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Columnist: Jets ‘Atlanta Association’ are ‘rotting away any chance of success’

Blackhawks Jets Hockey

Winnipeg Jets’ Bryan Little (18), Andrew Ladd (16), Keaton Ellerby, second from right, and Dustin Byfuglien (33) celebrate Ellerby’s goal against the Chicago Blackhawks during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Winnipeg, Manitoba on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2013. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, John Woods)

AP

The Winnipeg Jets have had their struggles yet again this season. They’re currently sixth in the Central Division and 15 points behind first-place Chicago and one Winnipeg columnist says there’s a lack of accountability from a certain clique of players.

Gary Lawless of the Winnipeg Free Press says Andrew Ladd, Dustin Byfuglien, Blake Wheeler, Bryan Little, and Tobias Enstrom make up a group he calls the “Atlanta Association.” Those players, Lawless says, don’t hold themselves accountable for mistakes made and the team is suffering because of it.

There is a hierarchy in the Jets dressing room and at the top is a group of players who bonded together in Atlanta. Those friendships are taking precedence over results and they are rotting away any chance of success for the Jets.

While those five are called out, players like Mark Stuart, Olli Jokinen, and 20-year-old Jacob Trouba are held up as better examples of what players should be doing in Winnipeg.

The grumbles concerning anyone who has come from Atlanta is nothing new in the ‘Peg. With team captain (Ladd) being called out, as well as most of their top players and scorers from last season, this is a new shot across the bow.

If nothing else, a column like this might keep the heat off of coach Claude Noel while the team struggles.

Follow @JoeYerdonPHT