Mar. 23 Random Thoughts on the Winnipeg Jets

March 23, 2026 by

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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1. Jets:  The Winnipeg Jets went 1-1-2 this past week and earned points in 3 of 4 games but still sit at “Count Chocula’s” bogus .500 at 29-29-12.  The boys are still five points out of the playoffs with 12 games remaining in the regular season and still kicking at the cat but it’s getting tougher because they’re running out of games.

2. Jets:  I would say Brad Lambert had his best week as a professional hockey player. He really looked like he belonged.

3. Things that make me go hmmm #1 🤔:  I can only sit here and dream about the day the Jets defence corp is Josh Morrissey, Elias Salomonsson, Dylan Samberg, Alfonz Freij, Isaak Phillips, Sascha Boumedienne, and Terrell Bauer.  Speed, size, skill, and toughness. 

4. Jets:  The Jets have a terrible habit of puck-watching, and even when their man is marked, it’s always a split second too late, and it results in a great scoring chance or a goal, and it always happens when the puck is behind the net.  Every team does it, but I think the Jets do it more than any other NHL team.

5. Pet Peeve:  The Winnipeg Jets 2.0 only seem to make roster decisions because of injuries and not because of great roster management or decisions that were for the best of the team.  This franchise seems incapable of promoting prospects on time.  For a team that prides itself as a draft and develop team, they sure are piss-poor at it. 

6. Jets:  I’m going to admit something, but don’t tell anyone.  I was actually happy to see Neil Pionk back in the lineup on Saturday vs Pittsburgh because I missed his compete level.

Embed from Getty Images

7. PWHL:  The Ottawa Charge defeated the Montreal Victoire 2-1 in overtime in front of 15,225 fans at Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg on Sunday night. This was the first PWHL game ever played in Winnipeg, and I can’t help but wonder if the purpose of these “PWHL TAKEOVER TOUR” games is to audition for potential expansion teams in the future.

8. Jets:  Question for Scott Arniel:  Have you considered giving Brad Lambert a shot with KC and Scheif?

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9. Things that make me go hmmm #2 🤔:  Things that make me go hmmm.  It’s been a few games since Brad Lambert’s call-up, and based on his play with the big club, I don’t understand why his numbers are so underwhelming at the AHL level.  It might be time for a complete review from top to bottom on how this organisation is developing their prospects.  I always thought the job of a primary farm team was to develop their prospects, not career AHLers.

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

In the past, I have said right here in this forum that I miss the Russians in international hockey tournaments, BUT that in no way means I think they should be included in said events.  Russian players make a good living playing in the NHL, and like it or not, they have a platform to speak out on what is happening in Ukraine, but I believe there has only been one player who has, and that is not acceptable.  Is it because they are all Putin supporters, or is it because they fear retribution for themselves or their families?  Either way, that tells you something about their leader and why they should speak out.  So, as long as lives are being lost in Ukraine because of the war, they shouldn’t be allowed to play in international events, and if the NHL had any balls, they’d ban them from playing as well.  It’s time Gary Bettman and the owners made a stand, so put that in your pipe and smoke it.

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: 23rd at 18.00% (net 21st at 16.50%)
  • PK: 19th at 78.80% (net 17th at 81.90%)
  • FO: 13th at 50.80%

12. Jets:  Goaltending:

  • Connor Hellebuyck:  17-19-11 … 2.85 GAA … .897 SV%
  • Eric Comrie:  12-9-1 … 2.85 GAA … .897 SV%

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

  • Good:  The play of the Morgan Barron line. 
  • Bad:  Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor had a rough week.
  • Ugly:  The Jets have a terrible habit of puck-watching, and even when their man is marked, it’s always a split second too late, and it results in a great scoring chance or a goal, and it always happens when the puck is behind the net.  Every team does it, but I think the Jets do it more than any other NHL team.

14. Jets: Tidbits and FYIs:

  • The Jets played their last 3 road games in 65 hours.
  • Adam Lowry scored his first goal in 26 games on Sunday vs NYR.
  • Dylan DeMelo got benched after just two shifts on Saturday in Pittsburgh.
  • The Jets’ #2 PP has a much better look since the trade deadline.
  • Eric Comrie has won his last 6 starts and has a new career high of 12 wins.

15. WHT on X:  All of these were from Saturday during and after a frustrating shootout loss vs the Pens.

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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Comments

  1. Hartman says
    March 24, 2026 at 1:20 am

    Ever since last years playoffs, it seems to me that Hellibuckie has one of the worst glove hands in the league and I’ve been watching his play all this season and still think the same. Every team in the league has the book on him and given the opportunity, players shoot for the top corner glove side. He waves his glove at each passing TR corner shot, but wind burn is evident on his face.

    The man also needs a dog shock collar around his neck to keep him away from behind the net, against a charging offensive player. Helli then panics, flopping the puck around the corner to another opposition player and tries scrambling back to the front while simultaneously trying to pull his pants back up.

    Helli may have been a Vesna man, but Comraie has stats as good as his, and all for $850,000 compared to Helli’s $8.5 million a year. How many top notch forwards/defense players could we get in exchange for him on a trade? Our goals for vs against are pathetic. Get a couple of top trade players for Helli, move Comrie up to the starter for $2.5 million and still have money left to add into the Jets cap. BTW, Kyle Connor gets paid $12 mill a year or $146,341.00 per game or $7,317.00 per minute he’s on the ice. I reckon he’s not impacted with the increase in vegetable or gasoline prices. One might say, put that in your pipe and smoke it.

    When the new start up women’s pro hockey league gets 15,225 fans out for a game and the Jets can barely get 12K to 13K fans out from a once 2 year waiting list for season tickets, tells me something.
    That’s my armchair analysis, of the Jets paralysis. 😜

    • Mitch Kasprick says
      March 25, 2026 at 11:21 am

      Hey Hart …. I really don’t know what to make of this season … which season was the anomaly, last year or this year? I believe somewhere in the middle.