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.
1. Jets: Winnipeg Jets fans are back on the bandwagon after a 2 win and 1 loss week. There is always joy in “The Peg” anytime we beat the Oilers. The Jets record of 26-13-2 is good enough for the Central Division lead AND with two games in hand.
2. Moose: The Manitoba Moose split their four games last week and now return home for six straight games. The Jets AHL affiliate is having a tough year and it looks like playoffs are just a pipe dream. The Moose are still in last place in the Central Division with a record of .441 (14-18-2-0). On a brighter note, Mason Appleton has been named to the AHL All-Star Team.
3. Jets: I thought the Jets three prospects playing in this year’s WJHC (David Gustafsson, Santeri Virtanen, Dylan Samberg) were very ordinary and I don’t see Gustafsson or Virtanen threatening any of the Jets starters anytime soon, if ever. Samberg might need a year or two with the Manitoba Moose if he turns pro after this season and I think he is a solid prospect.
4. BCS Playoff: BIG game tonight between #1 Alabama and #2 Clemson. Bama is a 5.5 point favourite. Go Clemson!
5. Vikings: You know you really hate the Chicago Bears when you are cheering for the Philadelphia Eagles like I was yesterday
6. Jets: The Winnipeg Jets will get a chance to play in their second outdoor next October. The game will be played in Regina’s Mosaic Stadium versus the Calgary Flames. It will be interesting to see who gets more support.
7. Jets: Question for Kevin Cheveldayoff: How’s those Jacob Trouba talks going? I’m going to keep asking until you sign him or trade him.
8. Jets: Paul Maurice, Blake Wheeler, and Mark Scheifele will represent the Jets at this year’s All-Star Game in San Jose and even with that being said I still can’t get excited about this game although I always watch the Skills Competition.
9. Raptors: I can’t help but wonder how good Kawhi Leonard would be if he got LeBron James officiating. He sure gets hacked a lot for a superstar.
10. Jets: For a guy that hasn’t played center regularly since his college days, I have been very impressed with Andrew Copp’s prowess in the faceoff circle. Right now he is rocking a 60.9 winning percentage at the dot. Some guys just have a knack for it. I wonder if he could teach Scheif?
11. Blue Bombers: The Bombers have locked up stud place-kicker Justin Medlock for two more years. This is a major signing in my humble opinion.
12. Raptors: Serge Ibaka’s play so far this season is like found money for the Toronto Raptors. Man, he’s been good.
13. NFL: I have to admit I really like Tony Romo as a colour analyst on NFL broadcasts. He might be a better announcer than he was a quarterback.
14. Jets: Nikolaj “don’t call me Nik” Ehlers ran into Sidney Crosby in what looked like a harmless hit but Nikolaj will be lost to the Jets until early-mid February with an upper-body injury according to Paul Maurice. My guess is he has a bruised shoulder.
15: CFL: I really miss the big tight-end in CFL football and I wonder why teams got away from that position? Actually, I don’t give a crap about the rest of the league but I would like the Blue Bombers to go this way. I bet Matt Nichols would too.
16: WHT Podcast: Podcast 081 can be found here >>> 081
17: Jets: I think PoMo should put Patrik Laine on the left side with Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler then we could have a second line of Kyle Connor, Bryan Little, and Jack Roslovic. Can you imagine the speed on that second line? C’mon Pomo, do it.
18: Raptors: It is hard to believe that Raptors 24-year-old starting forward Pascal Siakam didn’t start playing basketball until he was 17-years-old. His progression is nothing short of amazing.
19: Goaltending:
- Conner Hellebuyck: 18-12-1 … 2.83 GAA … .910 SV%
- Laurent Brossoit: 8-1-1 … 2.11 GAA … .939 SV%
20: Special Teams: Rule of thumb. Have the two red numbers total at least 100% when added. (as your minimum)
- PP: 2nd at 28.00% down from 28.60% last week.
- PK: 11th at 80.70% down from 10th at 82.10% last week.
If you have any questions for Darryl or myself (Mitch) please give us a shout. You can use the comment section or use the #ASKWHTPOD hashtag on Twitter.
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Thanks, Mitch
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Yeah, I wanted the Bears to loose, but not at the kickers expense…He’s got to have the worst luck with posts. Awkward hit on Ehlers’, and I suspect Crosby is more solid than people think. I also love the Bombers locked in Medlock for two years…He’s the new Robokicker.
Crosby is built like a brick shit house and has that low center of gravity.