Jan. 26 Random Thoughts on the Winnipeg Jets

Please join host Harley Friesen and Winnipeg Hockey Talk owner/writer Mitch Kasprick for a more in-depth discussion of these Random Thoughts on the Winnipeg Jets, Manitoba Moose, and the National Hockey League on our new WHT YouTube channel here >>>> https://www.youtube.com/@WpgHockTalk  LIVE every Monday at 7:00 pm.  

Program Change:  Harley and Mitch will be LIVE on YouTube at NOON on Monday

1. Jets:  The Winnipeg Jets went 1-2-1 this past week, and their record sits at a very underwhelming 20-24-7, ten points out of the playoffs.  The team now heads out on a 4-game road trip in some tough buildings, NJ, Tampa, Florida, and then Dallas.  Good Luck.

#NHLJets Head Coach Scott Arniel postgame: “That was one of the most embarrassing games for me in the last month” pic.twitter.com/en4A5qRfWK

— Winnipeg Sports Talk (@SportsTalkWPG) January 25, 2026

2. Jets:  As the games get tougher, Kyle Connor doesn’t get tougher, he just gets tougher to watch.  His disappearing acts are getting tiresome to watch.

3. Jets:  Elias Salomonsson looked very poised this past week, and I wonder where he slots in on the Jets’ upcoming 4-game road trip.  You can see his confidence growing game by game.  Salomonsson is starting to jump into the play and create a bit.  He looks good, and although the sample size is small, I’d say his AHL days are numbered, and Chevy can start moving guys out (Schenn).

4. Jets:  From the “Put that in your pipe and smoke it” file.  

Even though he is one of my all-time faves, explain to me why I’m supposed to give a crap that Buff is playing in the Heritage Classic Alumni Game?  Until I can understand why, he quit on his team at the start of training camp, seemingly out of nowhere, I’m going to remain ambivalent until the truth comes out.  I’m not ready to embrace a player who really screwed his team and his fans, so put that in your pipe and smoke it.

5. Jets:  The drop-off in scoring on the Jets after the “Big Four” is staggering, and it’s no wonder this team is where it is in the standings so far this year.

6. Jets:  It was only 2 games, but Issac Phillips showed me he could compete for or join in the rotation for 5/6, 3rd pair defenceman.  His skating is okay, he makes good reads, makes the simple plays, and adds some size and edge to the backend.

7. Moose:  The Manitoba Moose split a pair of home games last week and their record sits at 20-15-3-0 as they sit comfortably in 3rd place in the 7-team Central Division with a winning percentage of .566.  The good news is that prospect finally scored a big goal as Brad Lambert scored the winner Sunday afternoon in the final minute of the 3rd period.  It looks like the Moose might be Winnipeg’s only playoff hope.

8. Jets:  Is it maybe time to give another Moose forward a look? 

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9. Jets:  As of Monday morning, the Jets’ chances of making the playoffs are sitting at a paltry 5.6%, basically slim and none and slim just left town.  As you can see, the percentage fluctuates daily, whether the team plays or not; however, the days following games exhibit larger fluctuations.  

10. Things that make me go hmmm: #1 🤔 Why is it that Cole Koepke always seems to draw the short straw when it comes to lineup decisions by Scott Arniel?  Sitting Nyquist is a given, but I like Koepke’s speed in the game.  It wouldn’t break my heart to see Vlad, or Pearson, or even Nino join the popcorn brigade here and there.  

11. 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: 18th at 19.90%, up from 21st at 19.50% last week (net 15th at 18.40%)*
• PK: 17th at 79.50%, up from 19th at 78.60% last week (net 14th at 82.70%)*
• FO: 12th at 50.60%, down from 11th at 50.80% last week

12. Jets:  Goaltending:

• Connor Hellebuyck:  12-14-6 … 2.69 GAA … .902 SV%
• Eric Comrie:  8-9-1 … 3.19 GAA … .888 SV%

13. Jets:  The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly this past week.

• Good:  Logan Stanley is playing at a level that no one could have imagined at this time last season.
• Bad:  The goals at even strength have completely dried up. 
• Ugly:  The Jets played 4 games this past week, and they scored TWO goals at even strength.  TWO in 12 periods of hockey.  

14. Jets:  Old adage time: This week’s old adage is very pertinent concerning the Winnipeg Jets.  “One game at a time.”

15. Things that make me go hmmm: #2 🤔 I often wonder why trading pending UFAs or trading at the trade deadline seems to trigger a narrative that a team is either a buyer (bulking up for a playoff run) or a seller (basically giving up on the season).  Why can’t you be both?  Example:  If the Jets trade pending free agents Luke Schenn and/or Logan Stanley, what do you think it means?  Are they giving up on the season?  

Please join host Harley Friesen and Winnipeg Hockey Talk owner/writer Mitch Kasprick for a more in-depth discussion of these Random Thoughts on the Winnipeg Jets, Manitoba Moose, and the National Hockey League on our new WHT YouTube channel here >>>> https://www.youtube.com/@WpgHockTalk   LIVE every Monday at 7:00 pm.  

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