If there';s any Winnipeg Jets player in desperate need of a reset button, it';s
 Marko Dano. The 23-year-old Austrian found himself so far on the outside last
 year that he needed a telescope just to see the team.

An important piece of the Andrew Ladd trade, Dano';s tenure with the Jets has
been disappointing so far. However, with several bottom-six forwards departing
the Jets and a one-year, shape-up-or-ship-out contract, the 2018-19 season is
Dano';s best chance to press that reset button and likely his last shot to
stick with the squad.Dano Stuck in Hockey Purgatory

Dano spent more games watching his team from high above in the press box than
he did with them down below on the ice in 2017-18 - but being up high is no
heaven for a hockey player.Marko Dano was banished to the press box for the
vast majority of 2017-18, appearing in just 23 games. (Amy Irvin / The Hockey
Writers)

The press box, dubbed "purgatory" and "hockey';s version of no man';s land"
by Winnipeg Free Press sportswriter Mike McIntyre, was where Dano spent the
vast majority of the 2017-18 season. He was mostly a spectator of, not a
contributor to, the Jets'; most successful season since relocation and was a
healthy scratch for 59 of their regular-season games, which included a streak
of 30 straight between Oct. 27 and Dec. 31.

The Jets seemed to sour on Dano after he and the rest of the bottom-six got
off to a dreadfully slow start. After being invisible in six October
contests-where he logged no points, one shot, and a touch over seven minutes a
game-Dano was sent upstairs.

At around the same time, Kyle Connor came up from the Manitoba Moose, the Jets
started gelling and winning, and Dano was mostly forgotten.

How little the Jets thought of Dano was on full display when he passed over in
favour of much older players when injuries arose.

"He's clearly not the first injury option for the team," McIntyre wrote in
mid-December. "When Kyle Connor couldn't go last week for a game, veteran Shawn
 Matthias took his spot in the lineup... That would seem to suggest the Jets
would need at least two forwards to go down before Dano's number is called -
and even that';s not a guarantee."

Dano suited up for just 23 contests, tallying two goals and one assist, and
didn';t appear in any of the Jets'; 17 Stanley Cup playoff games.A Step
Backward

The 2017-18 campaign represented a step back for the 2013 27th overall pick. In
 his 38 games with the Jets in 2016-17, he looked promising and showed off his
creative flair on offence, notching four goals and seven assists.

Even in 21 games down the stretch in 2015-16, the year the Jets acquired him
from the Chicago Blackhawks, he looked like someone who could, with some
seasoning, play an important role with the Jets, tallying four goals and four
assists.

Jets' Marko Dano busts out with 3 points in 5-2 victory over Canucks.
https://t.co/luWqYuBpuN #NHLJets #Canucks #nhl pic.twitter.com/AFSXZmIJND

- Hockey Night in Canada (@hockeynight) March 15, 2016

Dano has always been considered someone with a high-end skill set and the
potential to be an impactful NHL player. The Hockey News, for
example, praises Dano for his "great shot," "elusive skating ability," and
versatility to play either wing or centre.The Reasons Dano Was in the Doghouse

It';s a bit surprising that someone who made the Columbus Blue Jackets right
out of training camp at the tender age of 20 and amassed an impressive 21
points over his first 35 NHL games would struggle to even crack a lineup three
years later.

Dano found himself out of the lineup for a number of different factors-some
within his control and some not. It';s not as simple as, "He';s an awful player
 who deserves to be benched," because that';s simply not true.Dano has found
himself out of the lineup due to a combination of factors, some within, and
some outside, his control. (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

It';s true Dano is inconsistent and has not shown off his assets regularly
enough at the NHL level. It';s something The Hockey News has knocked him for
and his stats illuminate.

It';s also true Dano has struggled to find his niche. He hasn';t set himself
apart as a guy that absolutely needs to be in the lineup for a specific reason
 or as someone who can do something no one else can. For example, Brandon Tanev
 has a compete level and tenacity above and beyond any Jet; Adam Lowry has
grit, tenacity, and adeptness in the dot. Both those guys, when healthy, draw
in because their skill sets cannot be replaced.

It';s also true, however, that the Jets seemed to have Dano on a very short
leash. His first five games came at a time the Jets were battling through some
early-season foibles with their defense, goaltending, and secondary scoring -
things that, by and large, weren';t Dano';s fault. It';s only after he was
scratched that the Jets shored up those deficiencies and started playing like
the well-rounded, strong team everyone expected them to be. In some ways, he
was simply a victim of the Jets'; depth at forward and an "if it ain';t broke"
type of situation.Dano';s Best and Last Chance Is Now

A number of forwards have departed the Jets, unlatching the kennel Dano';s been
 cooped up in.

Marko Dano was a healthy scratch much of last year but has chance to take on a
bigger role with the #NHLJets this season - Paul Stastny, Joel Armia, Matt
Hendricks and Shawn Matthias are all gone from the organization. Only free
agent F signings were depth likely #MBMoose bound.

- Mike McIntyre (@mikemcintyrewpg) July 24, 2018

However, that doesn';t mean the door is wide open-competition will still be
fierce. Tanev, Lowry, and Andrew Copp are locks, which means there will be just
 three spots available. Dano has to contend with the likes of high-profile Finn
 Kristian Vesalainen, 2017-18 top rookie Mason Appleton, and truculent
sparkplug Brendan Lemieux, among others, for those coveted spaces.

Dano may have to reinvent his playing style such as former Jet Joel Armia did
over the past few years. Armia, who hasn';t produced the offensive output many
projected when he was drafted, adapted his game and evolved into a dogged puck
pursuer, boards-battle winner, and a penalty-kill mainstay. As a result of his
transformation into a shutdown depth guy, Armia became indispensable and was
rewarded with playing time, appearing in a career-high 79 games last season.If
he wants playing time, Dano will have to find his niche and may have to
reinvent his play style, such as Joel Armia, now with the Montreal Canadiens,
did in with the Jets in 2017-18. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty
Images)

"I want to be part of a winning team," Dano said during his long stint
upstairs. "Like I said, it's a matter of time. I hope my chance is going to
come and I'll be part of this team."

The time for Dano to be part of that winning team is now. He still faces an
uphill battle-the Jets'; organization is likely higher on Vesalainen, Appleton,
 and Lemieux than they are on him. He will have to perform better-not just as
good-as them and find his niche if he wants to be in the lineup come Oct. 4';s
season opener against the Los Angeles Kings.

This year is Dano';s best and last chance to establish himself as a nightly
contributor. If he doesn';t have a great training camp and is sent to the press
 box again, the next place he';ll likely be sent is out of town.

The post Dano';s Chance at Making Jets'; Roster Is Now appeared first on The
Hockey Writers.

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