : 2016-17 Trivia Quiz

Answer: Finland

Before being drafted second overall by the Winnipeg Jets, the young Finnish phenom Patrik Laine played with Tappara in the Finnish Liiga. The original 'Finnish Flash' (Teemu Selanne) was his idol growing up, so being drafted by the Winnipeg Jets (albeit a different franchise) was a special thing for Laine. In all, the Winnipeg Jets drafted:

Round 1 - #2 - Patrik Laine (RW), Finland
Round 1 - #18 - Logan Stanley (D), Canada
Round 3 - #79 - Luke Green (D), Canada
Round 4 - #97 - Jacob Cederholm (D), Sweden
Round 5 - #127 - Jordan Stallard (C), Canada
Round 6 - #157 - Mikhail Berdin (G), Russia

Answer: Mark Scheifele

Mark Scheifele was drafted seventh overall in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, then spent another year with the Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League to continue developing his skills before joining the Jets full time for the 2013-14 season.

With Scheifele's entry-level contract coming due at the end of the 2015-16 season (in which he broke the 20-goal mark for the first time), the Jets management wasted no time in securing Scheifele for the long-term. He went on to prove that their confidence in him was well-founded as he took the point-scoring title for the team in 2016-17.

Answer: Blake Wheeler

Blake Wheeler claimed the Winnipeg Jets' point scoring title three times in the first five years they were in Winnipeg (2011-12, 2013-14, and 2015-16), and was an assistant captain to Andrew Ladd before being named the new team captain at the end of August. Mark Scheifele and Dustin Byfuglien were named assistant captains at the same time.

Incidentally, August 31st also happens to be Blake Wheeler's 30th birthday.

Answer: Manitoba Moose

After many years as the Jets' number one goalie, Pavelec was stunned to find himself relegated to the AHL for the 2016-17 season. He did get called up for a few games mid-season, but an injury put him out for the rest of the season. In all, the Jets goalies were hot and cold over the season:

Connor Hellebuyck - 56 games, 26 wins, 19 losses, 4 OTL, 2.89 GAA, .907 SV%
Michael Hutchinson - 28 games, 9 wins, 12 losses, 3 OTL, 2.92 GAA, .903 SV%
Ondrej Pavelec - 8 games, 4 wins, 4 losses, 3.55 GAA, .888 SV%
Eric Comrie - 1 game, 1 win, 4.05 GAA, .897 SV%

The Manitoba Moose were the affiliated minor league team of the Vancouver Canucks from when they joined the AHL (coming over from the folded IHL) in 2001. When the Atlanta Thrashers became the Winnipeg Jets in 2011, the new owners (True North Sports & Entertainment) now owned both the Jets and the Moose. They decided to relocate the Moose to Newfoundland, and they became the St. John's IceCaps, also becoming the AHL affiliate of the Jets at the same time. Four years later, the IceCaps returned to Winnipeg to become the Manitoba Moose again (while the Montreal Canadiens' AHL affiliate moved from Hamilton to take over the name as a new IceCaps franchise).

Answer: Patrik Laine

Early in the season, Patrik Laine found himself atop the leader board for the whole NHL in terms of goals scored. As an 18-year-old rookie, this was an impressive accomplishment, even if it did not last the year. It *was* enough, however, to earn him a nomination to play at the All-Star break. Laine wowed the crowd and the other players, placing 2nd in the hardest shot competition (101.7 mph), and skated a lap of the rink in 13.420 seconds, just 0.3 short of winner Connor McDavid.

Answer: Patrik Laine

Laine's accomplishment is also the first time in NHL history that an 18-year-old player got three hat tricks BEFORE their 19th birthday. Laine got his first hat trick against the Toronto Maple Leafs in October, then got his second and third hat tricks in two games against the Dallas Stars in November and February.

Answer: 7

Before winning their seventh in a row to end the 2016-17 season, the Jets/Thrashers franchise had managed two six-win streaks in the past:

March 6-16, 2009 (as the Atlanta Thrashers):
2-0 Mtl, 5-2 Cgy, 3-0 Col, 4-3 Edm OT, 4-3 Buf SO, 5-1 Wsh

November 19-30, 2010 (as the Atlanta Thrashers)
5-0 Wsh, 2-1 NYI OT, 5-1 Det, 3-0 Mtl, 4-1 Bos, 3-2 Col OT

In both instances, the Pittsburgh Penguins were the team to end their winning streak.

The Jets' season-ending streak (with the potential to carry over into the Fall) was:
2-1 Vcr, 4-3 NJD SO, 4-3 Ana OT, 4-2 Ott, 5-2 StL, 5-4 CBJ, 2-1 Nas

Answer: Ilya Kovalchuk's

Prior to the 2016-17 season, Ilya Kovalchuk's 29-goal rookie season had been the mark to beat (since 2002). That same year, rookie Dany Heatley set the total points bar at 67. Laine got his 30th goal of the season on February 21st against the Toronto Maple Leafs, surpassing Kovalchuk's record.

He increased it to 36 by end of season. Unfortunately, Laine fell short of Heatley's overall points total, only reaching 64 points altogether.

Answer: Boston Bruins

Drew Stafford began his NHL career with the Buffalo Sabres in the 2006-07 season and joined the Winnipeg Jets in 2015. His trade for the 6th-round draft pick (in 2018) was made for largely financial (salary cap) reasons. At the time of his trade, Stafford was in the last year of a two year contract, which would have seen him possibly become a free agent on July 1st.

In 144 games with the Winnipeg Jets, Stafford had 34 goals and 36 assists for 70 points, along with 48 penalty minutes.

Answer: Mark Scheifele

Mark Scheifele has been the face of the future of the Jets franchise ever since he was their first-ever NHL draft pick in 2011. The 2016-17 season saw Scheifele come into his own, claiming a spot in the team's top line, and vaulting to the top of the team's scoring. He finished seventh overall in the league, just 18 points behind Connor McDavid's 100 point mark.

Team captain Blake Wheeler followed his pattern, finishing second in team scoring with a record of 26 goals and 48 assists for 74 points.