Random Thoughts On The Winnipeg Jets: Feb. 8

Things about the Winnipeg Jets and the NHL that crossed my mind —

Some random facts and a few thoughts from this past week about the Winnipeg Jets, the Manitoba Moose, and the National Hockey League.

Late Breaking News: 

1.  Dustin Byfuglien has signed a 5-year contract extension with theWinnipeg Jets worth $38,000,000 and an annual AVV of $7,600,000 per season. 

photo courtesy of TSN’s Shane Hnidy

This was the scene on the ice at the end of their practice in St. Louis when Winnipeg Jets head coach Paul Maurice announced to the team that Buff had just signed a 5-year contract extension.  I guess this image speaks volumes but I couldn’t help feel a little sad for their captain, Andrew Ladd.  This might have ultimately sealed his fate.  I say MIGHT.  I wonder if he regrets not signing the rumoured 6-year, $36,000,000 contract offered a while back?

2.  The Winnipeg Jets ended up 1-2-0 on the week and are 23-26-3 overall.  Only 3 loser points, while Vancouver has 12, Toronto, Carolina, Philadelphia, and Minnesota have 9!  Those loser points really add up and is one of the reasons the Jets are where they are in the standings this season. 

3.  According to Sports Club Stats:  After their win versus Colorado, the Jets odds of playing in the postseason were at 6.1% at the end of play on Sunday night.

4.  I find it incredibly frustrating that Jets fans actually think players care about draft position and tanking.  Ya, like they’re going to try to lose on purpose so the team gets a better draft pick that could potentially take away their jobs.      

5.  While the players on the bench applauded how Nikolaj Ehlers handled himself in his first NHL fight, I’d be a little more concerned that their prized rookie was targeted.  This tells me everybody is fair game and if I was one of the Avalanche’s skilled players, I’d have my head up next time they play the Jets. Game on boys!       

6.  I wish Dustin Byfuglien would be a little more decisive and drop his gloves when needed (after the Enstrom hit in the Colorado game) instead of these bear-hugging sessions.  There are too many punks like Landeskog that get away with yapping and causing crap with no payback.  AND I’m old school, I still believe in payback.     

7.  The most interesting time of the hockey season is the days and weeks approaching the Feb. 29th NHL Trade Deadline.  Who’s going to fire the opening salvo and get the ball rolling?  

8.  For an explanation of No-Trade Clauses and No-Movement Clauses and the NHL players that have them you can get that info here >>> NTC and NMC   

9.  Mark Scheifele is starting that goal post stuff again.  Ping … ping … ping.      

10.  Joel Armia had a strong game versus the Avs on Saturday night and was rewarded with the Third Star by the HNIC crew.        

11.  How Mark Stuart gets “carte blanche” with this team night after night still amazes me.  I wrote this article about Mark Stuart and players like him over two years ago and man does it ever ring true today.  Check it out >>> Jan. 25, 2014  

12.  There are more and more whispers in the hockey world that Jets owner Mark Chipman may be interfering a little too much in the GM’s business. Great!   

13.  I wonder if the Jets will send Connor Hellebuyck back to the Moose when Ondrej Pavelec returns from the IR or will they just carry three goalies?  IMO, carrying three goalies would be a bad idea.  

14.  Isn’t it funny that Adam Pardy and Paul Postma can’t even get a sniff at the #6 spot on the Jets roster for the odd game?  Is Mark Stuart that good that he MUST play in all 82 games?  WHAT AM I MISSING? 

15.  I wonder how Grant Clitsome is doing?  We never hear any updates about him?  I believe it’s pretty well been acknowledged that he won’t be returning anytime soon, if ever.  Too bad, he was a decent third pair or depth defenceman.

16.  Things that make you go hmmm?:  After very little success on their power-play for most of this season, the Jets finally started getting better net-front presence with Dustin Byfuglien and Andrew Ladd and have now scored a PP goal in five straight games.  What took the brain trust so long to figure this out?       

17.  Winnipeg Jets Special teams update: 

PK:  27th at 77.0% slightly down from 27th at 77.2% last week.

PP:  25th at 17.1% up from 28th at 15.9% last week.

18.  Countdown to the 2016 NHL Trade Deadline:  22 days (Feb. 29) 

19.  Countdown to the 2016 World Cup:  223 days (Sept. 17-Oct. 1 in Toronto) How many Winnipeg Jets do you think will be playing in this event?  Wheeler? Ehlers?  Scheifele?  Hellebuyck?  

20.  There must be an NHL team that needs goaltending help (Arizona, NYI, Montreal) down the stretch and maybe Ondrej Pavelec could be the answer.  Is this possible or just wishful thinking?  This would also help in solving some of the Winnipeg Jets internal budget or salary cap concerns.  (see #13)                

If you are interested in writing for Winnipeg Hockey Talk or if you know somebody interested, please contact us at:

[email protected]  

We are looking for writers to cover the Manitoba Bisons, Winnipeg AAA, MJHL, MMJHL, KIJHL and Winnipeg High School.

If you have any thoughts on any of these comments or questions, please let me know.  I would love to hear your opinions.

Thanks, Mitch 

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