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The Jets are battling the Nashville Predators for the top spot in the Central Division and since they’ve had to overcome a number of significant injuries to key players, the depth in the organization has been tested.

And for the most part, the youth has proven capable of doing the job.

Can that youth continue to perform at a high level under the microscope of the Stanley Cup playoffs?

That’s the great unknown.

“Because we’ve had seven guys on (injured reserve) and how the players have performed in certain roles, you take all of that into consideration,” said Cheveldayoff. “You always say to players that when you get your opportunity, take advantage of it. In a lot of cases, that’s been the case. So you’re looking at the different options available to you and saying, ‘does this make us better?’”

Playoff experience is the one thing the Jets don’t have an abundance of, so deciding how much needs to be added is one of the things Cheveldayoff and the personnel department are sure to be mulling over.

“The guys have earned the opportunity for me to be talking in conversations and seeing what might be out there to acquire some players or do some different things,” said Cheveldayoff. “Any team that is to achieve any level of success, it starts within that room and it starts with the leadership (core). That’s where our strength lies.”

As an organization that relies on the principles of draft and development, the Jets have yet to trade one of its first-round picks.