Mitch Kasprick is the “Motown Curmudgeon” aka “Motown Mitch”
Odds and Ends, Thoughts and Questions, from this past week in sports –
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 Blue Bombers, Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, Toronto Blue Jays, Arizona Diamondbacks, Winnipeg Goldeyes, Toronto Raptors, all curlers from Manitoba, and all Canadian athletes competing on the international stage.
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.
Blues defeat Jets 4 games to 2 in opening round!
1. Jets: The Winnipeg Jets playoff results were basically a microcosm of the whole season. They probably deserved better but didn’t put in the effort to achieve the result. This team never really had all twenty players pulling in the same direction at the same time. Don’t get me wrong, this team had some great stretches and some great moments but they never had the same drive as last season.
2. Jets: In my opinion, there were warning signs last year but Connor Hellebuyck’s Vezina Trophy-caliber season masked a lot of the Jets deficiencies.
3. Jets: Nik Ehlers needs to step up his game and become the Jets number one left winger. Part of this is also on Paul Maurice. This team needs to know whether he is a top LW or just a figure skater.
4. Jets: Kyle Connor is NOT a number left winger and he is NOT a number one powerplay unit player either.
5. Jets: Jacob Trouba had a good year and for him a very good statistical year offensively but he is not a powerplay driver whatsoever. My problem with Jake is I never really had the feeling he was totally invested in this team. If you don’t like Jacob Trouba now you are really going to hate him next season when he’s busting his ass for Detroit or Florida or wherever he ends up
6. Jets: There seems to be a feeling that all was not right in the Jets dressing room. I think Buff, Little and Wheeler were “carb loading” while Connor, Laine, and Ehlers we sipping “non-GMO, hippy-dippy, dolphin-friendly, Kale smoothies”. There’s your disconnect. By the way that’s the best commercial on tv.
7. Jets: Paul Maurice certainly wasn’t the problem in the playoffs but he certainly wasn’t the solution either. There is a narrative going around that maybe PoMo has taken this team as far as he can and maybe it’s time for a change? Some think he may be on a short leash next season but I believe the Jets ownership and management have a bigger plan overall and Maurice is a big part of it. One thing about TNSE is they don’t like change.
8. Jets: Further to my thought above. Kevin Chevedayoff has basically told us for two seasons now that Bryan Little is not the answer in the two-hole. He has pissed away Erik Foley, Brendan Lemieux, and TWO first-round draft picks in doing so. Maybe it’s time to shit or get off the pot Chevy and start making hockey decisions and not loyalty decisions. For the record I am a big Bryan Little fan BUT if its time to move on then get at it.
9. Jets: The Jets need to hire a goaltending coach to teach Connor Hellebuyck how to handle the puck and stop confusing his defencemen. Maybe he can hang out with Mikhail Berdin this summer?
10. Jets: Dustin Byfuglien made mistakes in the Blues series BUT he was one of the few players that elevated his play from an already high level of play in the playoffs. More Jets players needed to follow his lead.
11. LPGA: Brooke Henderson just defended her Lotte Championship in Hawaii this weekend giving her EIGHT wins on the LPGA Tour and she is only 21-years-old! Henderson now has as many tour wins as Sandra Post, George Knudson, and Mike Weir. Absolutely amazing.
12: NHL: I’m almost glad the Jets got knocked out of the playoffs because I might back off on watching games now. The officiating is so horrible I can’t watch anymore. Right now I have such a deep hatred for the league and where the game is at. This is all on their fearless leader, Count Chocula.
13: Raptors: Watching Kawhi Leonard getting mugged for four games sure shows the NHL isn’t the only league with officiating problems. I don’t remember LeBron getting mugged like this.
14: Raptors: Pascal Siakam is turning into a superstar right before our eyes. His transition to stardom has been mind-boggling.
15: Jays: The Jays had a terrific 6-1 road trip and played some very good baseball. It’s nice to see them play baseball and not rely on 3-run homers every night, although those are nice too.
16: Random: I know some of you will hate this but on Saturday the city of Toronto had a first with ALL of their teams winning this day. The Raptors, Leafs, Toronto FC, and the Jays all won.
17: Jays: Freddie Galvis sure has been a nice surprise for the Jays. He is slowly turning into my favourite Blue Jay.
18: Raptors: Norman Powell is a very underrated piece in the Raptors rotation. I really like his game.
19: Jets: Young teams are prone to mistakes and growing pains AND the Jets were one of the youngest teams in the NHL this season. My point? They might even be younger next year. Look for Appleton, Niku, Vesalainen, Poolman, Stanley, and Samberg push for roster spots.
20: Jets: What happens with Jacob Trouba will set the table for what this team will look like next season. Kevin Cheveldayoff has his work cut out for him this off-season.
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Thanks, Mitch
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Little birdie works in the dressing room told me after the last Colorado game Lowry took Laine to the woodshed in the parking lot because his fondness for Macdonald’s and not eating team prepared meals. I guess it gives him more time for video games.
are we talking verbal or physical?
You seem to have a problem with Kyle Connor. In my opinion he is better than both Laine and Ehlers.
Chevy should definitely make coaching changes.
my problem with KC is he is awful in his own zone and he has no “give a shit” in his game … he never finishes a check and is dependant on Wheeler and Scheif … i’m hoping this will change as he becomes a veteran player much like it did with Wheeler