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 Ice, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, 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: The Winnipeg Jets had another winning week with four out of a possible six points. We just won’t mention the ugly loss in Detroit. The good guys improved their record to a solid 20-11-2.
2. Jets: Josh Morrissey (31 games) and Neal Pionk (33 games) are both 3 goals, 16 assists for 19 points. That is nice production from the back end.
3. Jets: The Adam Lowry line might be the best fourth-line in the NHL, the problem is they are the Jets third line.
4. Jets: Why are the Jets keeping Joona Luoto around? He is no good and he is never going to be an NHLer, not even on the worst team in the league. I’m not even convinced he’s a decent AHL player.
5. NHL: The officials – I witnessed hours of awful officiating last week but for once I have to applaud the referees when they do something right. Kyle Rehman and Peter MacDougall who worked the Flyers/Jets game on Sunday used a video review to verify their call of a major penalty on Joel Farabee for his hit on Mathieu Perreault. They do get it right occasionally.
6. Jets: Sometimes Jack Roslovic can raise me out of my seat and sometimes he leaves me scratching my head. I still wonder what we have in Roslo? I think we can still use the narrative that he is still young.
7. NHL: I didn’t know this but apparently Kyle Dubas and Sheldon Keefe invented skill, speed, and puck possession. I thought I was watching skill, speed, and puck possession when going to WHA Jets games back in the ’70s but maybe I’m wrong?
8. Jets: The Dustin Byfuglien watch: We have a “BUFFARAZZI” update. Big Buff was at Enns Bros this past week. That’s Buff with my friend Nancy.
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9. Jets: I wonder if it is time for my annual “all NHL games should be worth 3 points” rant? I guess three points for a regulation win makes too much sense and Count Chocula likes the illusion of fake parity.
10. Pet Peeve: After this weekend the Winnipeg Jets are tied for 6th place overall in the NHL but 3rd in the Central Division. This has bothered me for years going back to the old Jets 1.0 days in the Smythe Division. I don’t know what Count Chocula’s infatuation is with divisions but it’s crap. The NBA does it right. Conference play with 1-8 seeding.
11. Jets: I wonder how many goals Kyle Connor would have to score to make me stop hating his defensive game so much. FYI, he’s not even close to being there.
12. Jets: Patrik Laine’s game is a lot different this year and for the most part a big improvement from last season BUT I’m starting to see a bit of his laziness creeping back into his game. I have to keep reminding myself that he is still very young and a work in progress.
13. Jets: Congrats to Logan Shaw on his first goal as a Winnipeg Jet. Now go away.
14. This week:
- Manitoba Moose – Dec. 17, 18, 21, 22
- Winnipeg Jets – Dec. 17, 19, 21
- Winnipeg Ice – Dec. 17
15. Goaltending:
- Conner Hellebuyck: 16-8-2 … 2.34 GAA … .930 SV%
- Laurent Brossoit: 4-3-0 … 3.22 GAA … .892 SV%
16. Special Teams: Rule of thumb. Have the two red numbers (PK and PP) total at least 100% when added. (as your minimum) I also base the movement (up or down) on the % and not the NHL ranking.
- PP: 13th at 17.60% up from 27th at 15.40%
- PK: 28th at 75.30% down from 26th at 76.40%
- FO: 7th at 51.80% (up) down from 6th at 51.60%
In memory of my friend Darryl Manchulenko.
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Thanks, Mitch
