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Winnipeg Jets
Overall: 71
Title track: 94
Ownership: 48
Coaching: 57
Players: 68
Fan relations: 59
Affordability: 102
Stadium experience: 75
Bang for the buck: 82
Change from last year: -2
The Jets aren't exactly flying high in the rankings, but after a 28-spot jump in 2015, they managed to hold steady and only fell two slots this year. Winnipeg's picked to be a playoff contenders this year, and for a team that hasn't had a postseason win since the turn of the millennium, that's a big deal.
What's good
Players like Patrik Laine and Ondrej Pavelec have Jets fans feeling optimistic, and so does the way the team treats its die-hard hopefuls (it's 59th in fan relations). Winnipeg finished last in the Central Division this past season, but Mark Scheifele and Dustin Byfuglien help make this team a sleeper pick. Fans love the players off the ice, too, with the Jets drawing a high favorability rating on player likeability -- they're ranked 68th overall. Winnipeg's primed to make a considerable leap in the NHL standings this season, but even without that, it's found a way to improve in bang for the buck (up 20 spots this year).
What's bad
As promising as the current Jets roster is, its lack of past success -- or, in the past 16 years, of a postseason win -- hasn't inspired much faith. Winnipeg fans are iffy on whether their team will win ever a title while they're rooting for the team (94th in title track). Despite the quality of play, the Jets remain one of the most expensive places to watch a game in the NHL with an average ticket price of nearly $80 -- their affordability ranking of 102 is their worst rank in any category. On average, attending a game at the MTS Centre costs more than all but six other NHL venues.
What's new
Coach Paul Maurice and his staff took a dip in the coaching standings, and part of that might be because confidence in Maurice is slipping (down 27 spots in 2016). Winnipeg is still selling out the MTS Centre, though, with standing-room-only attendance since the 2014-15 season. But the Jets fell in stadium experience this year (down 26 spots, to 75th overall) -- perhaps because of renovations in 2015 that led to obstructed views on the upper level of the arena last season. That, officials said in March 2016, will be fixed for this season.
Next: Colorado Avalanche | Full rankings