from Sean Reynolds of Sportsnet,

To capitalize on that opening window, the Jets have hired a man who has the kind of experience they need. Their new assistant coach, Jamie Kompon, was with the Los Angeles Kings from 2006-2012. In that time, he oversaw a young core of players, including Drew Doughty and Anze Kopitar, grow from talented prospects to Stanley Cup champs.

“I see a lot of similarities in terms of the L.A. team we had,” said Kompon. “The youth and some veteran players. But young veteran players. You know, we had Dustin Brown there. And Blake Wheeler is not that old. It’s the same kind of mold.”

Another team created in a similar mold? The Chicago Blackhawks; another club Kompon won the Stanley Cup with, in 2013. Their core of Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook and Niklas Hjalmarsson also grew together in a similar five-year cluster.

No one is saying the Jets are the next Blackhawks or Kings…yet. Then again, few expected the quick rise those teams made from the NHL’s basement either.

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