Mitch Kasprick is now the “Westdale Curmudgeon.”
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, Manitoba Moose, 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, or is it the 8Ps? You’ve been warned.
For a more in-depth look at these Random Thoughts, check out the new WHT YouTube channel.
https://www.youtube.com/@WpgHockTalk
Host Harley Friesen and Winnipeg Hockey Talk writer Mitch Kasprick discuss his Random Thoughts on the Winnipeg Jets, Manitoba Moose, and the National Hockey League.
Watch WHT’s YouTube show here >>> https://youtu.be/gsFpDc79Kxw
1. Jets: The Winnipeg Jets are halfway through their six-game Western road trip and went 0 for California and looked like crap doing it. The only way they can salvage this road trip is by winning the last 3 games. That won’t happen, only scoring 2 goals in 3 games.
2. Jets: Adam Lowry returned to the lineup on Thursday night vs LA, and Cole Perfetti drew back in against Anaheim last night, but they will probably need a few more games to be difference-makers. The player this team needs back desperately is Dylan Samberg.
3. Jets: It is really frustrating staying up late and watching your team crap the bed, scoring only 2 goals in 3 games, plus I really hate going to bed pissed off.
4. Jets: From the “Put that in your pipe and smoke it” file.
Josh Morrissey has been a little off in his own end lately, but he’s actually playing decently. That’ll happen when you have to play both positions on defence. Obviously, I’m not happy with the play of Dylan DeMelo, and I haven’t been for a long time. I’m tired of hearing about his good plus/minus or his positive Corsi numbers. You could put a chimp with Josh, and he’d have positive numbers. Right now, he is an anchor in that top pairing. I’m not buying into the DeMelo rhetoric anymore; it was warranted at one time, but not anymore, so put that in your pipe and smoke it.
5. Jets: Connor Hellebuyck’s wandering and poor puck handling are starting to rear their ugly head again.
It looks like I might have to go look for Helle’s shock collar.
— Winnipeg Hockey Talk (@WpgHockTalk) November 8, 2025
6. Jets: Question for Kevin Cheveldayoff: How much of Steven Stamkos’ 3 x $8,000,000 contract would Nashville have to eat for you to take him off their hands? His talents are just rotting away there. He sure would look good alongside Jonathan Toews and Cole Perfetti.
7. Jets: Games against young, skating teams like the San Jose Sharks and Anaheim Ducks can really expose slower players like Dylan DeMelo, Luke Schenn, and Logan Stanley. DeMelo was beyond awful in both of those games.
8. Moose: The Manitoba Moose are 4-6-2-0 after their first dozen games and are in 14th place in the 17-team Western Conference. Their biggest issue is a lack of scoring. Ville Heinola only has 2 points, and is the runaway leader with a -14 plus/minus. Wow, how the mighty have fallen.
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9. Jets: I posted this in the 3rd period during the Sharks game on Friday night.
Without exaggerating I’ve seen at least 7 or 8 SJ penalties go uncalled. A Sharks player just ripped Iafallo’s stick out of his hands 5 feet from the official. WTF
— Winnipeg Hockey Talk (@WpgHockTalk) November 8, 2025
10. Jets: I can’t imagine how I would react if the Jets lost a home game 9-1. Oiler fans and Conner McDavid were livid after being thumped 9-1 by the visiting Colorado Avalanche on Saturday night.
11. Jets: WHT Poll
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12. Jets: Special Teams: Rule of thumb. Have the power play and penalty kill (PK and PP) numbers total at least 100% when added (as your minimum).
- PP: 13th at 20.00% down from 8th at 21.60%
- PK: 6th at 86.90% down from 5th 89.40%
- FO: 8th at 52.70% down from 6th at 53.10%
13. Jets: Goaltending:
- Connor Hellebuyck: 6-5-0 … 2.30 GAA … .922 SV%
- Eric Comrie: 3-1-0 … 2.75 GAA … .908 SV%
14. Jets: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly this past week.
- Good: Jonathon Toews is looking better and better every game, but needs some help; hopefully, Cole Perfetti is the answer.
- Bad: Helle is starting to make poor decisions with the puck again, causing angst amongst his defencemen. (see #5)
- Ugly: Four 2-on-1s in one period!!!! UGLY!!!!
The Jets gave up Not 1, Not 2, Not 3, BUT 4, YES 4 two-on-ones in Not 3, Not 2, but 1 period, the 1st period in Anaheim. I think it is time for a Herb Brookes special BAG SKATE … AGAIN … AGAIN … AGAIN … AGAIN … AGAIN … AGAIN … AGAIN … AGAIN pic.twitter.com/OFXAMgzAnT
— Winnipeg Hockey Talk (@WpgHockTalk) November 10, 2025
15. Things that make me go hmmm:
With the Winter Olympics fast approaching, many are wondering what the Russian athletes and/or teams will be called. In 1992, they were called the Unified Team. In 2018, they were called the “Olympic Athletes from Russia” (OAR). At the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, Russian athletes competed under the name of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) and at the 2024 Summer Games in Paris, these athletes were referred to as Individual Neutral Athletes (AIN). Whether you like the Russians or not, I miss them in International competitions, even though those commies are rotten, cheating, bastards. LOL
16. PWHL: The Professional Women’s Hockey League announced that Canada Life Centre will host one of the 16 neutral-site games in the expanded 2025-26 “PWHL Takeover Tour”. The Winnipeg game will feature the MONTRÉAL VICTOIRE and the OTTAWA CHARGE on Sunday, March 22 at 6 p.m.
This tour brings many of the top women’s hockey players in the world to cities across North America, giving fans a chance to experience the competitiveness of the PWHL’s regular season in their own communities.
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