Jets slowly landing back in Winnipeg

WINNIPEG – The boys are back in town, well some of them.

Sixteen members of the Winnipeg Jets skated at the MTS Iceplex Tuesday with more trickling into the city every day.

“Not everyone is here but the fact you’re with your teammates, getting ready for the season,” said Jets defenceman Zach Bogosian. “There’s enough guys here to kind of get your mind right and focused.”

The 2014-2015 version of the Jets is essentially a carbon copy of the previous year’s minus a few off-season pick-ups. Among the new players is Mathieu Perreault who was signed to a three-year, $9 million deal.

“It solidifies us a little more instead of having guys come in and out every year,” said Jets centre Jim Slater. “That feels like how it’s been the last little bit.”

Consistency that the team hopes will help them finally crack the playoffs.

“We know its unacceptable of what we’ve done in the past,” said Bogosian. “We have to look to the future and get the job done.”

Players will continue to skate right up to the start of training camp September 18. The Jets first pre-season game is just a couple days later, September 22, against the Minnesota Wild at MTS Centre.