Blackhawks stars Keith, Toews impressed by Jets' improvement

The Winnipeg Jets, out of nowhere, are the most improved club in the NHL.

Winnipeg's stellar play has vaulted them past the likes of the Minnesota Wild and Dallas Stars - popular preseason playoff picks - and into fourth place in the Central Division, the toughest division in hockey. Their hold on a wild card spot in the Western Conference looks firm heading into the All-Star break.

The Jets have improved so enormously that it has to be seen as somewhat of a shock. The club mostly stood pat this off-season, with Mathieu Perreault their most notable addition. Widely mocked for their inactivity, there were many pundits who picked the club to be among the league's worst.

Instead they've become a powerhouse.

Buoyed in part by improving key young players like Mark Scheifele and Jacob Trouba, and having found a physical depth center out of nowhere in Adam Lowry, the Jets have proven they can hang with the best teams in the league at even-strength.

In particular, they've caught the eye of the Chicago Blackhawks, a central division rival who they've defeated three times this season, and out-scored by a 10-3 margin.

"They've got our number, so far," Blackhawks captain and beloved son of Winnipeg Jonathan Toews told reporters on Friday, by way of Ed Tait of the Winnipeg Free Press. "I'll give the Jets their due credit - playing really hard, working well."

Those sentiments were echoed by Toews' teammate and fellow All-Star Duncan Keith.

"Improved might be an understatement," Keith said of the Jets, before complimenting the club on their size, speed and discipline.

There's no doubt this Jets club is more mature, deeper and more formidable than they've been in years' past - but arguably the biggest difference has been in goal.

The Jets have been a bottom-10 team by even-strength save percentage since their move to Winnipeg, with former workhorse starter Ondrej Pavelec appearing to be way out of his depth in 60-plus starts per season. This year, the club is riding Michael Hutchinson, whose sparkling .935 save percentage has the club on pace to finish near the top-five in even-strength save percentage.

It's amazing what a difference competent goaltending can make, really.