Mitch Kasprick is now the “Westdale Curmudgeon.“ Odds and Ends, Thoughts, and Questions from this past week in Hockey
I am a fan of the Winnipeg Jets, the Manitoba Moose, 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, or is it the 8Ps? You’ve been warned.
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Host Harley Friesen and Winnipeg Hockey Talk writer Mitch Kasprick discuss his Random Thoughts on the Winnipeg Jets, Manitoba Moose, and the National Hockey League.
1. Jets: The Winnipeg Jets went 0-4-0 this past week and extended their losing streak to nine games. I believe the 6-5 loss in Toronto officially broke them. They have hit rock bottom. Their record is currently 15-21-4.
2. Jets: Can you imagine being the GM of a hockey team and trying to explain to your owner how you missed the playoffs with the best goaltender on the planet? I’d love to be a fly on the wall for that conversation.
3. Jets: It’s not just me, folks.
Remember the good old days when DeMelo was average?
— Jason Bell (@JasonBell1966) January 1, 2026
4. WJHC: From the “Put that in your pipe and smoke it” file.
Ask me if I was impressed with Gavin McKenna’s 3-goal performance in Canada’s 9-1 victory over Denmark? NO, I wasn’t! If you want to impress me, score a couple of goals against a good team like Finland or Team Sweden in a meaningful game. Padding your stats against the weak sisters doesn’t impress me … So Put that in your pipe and smoke it.
5. NHL: Olympics: Team USA announced their roster for the Olympic Games, and to absolutely nobody’s surprise, Winnipeg Jets forward Kyle Connor and goaltender Connor Hellebuyck were named to the team.
6. Jets: Question for Scott Arniel: Why didn’t you pull Comrie … Why didn’t you pull Comrie … Why didn’t you pull Comrie … Why didn’t you pull Comrie … Why didn’t you pull Comrie… WTF is wrong with you? WTF are you waiting for? Your season is circling the drain right in front of you, and you’re going to hang your hat on a guy that can’t stop a beachball? Are you trying to get fired?
7. NHL: Olympics: Hockey Canada released their final roster for the Olympic Games, and I guess I have to eat my words as Mark Scheifele did not make the team, even though he is better than Nick Suzuki, Anthony Cirelli, Brandon Hagel, Brayden Point, and maybe even Bo Horvat. Scheif is still in the Olympic Games’ doping protocol and could end up going if somebody gets injured before the games. The consensus is that he should have been in the original group. I don’t usually give a crap about this type of stuff because it doesn’t affect my life, BUT I genuinely feel bad for Scheif.
8. Jets: The Winnipeg Jets had a guy on their 1st-unit powerplay with 0 goals, and then next game he was a healthy scratch again … I wonder how Brad Lambert would do with that same opportunity?
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9. Jets: As of Monday morning, the Jets’ chances of making the playoffs are sitting at 9.3%, basically slim and none and slim just left town. As you can see, the percentage fluctuates daily, whether the team plays or not; however, the days following games exhibit larger fluctuations.
10. Things that make me go hmmm: #1 🤔 Fans are screaming to call up the kids from the Manitoba Moose, and as I pointed out on one of my “playoff odds updates”, why not call up the 3 best players?
11. Jets: Special Teams: Rule of thumb. Have the power play and penalty kill (PK and PP) numbers total at least 100% when added (as your minimum).
- PP: 18th at 19.10% down from 11th at 21.00% last week (net 15th at 17.40%)*
- PK: 21st at 78.30% down from 16th 80.90% last week (net 18th at 88.20%)*
- FO: 10th at 51.50% down from 10th at 51.60% last week
12. Jets: Goaltending:
- Connor Hellebuyck: 9-11-3 … 2.58 GAA … .905 SV%
- Eric Comrie: 6-9-1 … 3.49 GAA … .880 SV%
13. Jets: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly this past week.
- Good: Outside of hurt feelings, the team didn’t suffer any major injuries on their 4-game road trip.
- Bad: The team didn’t suffer any major injuries during their 4-game road trip. That seems to be the only way they call up players from the AHL.
- Ugly: The Jets were 9-3-0 once upon a time in October, but since then, they have gone 6-18-4.
14. Things that make me go hmmm: #2 🤔
It’s been about 22 months since that unnamed player from a Western Conference team called the Winnipeg Jets FRAUDS?
“The Winnipeg Jets are the biggest frauds in the league, and they’ll lose in the 1st round.”
An unnamed NHL player has dubbed the Jets as the biggest frauds in the NHL.https://t.co/dCv00oLVdK pic.twitter.com/MbyGlA2vya
— Spittin’ Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) March 2, 2024
15. Jets: Kevin Cheveldayoff held his mid-season presser this morning, and nothing earth-shattering was revealed but at least our media guys did ask some tough questions. If the Jets players could dangle around the ice like Chevy dandles at these pressers, they’d be in 1st place.
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