Jets winger Cole Koepke hitting his stride (and opponents) in Winnipeg

Minnesotan Cole Koepke is hitting his stride with the Winnipeg Jets, showing growing confidence and comfort with the team he signed a one-year deal with last July. Over the past stretch, his speed has been more consistent, which is especially noticeable on the penalty kill.

He went scoreless in his first 17 games but since early December, Koepke has found the net more regularly, with seven goals in his last 44 games. While that won’t match the 10 he had with the Bruins last year in his first full NHL season, he has already eclipsed his career high in assists, recording 18 to best his Boston total by one.

After an optional practice Tuesday, Koepke spoke about his progression with the Jets from the start of the season to now.

“I thought it’s been going up as the season’s gone along, especially coming out of the Olympic break I’ve felt very, very comfortable,” Koepke said. “We’ve had some injuries here and there and some trades and whatnot but found myself into a more increased role in ice time like you said and I like to think part of that is also just playing a lot more confident right now. I feel really good about where the game is at.”

“I just think sometimes going to new teams and stuff it just takes a little bit longer to get adjusted to the role, not to try to make any excuses for how I kinda started the year but I feel really confident about where I’m at. Just try to go out and make an impact whenever I get called and get to go on the ice and I think it’s just been kinda coming together lately.”

He was asked if there’s another level he thinks he can reach in his game.

“Yeah, I believe so for sure. Especially over this last stretch, I feel like I’ve been a lot more consistent with kinda having my speed more on display, having a little bit more time with the puck. Whether it just kinda be holding onto it longer, I feel like I’m having a lot more possession time, carrying it from the defensive zone into the offensive zone versus just dumping it. I feel like chances are coming through that. Just being more sound in the D zone.

I just think from there I’ll continue to build the offensive game and hopefully the chances start going in a little bit more. Just the more sustained O-zone time, I think, is very big for someone in my role. Just kinda whether even be going out there and our line draws a penalty or getting an O-zone draw allowing Scheifele’s line to kinda start in the O zone, I think even just little things like that can help the team, feel it’s comfortable, and feel it’s getting better.

I think there’s definitely another level still to get to.”

Koepke leads the Jets in hits according to Statmuse with 173. Next closest to him is the captain Adam Lowry with 143. He was asked how he looks at this stat.

“It’s something I take a lot of pride in for sure. It’s a huge part of being in the role that I’m in. In the game there are so many skilled defencemen and teams that want to jump up and get into the play and get those four/five man rush attacks, and I think just going in for me I want to be very sound in the defensive zone and be reliable out there. I think a big part of that is trying to end the other team’s rush game as soon as I can and just kinda wear them down.

It’s frustrating when we see our top players get run into a lot and you can kinda see what it can do to your offence, so for me, it’s a huge part to try to use my speed and close the gap and just be as physical as I can.”

Koepke’s physicality isn’t limited to the NHL, it’s been part of his game since his Minnesota days. On the lighter side, he laughed when asked by radio play-by-play voice Paul Edmonds about fellow Jets teammate Neal Pionk, who claimed he beat up Koepke before he hit his growth spurt.

“Neal did not used to beat me up ’cause Neal is not big now. He was always that size. The real growth spurt was (Dylan) Samberg. He was small, small. So Neal’s younger brother Nate is my age and my older brother is Neal’s age and then we have one other buddy who plays with Colorado’s program who is mine and Nate’s age so our families always used to get together and play three-on-three, older brothers vs younger brothers and they always claimed they used to beat up on us and it’s just not true. I think all three of us younger brothers are bigger than them now as well. It’s fun we still kinda get together in the summer and do fun stuff like that.”

With his confidence, physicality, and consistency trending upward, the 27-year old Koepke is making a strong case to remain in Winnipeg well past this summer when he is set to become a UFA.