Although the Winnipeg Jets have yet to play in a playoff series since they returned to NHL action in 2011-12, they have managed to at least knock on the door of the postseason a few times. Since their much deserved return to professional hockey, the Jets have not yet finished with a regular season record below .500 and found a way to hold their own in 2013-14 after being forced to switch into a very competitive Western Conference. The Jets have a decent foundation that they will no doubt continue to build upon, but there are most certainly areas of their game that could use some improvement. Here’s a look at a few things the Jets could do to ensure that their team will be ready to compete for a spot in the postseason in 2014-15.

It’s clear to see that the Jets will have to find a way to improve their goal-scoring ways while they find themselves in a situation where they have the man advantage. This past season the Jets finished with a dismal 15.7% power-play percentage, which was poor enough for twenty-fifth overall in the category. With players such as Blake Wheeler, Evander Kane and Andrew Ladd, the Jets have no excuse but to put up better numbers while on the power play in 2014-15. A lack of power-play goals are what can separate a talented team from making the playoffs. Being successful on special teams could make the life of 5-on-5 hockey a lot easier for the Jets moving forward.

While the Jets seem to struggle while on the power play, even-strength hockey hasn’t always been kind to them as well. The Jets rank eighteenth in the NHL with a 0.95 5-on-5 goals for/against ratio. If the Jets are not going to be at their best when on special teams, they need to find a way to be effective and dominate when on par with their opponent. Signing a solid two-way free agent such as Paul Stastny over the offseason would definitely do them some good. Although Winnipeg as a city may be a tough place to attract a marquee free agent to, they need to do what they can to be better while on even-strength.

Although the Jets rank amongst the middle of the pack when it comes down to their 2.67 goals per game stat, they continue to struggle in regards to how many goals they give up on a nightly basis. The Jets allowed a twenty-second worst 2.82 goals per game in 2013-14. Ondrej Pavelec is not the starting goaltender that will lead them to the promised land, and Al Montoya isn’t a good enough backup to rely on if the going gets tough for whoever starts. Having the right goaltender or the lack thereof can make or break a team’s chances of the playoffs. If the Jets want to progress into the playoffs in the near future, a fresh face in goal is what they need to look for.