Mitch Kasprick is the “Motown Curmudgeon” aka “Motown Mitch”
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, Arizona Coyotes, Manitoba Moose, Winnipeg Ice, 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. You’ve been warned.
1. Jets: The Winnipeg Jets played three games this past week going 1-2-0 giving them a record of 36-32-11 on the season and now return home for their final 4 games of the season.
UPDATE:
Winnipeg Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey has been named the team’s nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy. The Masterton Trophy is awarded annually by the National Hockey League to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.
The trophy is named in honour of the late Bill Masterton (born in Winnipeg), a Minnesota North Stars player who died on January 15, 1968, after sustaining an injury during a hockey game.
2. Jets: Now that the Jets are officially eliminated from post-season play it’s time I stopped being a fan and start being more honest with my opinions and take my rose-coloured glasses off. Be prepared for my tougher analysis but don’t confuse my criticisms with hating on a player as I don’t hate any Jets player as long as they wear those gorgeous jerseys.
3. Jets: C’mon Nik, 3 games left and I still need 2 goals to win the OVER 28.5 goals for the season bet.
4. WHT: My mother always said, “if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all”. Now I will confess I didn’t do a very good job of doing this but I expect more from my readers so keep that in mind when you vote LOL.
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5. Jets: I don’t know why Dylan Samberg hasn’t been a regular in this Jets lineup all season. Any time he’s been dressed he has been one of their better defencemen. This team seems to have a hard time playing certain players based on merit and it is becoming very frustrating to a knowledgeable fan base. The apathy amongst Jets fans is becoming serious and Mark Chipman is going to have hard decisions to make in the upcoming months.
6. NHL: My weekly analysis (bitching) about NHL officiating
#NHL where u can knock the goalies helmet off, score a goal and they allow it…awful
— Ray & Benny Talk Sports (@RayBennySports) April 22, 2022
Thursday night in Carolina:
Even though Eric Comrie thought it was the correct call I don’t know how an opposing player can knock the goalie’s face mask off while diving for the puck in the goal crease? Nobody who watches hockey from the casual fan to the experts could tell you what is and what isn’t goaltender interference. I swear the command center in Toronto just flips a coin.
7. Jets: It’s a bit of a longshot but Kyle Connor needs 5 goals in his final 3 games to become the Winnipeg Jets 2.0 first 50-goal scorer. I wouldn’t put it past KC to get it done and it will be fun to see him and his teammates try to get him there.
8 Jets: I haven’t decided whether the 4-1 win over Colorado was a great Jets effort or just fools gold, that is the problem with games at this time of the season. That being said the boys played very well and in my opinion were full value for their win.
9. Jets: I thought Jansen Harkins looked pretty good playing up in the lineup versus Colorado but the problem with Hark is he is kind of a man without a line. He is too skilled to be on the checking line and there is no room for him in the top six. I would like to see him for a full season beside Adam Lowry and Mason Appleton. Then the next question is, what do you do with Morgan Barron?
10. Jets: Morgan Barron has shown me more in 11 games than Kristian Vesalainen has shown me all season although I’m not quite ready to give up on Ves.
11. Jets: After watching another futile attempt on the powerplay, I was very frustrated and I tweeted this out during the Carolina game.
This #NHLJets team is in great need of a PP quarterback … I love Josh but he ain’t it.
— Helle’s Shock Collar (@WpgSportsTalk) April 21, 2022
This isn’t an attack on Josh Morrissey but for a guy who has run the Jets’ #1 powerplay unit for the bulk of the season with the forwards we have should have a helluva lot more than 3 goals and 31 assists on the season. I thought the Jets gave Neal Pionk his big new contract because he was going to be the PP quarterback. In my opinion, Pionk is a better option than Josh but I don’t consider him #1 PP material either. Big Buff sure covered up a lot of warts on this team and the powerplay is one big festering wart.
12. Ice: The Winnipeg ICE opened their first-round playoff series with Prince Albert and won both of their home games to take a 2-0 series lead and now head to PA for the next two games with games 5 and 6 also scheduled this week if needed. The Winnipeg ICE are currently ranked #2 in the CHL.
Kia CHL Top-10 Rankings – Week 25
as of April 20
1. Hamilton Bulldogs
2. Winnipeg ICE
3. Edmonton Oil Kings
4. Quebec Remparts
5. Saint John Sea Dogs
6. Windsor Spitfires
7. Charlottetown Islanders
8. North Bay Battalion
9. Everett Silvertips
10. Portland Winterhawks
HM. Kamloops Blazers
HM. Sherbrooke Phoenix
HM. Red Deer Rebels
HM. – Honorable mentions
13. Moose: The Manitoba Moose split their two games this past week and now have a record of 39-23-5-2 with a .619 winning percentage. The Moose have 3 games left in the regular season.
Special Teams:
- PP: 19.40 down from 19.50 last week.
- PK: 82.30% down from 82.40 last week.
14. Jets: My weekly question for Kevin Cheveldayoff/Dave Lowry or Mark Chipman.
Mr. Chipman, Jets fans know you are loyal to a fault but has Chevy as GM run its course? I’m not saying he should or shouldn’t be removed as GM but wondering if you’re close to your breaking point?
15. Jets: Now that the season is over, what would you like to see TNSE do with the Winnipeg Jets?
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16. Jets: The Good, Better, Best this past week.
- Good: Dylan Samberg is a better puck mover than he is given credit for. He almost always makes the correct decision.
- Better: Nik Ehlers continues to drive whatever line he is on and is an offensive threat whenever he is on the ice.
- Best: Eric Comrie vs the NYR. He was outstanding and gave the outplayed Jets a chance to win.
Hi Mitch…Point # 8…Its a lot of fun to watch this team when their mojo is working. Too many times they couldn’t tap into this. In my opinion, Huddy has to be the first to get his walking papers. He doesn’t seem to have progressed much in his philosophy these last few years, even with the addition of more talented defensemen. The rest of the coaching staff seems to be mired in past philosophies as well and hesitant to implement new changes. The PP is predictable and the PK needs to study their opposition and recognize their traits prior to game time. In other words, their homework ethic is lacking.
I think an audio version with expanded insights would add to the text. Cheers…
Hi Les … thanks for dropping by … yes, our coaching needs to be overhauled from top to bottom.