WINNIPEG — Dylan DeMelo didn`t mince words.
After hinting at it earlier when questioned about the Winnipeg Jets securing the Presidents` Trophy, DeMelo clearly stated their primary objective.
The reporter asked the 32-year-old defenseman if the Jets felt pride in being the first Canadian team to clinch the Presidents` Trophy since the Vancouver Canucks in 2011-12.
“No, not really, to be honest,” he admitted following Sunday`s 4-1 defeat by the Edmonton Oilers. “I believe we aspire to be the first Canadian team to win the Cup since `93. That`s our true aim.”
These direct comments reflect the driving force behind their league-leading regular season.
Throughout the year, the Jets` ambition has surpassed regular-season achievements or even winning a single playoff series.
After experiencing first-round exits for two consecutive years despite strong regular seasons, Winnipeg has been consistently working on a style of play designed to maximize their chances of winning the Stanley Cup.
“From the outset, we`ve fully embraced our required style of play. The team`s maturity and collective growth have led to an understanding that solid defense is key to success. Previously, we might have relied more on exchanging offensive opportunities, a more `run-and-gun` approach, which ultimately proved ineffective when it mattered most,” DeMelo explained. “However, we now have a firm grasp on it and are comfortable in pressure situations, in tight games. We minimize self-inflicted errors. It`s the result of all these factors combined, and we are still evolving. We are not yet the finished article. We have more potential to unlock, and we must unleash it to reach our ultimate goal.”
The past two years were dedicated to reshaping the Jets` playing style. This year is about executing that style at the highest level. The training phase is over, and everyone is fully committed.
The latest episode of Runway — their team-produced documentary series — is aptly titled, `We want the Stanley Cup.`
When a team maintains focus on improvement throughout the regular 82-game season, it resonates with fans. This explains the enthusiastic standing ovation at Canada Life Centre when the Presidents` Trophy win was announced, despite past playoff disappointments.
“We will still be judged based on what happens from Game 83 onwards,” Jets coach Scott Arniel stated. “Much is still to come, and we hope this develops into an extended, two-and-a-half-month journey.”
Despite the perceived curse associated with the award — as no Presidents` Trophy winner has lifted the Stanley Cup since the 2012-13 Chicago Blackhawks — there are clear advantages.
“If and when we reach the Stanley Cup Finals, we secure home-ice advantage,” Arniel noted. “That`s definitely significant.”
Tristan Blackwood