As the Jets look to solidify the roster, time will tell if the players can maintain the fast-paced style

BANFF, Alberta – The issue of identity building has been very interesting in this area.

For the past three seasons, the Winnipeg Jets have been a team trying to play faster and play harder — if not necessarily in the robust or physical way that once defined them.

This is not a history lesson, nor is the purpose of the column to revisit the challenges the organization faced as it veered from a legitimate Stanley Cup threat to one that seemed to have gone astray.

For a franchise in dire need of a turnaround after winning just one playoff round since reaching the Western Conference Finals in spring 2018, something had to give way.

The hiring of veteran head coach Rick Bowness brought a change in philosophy and a fresh voice at the helm.

When training camp began late last month, the focus was on how this group of players would respond to a hockey life that exudes energy and demands a commitment to a solid defensive structure.

Without the full buy-in of the players on the list, even a tried and tested template is doomed to fail.

That wasn’t an issue.

“The attitude, the work habits, the willingness to come to the rink has been outstanding since Day 1,” Bowness told a trio of reporters during an interview on Sunday. “A lot of that has to do with missing the playoffs. It hurts and it’s a long, long summer. And you don’t want to do it again.”

When suffering from the disappointment the Jets went through last season and when high hopes turned into a long offseason of shattered dreams, the perspective gleaned from the struggles can be a valuable tool and open up a world of possibilities.

Rather than resisting this new template, the Jets have embraced the aggressive systems being installed and realized they could play to their strengths head-on.

“There’s a lot more on our toes,” said Jets defenseman Dylan DeMelo. “Last year I felt like we were laying back a bit in the neutral zone. Our pre-check, maybe we had F1 but we didn’t have F2. Seems like boys really do skate. We have to keep working on that.

“Short shifts, a team game. You don’t extend your shift to be offended. You get out, get some fresh guys out and hold our legs, roll four lines. It will be a work in progress. We still have a lot to do.”

In convincing this group that using their collective speed can be a weapon when playing with and without the puck, there were signs that those high-risk chances that the Jets have allowed with great frequency over the past two seasons could be reduced – maybe even dramatically this year.

Part of that has to do with being more determined and making better reads, but the Jets are also looking to be tougher on zone denials and apply more back pressure — which should ultimately help force turnover and allow the Jets to take her Getting the transfer game going the other way.

“If you want to be tough in this league, you have to put pressure on your opponent,” Bowness said. “I tell them every line has to look the same when we don’t have the puck. Do we expect everyone to backcheck? Absolutely. There is no free ticket here. Absolutely not.

“Everyone has to push. Everyone has to go back to our zone. If we don’t have the puck, we should all look the same. Different skills when we have (the puck) and they have a little bit more freedom and you have to give that to your elite players. But if we don’t have it, there are no two sets of rules. It’s a rule. Everyone is on the same page and everyone is working to get it back.”

After Friday’s pre-season finals against the Calgary Flames, the Jets spent a few days in this idyllic tourist town, mixing some fishing and golf as part of the team-building process.

They will return to the ice Monday morning at Fenlands Arena in preparation for Friday’s season opener against the New York Rangers.

As for the opening day roster, the Jets face a decision – barring a late trade – after forward Jansen Harkins was placed on the waiver.

Either Harkins will report to the American Hockey League’s Manitoba Moose or he will join another organization, like native draft pick Johnny Kovacevic, a defenseman who was released from waivers by the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday.

That leaves the Jets with two goalies, eight defenders and 13 forwards — with a pull at the back end.

Monday’s session should provide some more clues as to where Bowness and his staff are leaning towards the Opening Day roster.

Assuming Pierre-Luc Dubois and Mason Appleton are back from minor injuries and full-fledged competitors, the lines and D pairings used should give some clues as to who nailed the third line left wing point, what the composition of the fourth line is, and which ones One of Dylan Samberg, Ville Heinola, Logan Stanley and Kyle Capobianco is in a pairing with Nate Schmidt or Neal Pionk.

With neither Stanley nor Capobianco on Sunday’s waiver, the Jets are expected to assign one of Samberg or Heinola to the minors — at least for now.

Regardless of which decision is made, it’s important to remember that competition is ongoing and things can change relatively quickly depending on the circumstances.

The guy playing Game 1 isn’t necessarily in the lineup for Game 10, let alone Game 82.

Having quality options available is a good thing.

“You have to get through it and get down to 23. There’s no easy way at this time of year,” Bowness said. “No one has come out here, but someone has to go. As simple as that.”

The issue of leadership was another thing that drew a lot of buzz heading into training camp and while Bowness was reluctant to unveil the season’s postmen, he did concede that three alternate captains would be named when the announcement is made .

For those keeping track at home, Josh Morrissey, Mark Scheifele and Adam Lowry wore the ace on Friday night and look like favorites to get the job done, although Bowness with what he’s seen of the entire group so far , was satisfied.

Which brings us back to the identity question.

Of course, it will still be some time before the Jets determine what type they will be this season and if they can manage to play faster on a regular basis, play harder and show they’re better at blocking things defensively without offensively too much to sacrifice.

Once they fully figure out how to look, the Jets will know if they can master and ultimately sustain this aggressive and fast style.