Talk about a 10-year challenge.

A decade ago, the Winnipeg Jets were nothing but a bitter memory for the fans of a former NHL franchise that moved south in 1996. The city’s best hockey team, the Manitoba Moose, were on their way to a fourth-place finish in the AHL’s North Division.

Fast forward to today. Not only are the Jets back, but they’re emerging as one of the perennial Western Conference powerhouses in the National Hockey League.

Another outstanding start to the 2018-19 season has them perched at the top of the Central Division. Many are expecting the Jets to finish what they started last year, winning the Western Conference.

However, over in the Pacific Division, another heavyweight hopes to stand in their way on the road to the Stanley Cup Final – the Calgary Flames.

A side-by-side comparison of the Jets and Flames reveals a lot of similarities. Let’s take a look at where these two teams stand against each other.

A strong forward core led by a prolific scorer

For the Flames, their young top six have been dominant all season. Sean Monahan and Matthew Thachuk have emerged as difference-makers on a nightly basis, but their linemate is the one that has really stolen the show – Johnny Gaudreau.

Gaudreau’s 74 points have him in the conversation for the Hart trophy as the league’s most valuable player.

On the Winnipeg side, players like Kyle Connor and more recently, Jack Roslovic have nicely complemented the contributions by captain Blake Wheeler and Bryan Little.

A slumping Patrik Laine is some cause for concern for Jets fans, but he has shown that he can score in bunches when he gets the opportunity. It seems like people have already forgotten he scored the most goals in a calendar month in NHL history in November.

The Jets’ game-changer is Mark Scheifele. He is a do-it-all centreman that has the capabilities to score, defend and come up big when his team needs it most. His 63 points aren’t even the best on the team, as Wheeler has 65 – but when one of those two get in on a goal, the other is usually also there.

A stout defense from one to six

The Jets and more notably, the Flames have made big strides with their defence this season. Looknig at their defensive rosters, both are solid, with a great mix of veterans and young guns mixed throughout.

The Jets have seen big improvements from Jacob Trouba, who is really starting to show why he was a top-10 pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

Other notable contributors include Josh Morrisey and Ben Chiarot, who have put up 29 and 12 points respectively, all while continuously improving their play in their own end.

For the Flames, they are led by a Norris Trophy candidate in captain Mark Giordano. He has rejuvenated himself thanks to more balance among the three pairings.

The Flames didn’t want to wait for their own draft picks to flourish, so they went out and got some on their own. Noah Hanifin was acquired in a trade for Dougie Hamilton and the Flames haven’t looked back since.

Add in talent like Travis Hamonic and T.J. Brodie, and it’s no wonder the Flames are far better on the defensive side of the puck this season.

Differences between the pipes

Though the two teams may look similar up front and on the blue-line, in the crease is where the similarities end.

Sure, they’re both led by top-notch goaltending – David Rittich has been one of the best suprises in the NHL this year for the Flames, while Connor Hellebucyk has picked up where he left off after a Vezina Trophy-worthy campaign last season.

However, the Jets are succeeding with who they always expected in Hellebucyk. Meanwhile, Mike Smith was supposed to be the Flames’ anchor in the net, but injuries and a lack of confidence have opened the door for Rittich.

This leaves the Flames asking the tough questions as the trade deadline approaches and rumours are swirling that a goaltender might be on the top of the list for GM Brad Treliving.

The Jets know they can rely on Hellebucyk in the playoffs – they went all the way to the Western Conference Final just 10 months ago. They have also enjoyed a brilliant season from back-up goaltender Laurent Brossoit, who lost his first game in regulation this season only a couple of weeks ago.

With the Flames appearing to be in the market for a goaltender, it shows no faith in the man who has backstopped them to the top spot in the Pacific Division. Bringing in a starting goaltender won’t only be tough from a dollars-and-cents perspective, but it could also change the dynamic in the Flames’ dressing room at a critical time.

The Jets’ trade deadline needs are simple – find a Paul Stastny again. Another rental centre for the Jets’ second line is rumoured to be the big fish for Kevin Chevaldayoff and just like last year, their first-round pick this June could be in play.

The Jets are faced with a great market this year in terms of rental centremen – Matt Duchene has an uncertain future in Ottawa. Wayne Simmonds is being shopped by the Flyers and Kevin Hayes is looking to be on his way out of New York.

Even if they don’t get what they want, Bryan Little has proven more than capable of anchoring the Jets’ second line as well as being a puck-mover on the second power-play.

With two-plus weeks until the NHL trade deadline, a lot can change between now and Feb. 25.

However, as it stands right now, the Jets are missing nothing that Calgary offers on forward or defence, plus they have more stability in goal. Their deadline needs are less pressing and they have a coach that has far more playoff experience to boot.

I’m putting the Winnipeg Jets over the Calgary Flames as the best team in the Western Conference today, but I can assure it will be a wild couple of months as April approaches.