As far as honeymoon’s go, Winnipeg Jets fans have been in pure romantic bliss since finally getting their team back in 2011. So long without NHL hockey, Jets fans have been among the best and most supportive in the league. Nonetheless, at some point every team has to have expectations and the only way this team will continue to improve is through NHL Entry Draft.

PHOTO CREDIT - WinnipegJets.com

Edmonton - June 26, 2014 - As far as honeymoon’s go, Winnipeg Jets fans have been in pure romantic bliss since finally getting their team back in 2011. So long without NHL hockey, Jets fans have been among the best and most supportive in the league. Nonetheless, at some point every team has to have expectations.

For the last three seasons this team has always been in the thick of it, always in a playoff hunt, always competitive but never really dominant, or having any confident swagger. They have been so consistent there has only been a three point variance since their first year back in 2011-12, compiling 84, 81, and 84 point seasons respectively. Good consistency, but in today’s NHL, that’s not good enough.

Nonetheless, under Coach Paul Maurice the team showed a stark turnaround so as the team looks to make another push next year, the draft will be their main source of future talent. In 2011 Mark Scheifele was not considered a clear cut first round pick, but three years later he looks like a true top six forward with character and an all-round game. Jacob Trouba is arguably the best player out of the 2012 draft, and 2013’s Josh Morrissey is ready to turn pro after an outstanding junior career. Over the last three years, the Jets have chosen as well as anyone in the top half of the first round.

Once again Winnipeg is picking in a good albeit not great spot at number 9, which begs the question, who will they choose to keep their hot streak going? The 2014 draft is one of the more unpredictable ones, so there are lots of options, but here are the best in their drafting range.

Nick Ritchie (6'2, 226lbs.): Ritchie is the hockey package all teams want. He’s one of the biggest players in the draft with a scorer's touch with a dollop of nastiness to go with it. Probably the biggest obstacle to the Jets drafting Ritchie at ten is that he likely will be gone by then. But while Ritchie has size and skill it’s not all roses and sunshine with the big winger. Many scouts were regularly frustrated by Ritchie's consistency and willingness to "show up" every night. The consensus is, if Ritchie is there when the Jet's pick at ten (a big if), he'd be tough to pass on.

Hayden Fleury (6'2", 203lbs): Defense is not weak spot with Jet's system. While Trouba made the team recently, last year's first rounder, Morrisey is ready to make the next step as well as other D prospects the system. Nonetheless, in a draft light on high end Defense Hayden Fleury is the number two D prospect in the draft after Aaron Ekblad. If he is available at number 9, he may be the best defender available at that spot. He has also fared well at the highest competition levels for his age group, playing solid on Canada's gold medal Ivan Hlinka tournament team as well as on the under-18 team. Posting 46 points in 70 WHL games, he has some upside.

Jake Virtanen (6'0, 208 lbs.): In today’s NHL, speed kills and the Calgary Hitmen centre has plenty of it. Virtanen plays hard and is considered to be a pure goal scorer, which might be right in Winnipeg’s wheelhouse as they need a game breaking centre who can will the game. Scouts say he plays a physical game as well but scoring goals is his passion, which is good, it just begs the question, how is the rest of his game? None of the players Winnipeg drafts this year will make an immediate impact, but Winnipeg has a need for a pure offensive player, and Virtanen just might be it.

Kasperi Kapannen (6'0, 180lbs.): The son of NHL regular Sammi Kapannen, Kasperi has good blood lines and by all indications will be a better player than his father. The father son relationship is so strong that Kasperi played alongside his father as a teammate at Kalpa Kuopio in the Finnish elite league last season. Kapanen is not the biggest player but employs a high hockey IQ and competitiveness to bridge the gap. Because of his work ethic and hockey education, Kapanen knows first-hand what it will take to be a professional. Kapananen will likely succeed at becoming a very good NHL forward, unfortunately he likely won't be an elite one.

Who would the Jets take: If he's there, Ritchie will be the guy, too much size and skill at his age could translate into a future Todd Bertuzzi or Jamie Benn.

Who will the Jets take: Likely Jake Virtanen, the Jets are crying for elite offensive skill to bolster a power-play that's on life support and Virtanen can offer that. He should be available at number 9 but . . . who knows in this draft.

Two Darkhorses Euro-style: William Nylander and Kevin Fiala are two very talented forwards that have excelled in their respective best on best tournaments they have participated in. Nylander is the general consensus as the most talented player in this year's draft but with that talent goes a prima donna attitude, which may not appeal to the Jets . . . but then Evander Kane has to have someone to hold hands with. Based on skill level alone the Jets will take Nylander if he's there at 9.

Kevin Fiala could be the sleeper of this year's draft. He scored 9 points in five games and scores reasonably well in the SEL for HV71 (11 points in 17 games) as well as counting a point per game at the WJC. The Swiss national is the son of a coach so you would think the requisite work ethic that is sometimes lacking in young players will be there.

Whatever happens, this will be a wild draft but the Jets scouting staff have so far shown themselves as capable of making the most of a familiar drafting position.