Mitch Kasprick is now the “Westdale Curmudgeon”
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 had a very good week going 3-1 but it ended with a home ice stinker vs Washington. The Jets did improve their record to an unexpected 18-8-1 for the season and are tied for first place in the division with Dallas with the good guys having a game in hand. The Jets are 18-8-1 and I don’t think they’ve played their best hockey yet.
2. Jets: I’m starting to get a little concerned that Kyle Connor keeps disappearing in heavier games and his intensity is reverting back to the old KC. I don’t understand how he can float the way he does at times when his two linemates, Pierre-Luc Dubois and Mikey Eyssimont bust their asses.
3. Jets: It’s been quite some time since I’ve seen a well-executed neutral zone trap but the Washington Capitals seem to have it mastered.
4. Jets: There was so much rhetoric the past couple of seasons and a lot of it was from our local media that Andrew Copp was a top 6 forward. My take has always been that Copp is ok there in a pinch but he is NOT a top 6 forward on a good hockey team. I must admit he played well with Artemi Panarin in a top 6 role in New York at the end of last season but now in Detroit, he is right back where he belongs, on their third line. It’s almost criminal to think Andrew Copp makes $5,625,000 per season and Adam Lowry who is a center and a better player makes $3,250,000 per season. Adam Lowry is a very good player that can do many things and play any way you want. He has become the unsung hero of this Winnipeg Jets team.
5. Jets: After playing pretty good hockey all season Nate Schmidt had a stinker last night versus Washington. Maybe he was trying too hard against his old team.
6. Jets: In the second period and down 2-0 to the Caps, the Jets got their big break with a 4-minute PP but after an unfortunate fumble/bumble by Josh Morrissey the Jets PP gives up a penalty shot. Marcus Johansson scores on the PS and it’s 3-0. Game set and match. Sometimes it just isn’t your day. Much to the Jets’ credit they scored two early goals in the third period and cut the Caps’ lead to 4-2 but that’s as close as they got. At least they made the third period worth watching.
7. Jets: Mikey Eyssimont plays the right way. He is actually the perfect complement to PLD and KC.
The Jets haven’t had a guy like Eyssimont for a long time if ever … he plays the right way and is hard to play against … I love those type of players
— Westdale (formerly Motown) Curmudgeon (@WpgSportsTalk) December 10, 2022
8. ICE: The Canadian Hockey League announced their Week 10 edition of the Kia CHL Top-10 Rankings for the 2022-23 season and they have moved the ICE to #3 in spite of the ICE having four more wins than Seattle. I would love to know their criteria for the rankings.
Kia CHL Top-10 Rankings – Week 10
as of Dec. 6
1. Quebec Remparts (24-3-0-1)
2. Seattle Thunderbirds (17-4-1-0)
3. Winnipeg ICE (23-4-0-0)
4. Ottawa 67’s (21-4-0-0)
5. Saskatoon Blades (19-5-0-0)
6. Portland Winterhawks (18-4-2-1)
7. Victoriaville Tigres (20-6-1-2)
8. Sherbrooke Phoenix (19-6-1-2)
9. London Knights (17-7-1-0)
10. Saginaw Spirit (17-7-2-0)
9. Jets: Winnipeg Jets’ fans kept it classy and gave Paul Maurice and Jamie Compon a nice ovation during their tribute on Tuesday night. The part I liked was the tribute wasn’t over-the-top and just right.
10. Jets: All I can say is that it is a pleasure watching David Gustafsson play hockey. He does not look like a rookie and his time in the AHL was well spent.
11. Jets: Expanding on that last thought it has been a pleasure watching the whole bottom six play this season. It really hasn’t mattered who Rick Bowness has plugged in, they all work hard and compete. Bowness has done a nice job of rotating guys in and out and not letting guys get stale.
12. Jets: Poll question-
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13. Jets: It was 4-2 Washington halfway through the third period and the officials decided to swallow their whistles. They didn’t call a blatant slew foot on PLD and then a slash on Mark Scheifele by Alex Ovechkin that basically lead to OV’s empty netter. NHL officiating is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma on most nights but this was BS.
14. Jets: My weekly question for Rick Bowness, Kevin Cheveldayoff, or Mark Chipman.
This isn’t a question but more of a comment for Chevy. Get PLD signed long-term ASAP.
15. Jets: Special Teams: Rule of thumb. Have the two red numbers (PK and PP) total at least 100% when added (as your minimum).
- PP: 15th at 22.70% up from 20th last week at 21.10%
- PK: 4th at 83.60% down from 3rd last week at 83.90%
- FO: 26th at 47.60% up from 26th last week at 47.30%
16. Jets: Goaltending:
- Conner Hellebuyck: 14-6-1 … 2.33 GAA … .930 SV% … 3 shutouts
- David Rittich: 4-2-0 … 2.72 GAA … .893 SV%
