Random Thoughts On The Winnipeg Jets: June 14

June 14, 2021 by

Mitch Kasprick is the “Motown Curmudgeon” aka “Motown Mitch”

Odds and Ends, Thoughts and Questions, from this past week in hockey –

Just so there’s no confusion when I’m spewing my bias, I am a fan of the Winnipeg Jets, Arizona Coyotes, Manitoba Moose, Winnipeg Ice, and all Team Canada Hockey teams.

I am NOT a fan of Gary Bettman or as I call him, Count Chocula.  I am a big believer in the 7Ps. You’ve been warned. 

1. Jets:  The Winnipeg Jets season came to a crashing halt and it was very disappointing but that 7-8 day stretch in between the first and second round was a glorious time.  Over a week to revel and gloat in the satisfaction of sweeping the hated Edmonton Oilers and exorcising the demons from previous playoff failures.  Man, that felt good and to be honest it made my season.  

2. Jets:  After a week to decompress and evaluate the Winnipeg Jets roller coaster season one thing remains clear, I have no idea where this team is heading.  The only conclusion I have come to is Connor Hellebuyck, Mark Scheifele, and Nik Ehlers are the only untouchables on this team.  They rest of the team is up for debate. 

3. Jets:  Is it possible that Jets fans, media, players, coaches, management, and ownership have really overrated what we have with this team?  Where was the perceived depth?  We were missing ONE forward and folded like a cheap suit.  Where was “Mr. I think I’m a top six forward”,  Andrew Copp?  Where was Mason Appleton?  Where was Kyle Connor?  Where was Pierre-Luc Dubois?  You see where I’m going with this?  Our skill seemed to disappear and didn’t seem to be ready to compete versus Montreal.  Our regular season skill did not transfer to the playoffs and that is concerning.    

4. Jets: How do I say this without coming across as a complete a-hole?  I love Mark Chipman but is he qualified enough to make the Winnipeg Jets’ major hockey decisions.  Who advises him?  

5. Jets:  The Winnipeg Jets have a lot of good pieces but the game seems to be evolving again and going back to heavier games in the playoffs with a lot more clutching, grabbing, and interference.  Maybe this teams current make-up might need to be tweaked.  Shea Weber, Jeff Petry, Ben Chiarot, and Joel Edmundson dominated the Jets forwards.  All big and strong with decent mobility.  Montreal’s bigger forwards and even their smaller, grittier forwards over-matched the Jets defenders in the blue paint.  We were out-muscled and out-worked at both ends of the ice. 

6. Jets:  Watching some of the other playoff series around the NHL just showed me how the other divisions were playing chess while the Scotia Bank Canadian Division was playing checkers.  

7. Jets:  Paul Maurice has one more year left on his contract at $3,000,000 and a club option for an additional year.  In a season with no fans in the stands and not much of a revenue stream did anybody think TNSE was going to actually fire Paul Maurice and pay him $3,000,000 to be a TSN panelist again?   

8. Jets:  Is Connor Hellebuyck delusional or just extremely confident?

  “We’re very close to being able to make runs and being a dynasty”

9. Jets:  I watched Paul Maurice’s season ending presser twice and I think there are going to be a lot of pissed off Jets fans next fall.  Reading in between the lines it doesn’t sound like the influx of youth we expected is going to happen.  

10. Jets:  Nikolaj “don’t call me Nik” is arguably the Winnipeg Jets best skater so why doesn’t he get more ice time? 

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11. Jets:  We got another glimpse of what it would look like with Andrew Copp as a second line center or top-six forward and I hope we can finally put that narrative to bed.  I love Copp on our third line but he would never be in a contending team’s top-six or powerplay unit.  He is a terrific third-line winger and penalty killer. (see #3)

Andrew Copp is where offence goes to die.

Andrew Copp is NOT a top-six forward.   

12. NHL:  Key dates.

  • June 2 – NHL Draft Lottery (Buffalo won)
  • July 15 – The latest the Stanley Cup can be awarded
  • July 17 – Expansion draft protection lists tentatively due
  • July 21 – Expansion draft
  • July 23-24 – 2021 NHL Entry Draft
  • July 28 – Free agency opens

13. Jets:  Are Paul Maurice’s or Kevin Cheveldayoff’s jobs in jeopardy?

UPDATE:

After sweeping the Edmonton Oilers I thought the brain trust probably earned some good will and saved their jobs for another season BUT this brutal showing versus Montreal has put BOTH CHEVY and POMO right back on the hot seat.  It is going to be an interesting off-season.  Because of a short off-season Chevy will be spared but it might be time to clean house but that’s just me.  Please vote on our poll question.

After being swept in the second round by Montreal should heads roll?

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14. Jets:  I find it absolutely amazing to the point of being comical that everybody has an opinion on the Mark Scheifele hit and subsequent suspension but it seems that Mark Scheifele’s opinion doesn’t seem to count. 

15. Jets:  Poll Question:  Should Chevy cut a deal with Seattle GM Ron Francis so the Jets don’t lose a player off their roster in the expansion draft?  In the 2017 Vegas expansion draft the Jets and Vegas cut a deal where the Golden Knights would select Chris Thorburn’s expiring contract.  In the deal they flip-flopped 1st rounders with Winnipeg acquiring the 24th pick (from Vegas, from Columbus) in the 2017 NHL Draft in exchange for the 13th pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, and the Jets third-round selection in 2019. 

FYI:  If the Jets don’t cut this deal with Vegas they might have taken Nick Suzuki instead of trading down and getting Kristian Vesalainen.  It’s too early to call this deal but the early returns certainly favour Suzuki. 

Will Chevy or should Chevy cut a deal with Seattle GM Ron Francis so the Jets don't lose a player in the expansion draft?

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16. KHL:  Former Winnipeg Jets farmhand Eddie Pasquale was named the KHL’s Goalie of the Year for the 2020-21 season.  The former St. John’s IceCaps goaltender put up some pretty good numbers this past season with Yaroslavl Lokomotiv.  He was 25-11-3 with a GAA of 1.91 and a SV% OF .925. 

17. Jets:  I’m not sure there is another organisation in the NHL that have a longer tenured GM and a longer tenured coach still working for them with less overall success that the Jets tandem.  Teflon Chevy has been here right from the start with very little to show for it.  The rule of thumb is a GM gets two coach firings before the spotlight shifts on to him.  Is that why he is still clinging to Paul Maurice?    

18. Jets:  I love Dylan DeMelo and I think he is a very underrated/important part of the Jets blue line but if not having him in the lineup causes the kind of collapse we’ve witnessed versus Montreal this team has bigger problems than we imagined.  

19. Jets:  Do the Winnipeg Jets need a new set of eyes in the organisation?  A President of Hockey Operations?  I’ve been saying for quite some time that this organisation needs a buffer between ownership and management.  (see #4)

20. Jets:  The Winnipeg Jets are a month away from having to submit their protection list for the Seattle expansion draft.  I would love to know what they are planning.  I would just prefer to lose a player instead of cutting a deal to protect a player on the current roster.  (see #15) 

In memory of my friend Darryl Manchulenko.

If you have any questions, please give me a shout. You can use the comment section or use the #ASKWHTPOD hashtag on Twitter.

If you like our new format, let us know in the comment section or hit me on Twitter at WpgSportsTalk or WpgHockTalk

If you are interested in writing for Winnipeg Sports Talk or if you know somebody interested, please contact us at:

[email protected]

We are looking for writers to cover the Winnipeg Jets, Manitoba Moose, The Winnipeg ICE, Manitoba Bisons, Winnipeg AAA, MJHL, MMJHL, KIJHL, and Winnipeg High School or any sports team in town.

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
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Winnipeg Jets Fans: You Pick Your Team

June 12, 2021 by

Hey Winnipeg Jets fans.  It’s your team, you pick it.  Everybody has their favourites and their whipping boys so take this opportunity to pick your Jets team for next season.

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Winnipeg Jets Options and Thoughts For Next Season

June 9, 2021 by

Winnipeg Jets changes and possible improvements –

I would like to see the Winnipeg Jets start developing more players on their roster and if that means 4th line deployment so be it.  Roster blocking young players like David Gustafsson, Ville Heinola, Jansen Harkins, and Kristian Vesalainen for aging veterans like Nate Thompson, Trevor Lewis, and Jordie Benn makes no sense. 

Paul Maurice gets criticized for leaning on his aging vets but if Chevy keeps enabling him by signing and/or trading for these types of players Paul Maurice will continue to play them.  So, who is really to blame? 

To be fair I thought Lewis and Thompson did a pretty decent job on the fourth line BUT did they really move the needle enough and were they difference makers?  Hell no.

A fourth line of Gustafsson, Harkins, Vesalainen/Perreault could have probably done the same job while earning valuable experience. 

New vision:  Coaching 

Based on Mark Chipman’s history of loyalty I’ve resigned myself to the fact that the Winnipeg Jets will keep the status quo and Kevin Cheveldayoff and Paul Maurice will be back next season, but how long is their leash?  I feel both should be on a short leash but probably more so the coach. 

This team is in dire need of a new system.  Paul Maurice needs to implement a system that doesn’t revolve around Connor Hellebuyck facing the most high danger chance in the league and having to make 30 plus saves a every night. 

The system is problematic.  This hybrid man to man system and chasing their check all over the defensive zone looks confusing and it is not working.  Too many players have their backs to the puck while following a man who isn’t a threat.  Maybe this group can’t execute it, whatever, it is not working.

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Paul Maurice’s biggest problem is his infatuation with 35-year-old plugs, he needs to start teaching and trusting the younger players in the organisation.  It was a criminal that Ville Heinola and David Gustafsson were in the AHL and Jansen Harkins was used so sparingly.

Today’s young players are different than young players 20 years ago.  Some of these kids are already playing prominent roles 2-3 years into the league and a lot of them are NHL ready coming right out of junior or college.  Some only need only a half season at the AHL level.  Paul Maurice needs to adapt his thinking on the organisation’s youth.

New vision:  GM

I’m tend to be harder on the GM than I am on the coach but I will concede that Kevin Cheveldayoff might have one of the hardest jobs in the NHL.  Chevy has to contend with no movement clauses, warm weather franchises, and teams that play in States with no State Taxes.  Jets fans were clamoring for him to sign UFA Alex Pietrangelo last summer but was there ever a chance he could have lured Alex Pietrangelo to Winnipeg?  HELL NO.

Of course I have no idea what goes on behind closed doors but Chevy has to be more pro-active and set his sights on trade targets and latch on to him/them like a dog on a bone.  Waiting and hoping for prices to drop around the trade deadline isn’t working.  Overpay if need be, especially if you’re getting the man you want. 

Winnipeg’s fans are smart enough and will understand that’s the price of doing business in this market.  Chevy is a typical Winnipeger, trying to get things wholesale and shopping from the bargain bin.  Enough of the Thompsons, Bitettos, Letestus, and Bourques.

Toronto and Montreal signed older veterans players like Jason Spezza, Cory Perry, and Eric Staal but they were front-line players in their prime not career 4th-liners.  That kind of veteran depth is acceptable and especially at playoff time.

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When it comes to free agency the only way to attract big time free agents is to throw money at them.  It doesn’t cost you assets from your roster, it’s only money.  Yes, this will be tough with a flat cap but so be it.  Figure it out.  If you think a player will move the needle on your roster go get him. 

This might be perceived as a naive notion but the status quo isn’t working.  There isn’t one team that’s ever won a Stanley Cup by just drafting and developing.  D and D is a big part of building a championship team along with trades that improve the team using picks and prospect currency then and augmented with significant UFA signings.  This is a must and Kevin Cheveldayoff has a marginal grade in his trading and and a losing grade in his UFA acquisitions. 

Next season’s roster:

We don’t know who we are protecting and/or losing to Seattle in the expansion draft so let’s just go with what we know now.  Same with trade and UFA targets.  I’ll throw a couple names out there just for conversation.    

 Untouchables: 

  • Connor Hellebuyck 
  • Nikolaj Ehlers
  • Mark Scheifele

Almost untouchable:

  • Pierre-Luc Dubois
  • Ville Heinola
  • Cole Perfetti
  • Dylan Samberg
  • Adam Lowry
  • Kyle Connor … I would be open to shopping him and reinvesting that money. $7,142,857 for 5 more seasons is a lot of money for a one dimensional player that is a defensive liability AND disappears when the games get heavy.  In saying this he is still a very good offensive player and maybe he matures and develops/improves his 200 foot game.  Either way he is still a prime asset.
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UFA targets: 

  • Dougie Hamilton … I’m dreaming but offer him $9,000,000 – $10,000,000.
  • Brandon Montour
  • Mike Reilly
  • Adam Larsson
  • David Savard
  • Jamie Oleksiak

Trade Targets:

  • Seth Jones … with the intention of extending, sign and trade. (I’m not buying into his poor analytics)
  • Josh Manson 
  • Mattais Ekholm … with the intention of extending, sign and trade.   

Lose one to Seattle and/or move and reinvest these dollars:

  • Blake Wheeler … overpaid at $8,250,000 for 3 more seasons but I don’t think he is done yet.   
  • Josh Morrissey … $6,250,000 for 7 more seasons … although I’m fine with bringing him back.
  • Mason Appleton
  • Sami Niku

Re-sign: 

  • Andrew Copp (26-RFA) … if he he doesn’t price himself out of the market. 
  • Laurent Brossoit (28- UFA) … Michail Berdin isn’t ready yet.
  • Neal Pionk (25-RFA) … no-brainer.

Bring back:

  • Dylan DeMelo … borderline untouchable.
  • Jansen Harkins
  • Logan Stanley … major surprise, made great strides.
  • Kristian Vesalainen 

On the fence:

  • Tucker Poolman (27-UFA) … Wait and see and only resign at depth defenceman money.
  • Paul Stastny (35-UFA) … I might re-sign Stastny but it would need to be at a much reduced number. He would be an excellent mentor for Cole Perfetti.
  • Mathieu Perreault (33-UFA) … I have a lot of time for MP.  Try and re-sign on a two-way contract around $1,000,000 or offer him a position within the org.  I could see him working for TNSE in the future. 

Drop back and kick:

  Thank-you for your service but it is time to play the kids. 

  • Nate Thompson (36-UFA)
  • Trevor Lewis (34-UFA)
  • Jordie Benn (33-UFA)
  • Dominic Toninato (27-UFA) … maybe bring him back on a 2-way deal. (UPDATE: Resigned for 2 years)
  • Derek Forbort (29-UFA)
  • Nathan Beaulieu … one more year left at $1,250,000. Should be a buyout candidate but won’t be.

Final thought:

After the dust settles and we analyze this Winnipeg Jets team there is still a lot to like.  It is far, far from a perfect team but it is definitely fixable. 

Paul Maurice needs to adapt and Kevin Cheveldayoff will need to have the best off-season in his tenure as Winnipeg’s GM because next year in the Central Division will be no picnic.  

Colorado, St. Louis, and Minnesota will probably be in the top 3 with improving teams like Dallas, Chicago, Nashville, and Arizona knocking on the door as well.

Readers thoughts:

Please fire off the names of some trade targets and UFAs you would like to see here.  I listed a couple off the top of my head but there is many more options out there.

Post or reply in the comment section.

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Random Thoughts On The Winnipeg Jets: June 7

June 7, 2021 by

Mitch Kasprick is the “Motown Curmudgeon” aka “Motown Mitch”

Odds and Ends, Thoughts and Questions, from this past week in hockey –

Just so there’s no confusion when I’m spewing my bias, I am a fan of the Winnipeg Jets, Arizona Coyotes, Manitoba Moose, Winnipeg Ice, and all Team Canada Hockey teams.

I am NOT a fan of Gary Bettman or as I call him, Count Chocula.  I am a big believer in the 7Ps. You’ve been warned. 

2021 MEN’S WORLD HOCKEY CHAMPIONS

CONGRATS to Cole Perfetti on a winning a Gold Medal with Team Canada.

Perfetti had a breakout season in the AHL and also received a Silver Medal at the World Juniors. 

1. Jets:  They say you’re not in trouble in a playoff series until you lose two home games.  Well the Winnipeg Jets are officially in trouble.  To make matters worse they were outmuscled and outworked in game three and are now on the brink of elimination.  I can’t believe this team completely collapsed just because they’re missing Mark Scheifele and Dylan DeMelo.  This team obviously has deeper issues starting with the GM, the coaching, and the players but we’ll look at that in the future. 

I had no illusions or delusions about this Winnipeg Jets team winning the Stanley Cup this season, they are a very flawed team but man I really want to win the Scotia North Division and see that banner hanging in the home barn.

The first round sweep of Edmonton will get me through the off-season though. 

UPDATE:

The Winnipeg Jets went down in game 4 with barely a whimper.  Thanks to 2 goals by Logan Stanley and a stellar effort by Connor Hellebuyck they actually got this game to overtime but it was over within the first two minutes.  It was a pathetic display considering the Jets were playing for their lives.  In a game where they somehow got to overtime and had a chance to win it was undoubtedly their worst effort in the playoffs.  They were outshot 42-16 and were outmuscled and outworked in both ends of the ice. 

THE SWEEPERS GOT SWEPT.    

2. Jets:  The big news this past week was the Mark Scheifele suspension.   

What is your reaction to the Mark Scheifele's 4-game suspension?

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3. Jets:  Kyle Connor MIA again.  Not only is he lost in the defensive side of the game, he is completely lost without Mark Scheifele.  I’ve always said he was line-mate dependent and he earned a juicy $7,142,857 per season riding Mark Scheifele’s coat tails.  Ditto, Blake Wheeler with 3 more years at $8,250,000 per season.

4. Jets:  FYI:  The Winnipeg Jets were 6-3-0 vs the Montreal Canadiens in the regular season and the Habs were 3-3-3 vs the Jets BUT the Jets were 4-1 vs Jake Allen and only 2-2 vs Carey Price.  

5. Jets:  Poll Question:  Should Chevy cut a deal with Seattle GM Ron Francis so the Jets don’t lose a player off their roster in the expansion draft?  In the 2017 Vegas expansion draft the Jets and Vegas cut a deal where the Golden Knights would select Chris Thorburn’s expiring contract.  In the deal they flip-flopped 1st rounders with Winnipeg acquiring the 24th pick (from Vegas, from Columbus) in the 2017 NHL Draft in exchange for the 13th pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, and the Jets third-round selection in 2019. 

FYI:  If the Jets don’t cut this deal with Vegas they might have taken Nick Suzuki instead of trading down and getting Kristian Vesalainen.  It’s too early to call this deal but the early returns certainly favour Suzuki. 

Will Chevy or should Chevy cut a deal with Seattle GM Ron Francis so the Jets don't lose a player in the expansion draft?

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6. IIHF:  Quarter-final – The Team Canada upset win over the heavily favoured Russian team was one of the highlights of the week for me.  Canadian hockey players never fail to amaze me how they can band together and do the impossible at times.     

7. Jets:  Kyle Connor’s fly-by on the only goal scored in game two just magnifies how important every little play is in a game and especially the playoffs.  It is quite well documented that KC is not a good defensive player but his lack of commitment to the defensive part of the game is worrisome for me.  He reminds me a lot of Blake Wheeler in the early days.  Wheeler really changed and improved his 200 foot game so maybe there is some hope for KC but I doubt it.       

8. Jets:  When Dylan DeMelo is out of the lineup you really notice how important he is to Josh Morrissey and this Winnipeg Jets team.  It takes a lot of pressure off Tucker Poolman who looks a lot better in the Jets third defence pairing.  Poolman just can’t handle first pairing match-ups and minutes.  It also brings Chevy’s big trade deadline acquisition Jordy Benn into the lineup and he is basically useless.   

9. IIHF:  Semi-final – Team Canada once again pulled off the upset in beating a very good Team USA squad 4-2 and guaranteeing themselves at least a silver medal.  Nobody had them in the Gold Medal game after starting 0-3 but here they are.  Since the arrival of Andrew Mangiapane this has been a different team.

10. Jets:  I’ve liked a lot of Pierre-Luc Dubois’s game, he does a lot of good, subtle things but I’ve reached the point where I need to see more.  It’s playoff time and like most Jets fans, I’m running out of patience.  

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11. IIHF:  The women’s world hockey championship will take place this summer in Calgary after the event was cancelled in Nova Scotia earlier this year.  The 10-country tournament will take place Aug. 20-31 at WinSport Arena at Canada Olympic Park.  I am a big fan of women’s international hockey, this will be much better than that Dream Gap Tour that was played in May.  Finally some women’s hockey I can get interested in.

12. NHL:  Key dates.

  • May 15 – Playoffs begin
  • June 2 – NHL Draft Lottery (Buffalo won)
  • July 15 – The latest the Stanley Cup can be awarded
  • July 17 – Expansion draft protection lists tentatively due
  • July 21 – Expansion draft
  • July 23-24 – 2021 NHL Entry Draft
  • July 28 – Free agency opens

13. Jets:  Is Paul Maurice’s or Kevin Cheveldayoff’s job in jeopardy?

UPDATE:

After sweeping the Edmonton Oilers I thought the brain trust probably earned some good will and saved their jobs for another season BUT this brutal showing versus Montreal has put BOTH CHEVY and POMO right back on the hot seat.  It is going to be an interesting off-season.  I think it’s time to clean house but that’s just me.  Please vote on our poll question.

After being swept in the second round by Montreal should heads roll?

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14. MJHL:  Congrats to Niverville on being awarded a MJHL expansion franchise for the 2022-23 season.  

15. Jets:  Playoff Schedule

1. Wednesday June 2 vs Montreal 6:30 PM  (L 5-3) 

2. Friday  June 4 vs Montreal 6:30 PM (L 1-0) 

3. Sunday June 6 at Montreal 5:00 PM (L 5-1) 

4. Monday June 7 at Montreal 7:00 PM 

5. Wednesday June 9 vs Montreal (if necessary)

6. Friday June 11 at Montreal (if necessary)

7. Sunday June 13 vs Montreal (if necessary)

16. NHL:  Watching some of these post-game Zoom press conferences and some of the questions some journalists ask make me shake my head.  If you can’t come up with an intelligent question maybe just STFU.  My god there are some idiots out there.  How do you feel after losing in triple overtime?  Really?     

17. Jets:  Special Teams: Rule of thumb. Have the two red numbers (PK and PP) total at least 100% when added (as your minimum).  I also base the movement (up or down) on the % and not the NHL ranking.

Playoff numbers:

After round one:

  • PP:  30.00% 
  • PK: 81.80%  
  • FO: 54.60%

Current:

  • PP: 16.70% …. gave up 2 short handed goals.
  • PK: 79.20% …. scored 1 short handed goal.  
  • FO: 53.20% …. Andrew Copp has had a great playoff in the faceoff circle 

18. IIHF:  Final –  IT IS OVER …. CANADA 3  Finland 2 in overtime … GOLD MEDAL

Ottawa Senators forward Nick Paul with the GOLDEN GOAL.

This may be one of the most unexpected Gold Medals in Canadian Hockey history and Team Canada didn’t take the easy route either.  In the quarter-finals they were heavy underdogs versus Russia, in the semi-final the were underdogs versus the Americans, and in the final they were slight underdogs versus Finland.  Never, never, never, underestimate Canadian heart.  Take note Chevy.

FYI:  In game 4 of the Winnipeg/Montreal series the Winnipeg Jets had FIVE Canadians in their lineup and Les Habitants had THIRTEEN.

19. Goaltending:

After round one:

  • Conner Hellebuyck:  4-0-0 … 1.60 GAA … .950 SV% 
  • Laurent Brossoit:  0-0-0 … 0.00 GAA … .000 SV%

Current:

  • Conner Hellebuyck:  4-3-0 … 2.23 GAA … .931 SV% Helle can’t do it alone. 
  • Laurent Brossoit:  0-0-0 … 0.00 GAA … .000 SV%

20. IIHF:  Hockey Canada has had a pretty good year to date with one more major event to come in August. 

  • 2021 IIHF U18 World Championship – GOLD
  • 2021 IIHF U20 World Championship – SILVER
  • 2021 IIHF Men’s World Championship – GOLD

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In memory of my friend Darryl Manchulenko.

If you have any questions, please give me a shout. You can use the comment section or use the #ASKWHTPOD hashtag on Twitter.

If you like our new format, let us know in the comment section or hit me on Twitter at WpgSportsTalk or WpgHockTalk

If you are interested in writing for Winnipeg Sports Talk or if you know somebody interested, please contact us at:

[email protected]

We are looking for writers to cover the Winnipeg Jets, Manitoba Moose, The Winnipeg ICE, Manitoba Bisons, Winnipeg AAA, MJHL, MMJHL, KIJHL, and Winnipeg High School or any sports team in town.

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
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Random Thoughts On The Winnipeg Jets: May 31

May 31, 2021 by

Mitch Kasprick is the “Motown Curmudgeon” aka “Motown Mitch”

Odds and Ends, Thoughts and Questions, from this past week in hockey –

Just so there’s no confusion when I’m spewing my bias, I am a fan of the Winnipeg Jets, Arizona Coyotes, Manitoba Moose, Winnipeg Ice, and all Team Canada Hockey teams.

I am NOT a fan of Gary Bettman or as I call him, Count Chocula.  I am a big believer in the 7Ps. You’ve been warned. 

Four Game Sweep 

1. NHL:  First and foremost, Winnipeg Hockey Talk stands with Ethan Bear.  There is no need to attack a person’s ethnicity over a hockey play.  I’m not going to pin this on Oiler’s fans only, there are IDIOTS in every market.  C’mon people, we’re better than this.

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2. Jets:  The nice thing about the Habs/Leafs series going seven games is that it gave me an extra week to revel in the Jets FOUR-GAME SWEEP of the Edmonton McDavids.   

3. Jets:  It was 10 years ago today when Mark Chipman changed the landscape of hockey in Winnipeg with these words and I still get shivers up and down my spine hearing them.  Whenever I get pissed off with the team I just think of this day.

“Today, on behalf of my family, our partner David Thomson and our entire organization, I am excited beyond words to announce our purchase of the Atlanta Thrashers.” 

THANK-YOU MARK CHIPMAN.

4. Jets:  I guess it’s just basic, simple math.  TWO Connors are better than one.

5. Jets:  Poll Question:  Should Chevy cut a deal with Seattle GM Ron Francis so the Jets don’t lose a player off their roster in the expansion draft?  In the 2017 Vegas expansion draft the Jets and Vegas cut a deal where the Golden Knights would select Chris Thorburn’s expiring contract.  In the deal they flip-flopped 1st rounders with Winnipeg acquiring the 24th pick (from Vegas, from Columbus) in the 2017 NHL Draft in exchange for the 13th pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, and the Jets third-round selection in 2019.  

Will Chevy or should Chevy cut a deal with Seattle GM Ron Francis so the Jets don't lose a player in the expansion draft?

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6. NHL:  Thanks a lot for another back-to-back.  Complete BS.  

7. Jets:  Yes, the Oilers were in every game of their FOUR-GAME SWEEP and yes the series was close but you know what, it was a FOUR-GAME SWEEP. (see #3)    

8. Jets:  The Winnipeg Jets top line had a pretty good series vs Edmonton and it reminded me of the way they played against Nashville in 2018.  Is it any coincidence that Paul Stastny was on that team and he took the pressure off of the top line.  Stastny completely changes the dynamic of this team.    

9. Jets:  When this team is healthy at forward I think this might be the best bottom six we’ve ever had.  The Andrew Copp, Adam Lowry, Mason Appleton line has been a constant but the fourth line guys, Nate Thompson, Trevor Lewis, Mathieu Perreault, and Jansen Harkins have played meaningful minutes and occasionally chip in offensively.   

10. Jets:  Nikolaj “don’t call me Nik” Ehlers only played two games in the Oilers series but he sure left his mark and especially in game 3 with a key PP goal and a beauty snipe in OT.  If the Jets are going to win the Scotia or North or Canadian Division I think the key will be Paul Stastny, Nikolaj Ehlers, and Pierre-Luc Dubois.  Ehlers is still the best kept secret in all of the NHL.

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11. Jets:  Next year’s blueline could have a whole new look with Dylan Samberg and Ville Heinola expected to make the jump to the big team.  With the emergence of Logan Stanley (RFA) it could be crowded back there and that’s not including UFAs Tucker Poolman, Derek Forbort, and Jordie Benn.  Also returning for next season are Josh Morrissey, Dylan DeMelo, Sami Niku, and Neal Pionk (RFA) and the forgotten piece Nate Beaulieu.  That is seven returning not counting the UFAs.  Chevy has some wheeling and dealing to do.  This fanbase won’t stand for another year without Heinola and Samberg.  You know on July 28 that Chevy is going to offer Poolman and Forbort contracts because that’s what this team does and we are going to have a pissed off fanbase.  I looked into my crystal ball and it was very cloudy.    

12. NHL:  Key dates.

  • May 15 – Playoffs begin
  • June 2 – NHL Draft Lottery
  • July 15 – The latest the Stanley Cup can be awarded
  • July 17 – Expansion draft protection lists tentatively due
  • July 21 – Expansion draft
  • July 23-24 – 2021 NHL Entry Draft
  • July 28 – Free agency opens

13. Jets:  Is Paul Maurice’s or Kevin Cheveldayoff’s job in jeopardy?

UPDATE:

I think the answer to the poll question is moot now.  After a FOUR-GAME SWEEP I think the coach and GM are safe, much to the dismay of the vocal minority.

After being swept in the second round by Montreal should heads roll?

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14. Jets:  I’ve been asked many times over the past week who my preference is for the Jets opponents next round.  For me it’s a case of be careful what you wish for but I’ve said all along that I think the Jets might match up better with Toronto.  It will be tough whether it is Toronto or Montreal but if the Jets play to their capabilities they can beat either team.  I just hope the Oiler series wasn’t their Stanley Cup.  

UPDATE:

It’s the Habs.

15. Jets:  Playoff Schedule

1. Wednesday June 2 vs Montreal 6:30 PM 

2. Friday  June 4 vs Montreal 6:30 PM 

3. Sunday June 6 at Montreal 5:00 PM 

4. Monday June 7 at Montreal 7:00 PM 

5. Wednesday June 9 vs Montreal (if necessary)

6. Friday June 11 at Montreal (if necessary)

7. Sunday June 13 vs Montreal (if necessary)

16. Jets:  I don’t think it is a coincidence that since being paired with Dylan DeMelo, Josh Morrissey is playing his best hockey of the season.      

17. Jets:  Special Teams: Rule of thumb. Have the two red numbers (PK and PP) total at least 100% when added (as your minimum).  I also base the movement (up or down) on the % and not the NHL ranking.

Playoff rankings:  Canadian Division

  • PP: 1st at 30.00% 
  • PK: 3rd at 81.80  
  • FO: 1st at 54.60

18. Jets:  Now I remember why I despise the Edmonton Oilers so much and this incarnation of the Oilers isn’t much different than their predecessors.  They are both arrogant and classless.  I never heard one Oiler’s player on the podium give the Winnipeg Jets credit for their series win, all I heard were excuses and how they could could have won every game in their FOUR-GAME SWEEP. 

19. Goaltending:

Playoff stats:

  • Conner Hellebuyck:  4-0-0 … 1.60 GAA … .950 SV% 
  • Laurent Brossoit:  0-0-0 … 0.00 GAA … .000 SV%

20. PWHPA:  The Secret Dream Gap Tour tournament was being broadcast on Sportsnet this past week and I tried watching parts of a couple games but I couldn’t get into it.  I love women’s hockey at the international level but these games are hard to watch.  The quality of play isn’t very good and these girls are going to have a hard time convincing anybody to pay money to watch them on a regular basis and make this a viable career option.  The dream is just that, a dream.

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In memory of my friend Darryl Manchulenko.

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Thanks, Mitch
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