Things about the Winnipeg Jets and the NHL that crossed my mind —
Some random facts and a few thoughts from this past week about the Winnipeg Jets, the Manitoba Moose, and the National Hockey League.
I would like to wish all of our readers a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
1. The Winnipeg Jets had a slow week with only two games but managed a 2-0-0 record. Their record now is 15-16-3 overall.
2. A lot of Winnipeg Jets fans were really pissed off at Toby Enstrom for taking three consecutive penalties in the second period versus Florida on Thursday night. As fate would have it, the Florida Panthers scored on all three PP opportunities. I was actually more pissed off that the Jets let the NHL’s worst PP score those three goals.
3. I have no problem with Paul Maurice using Drew Stafford in the shootout as long as it is his or sixth or seventh choice and NOT in his top three. If this ever happens again, I hope the NHL’s concussion spotters don’t miss this again and send PoMo to the “quiet room”.
4. It looks like Jets coach Paul Maurice will be getting some of his walking wounded back shortly and will have some interesting roster decisions to make.
5. The NHL needs to take a look at what is and what isn’t icing. IMO, 25-30% of all icings shouldn’t be called.
6. Toby Enstrom really struggles in any game with the slightest amount of physical play. He seemingly loses every puck battle. He’s great when he has the puck but part of hockey is getting the puck and he gets greatly overmatched night after night. Funny how Josh Morrissey doesn’t seem to have this problem. If it wasn’t for Patrik Laine’s terrific start to his NHL career, Josh would be the Jets big success story this season.
7. FINALLY! FINALLY! FINALLY! Paul Maurice has the top two lines set up the way most Jets fans (myself included) like them. Scheifele, Ehlers, Laine and Little, Perreault, Wheeler. That is a pretty nice top six.
8. It’s that time of the year again where two of my favourite hockey tournaments take place; The Spengler Cup and the U20 World Junior Championships. Both tournaments start on Boxing Day. One of these years I’m going to go to Davos, Switzerland to watch the Spengler Cup. It’s at the top of my “Bucket List”.
9. With the 32 games in 60 days now behind them and the injured players ready to return to the Winnipeg Jets lineup, I believe Paul Maurice will have plenty of lineup options and NO REASON to ever have to use the “tired” narrative, ever, ever, ever, again!
10. I think Chris Thorburn and the Avalanche’s Cody McLeod have a standing reservation to dance every time their two teams meet.
11. If you look at the Jets top five point producers, it is a pretty impressive group ( Mark Scheifele, Patrik Laine, Nik Ehlers, Blake Wheeler, and Dustin Byfuglien) but the drop-off after that is quite scary. Obviously, Bryan Little’s and Mathieu Perreault’s numbers would be better if they weren’t injured but it is what it is.
12. The only thing that makes me happier than Patrik Laine scoring a goal in a Jets game is Patrik Laine and Nik Ehlers scoring in a Jets game.
13. Just an FYI: The NHL’s roster freeze is tonight at midnight local time. It looks like the Jets might have a couple injured players available; Joel Armia, Shawn Matthias, or Nic Petan could see some playing time on the two-game road trip in Vancouver. The Jets roster will have to be compliant by Dec. 28.
14. Question for Kevin Cheveldayoff: How’s that Chris Thorburn contract extension going?
15. Is Alex Burmistrov done? He’s been a healthy scratch lately and with Nic Petan, Joel Armia, and Shawn Matthias ready to return to the lineup roster spots are getting scarce.
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16. The Winnipeg Jets faceoff numbers have taken a dramatic upswing since Bryan Little’s return to the team from injury although they are still last in the NHL.
17. I love how the stats community turns its noses up at the +/- stat but yet they think that shooting a puck into a defenders pads is a positive stat. I think Corsi is a bunch of crap and I hate when it is referenced on tv or radio. Why doesn’t anybody ever use Fenwick? All shot attempts aren’t created equal and some should actually be a negative stat.
18. The numbers:
Connor Hellebuyck: GAA – 2.67 … SV% – .911 … 2 shutouts
Michael Hutchinson: GAA – 3.14 … SV% – .896 … 1 shutout
19. I have to admit that I think coaches sometimes get too much criticism when things go bad and too much credit when things are good. Ultimately, it’s the players on the ice that determine hockey games BUT I can’t help but feel there is something amiss when it comes to the Winnipeg Jets.
20. Special Teams:
PP: 26th at 14.7% down from 24th at 15.1% last week …. and down from 17th at 15.9% the previous week.
PK: 28th at 75.4% down from 26th at 76.6% last week …. and down from 24th at 79.6% the previous week.
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If you have any thoughts on any of these comments or questions, please let me know. We would love to hear your opinions.
Thanks, Mitch
Use the “Comment Section” below.
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I was thinking you’ve been kind of hard on PM but…. let’s look at the Wild. Bruce Boudreaux has gotten a whole lot more mileage out of virtually the same bunch of bums. (other than Staal and look what he’s been doing considering low expectations). I had always thought the media was too hard on Yeo but maybe there is something to this coaching thing. Until the players tune him out of course.
I’m actually okay with Paul Maurice BUT I have some major doubts about his assistants.
I was at the game Sunday. Very surprised how disorganized the Jets look on the PP and PK. Basically on the penalty kill they back into a box which moves closer and closer to the goal! Hard to believe that there is very much creative thought going into the special teams.
I don’t think the Jets asst. coaches have a clue
Your #3 comment re: PoMo off to the Quiet Room was priceless! High five
LOL Thanks … I have to admit I chuckled to myself as I was writing that line.