Random Thoughts On The Winnipeg Jets: Jan. 20

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, 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 warn

1. Jets: The Winnipeg Jets went 1-3-0 last week and are 4-6-1 for January and look like a team in free-fall mode.  There is a little bit of angst in town but I think we all knew it was going to get worse before it was going to get better.  Their overall record is now 25-20-4.

2. NHL: How long before recently fired Vegas coach, Gerard Gallant is behind the Habs bench? 

3. Jets:  I love Mark Scheifele, he is my favourite Winnipeg Jets player but his lack-lustre defensive play is going to keep him from becoming an elite #1 NHL center.  Outsiders that don’t watch Scheif on a night-to-night basis just see his pretty scoring totals and not his weak defensive play.  It’s not always bad but it is very inconsistent and he needs to be good considering the two defensive anchors on his wings.  

4. Jets:  As bad as things seem to be in Jetsville they have managed to avoid a prolonged 6 or 7 game losing streak.  I can just imagine the panic if they did.  We would be calling for the GM’s head, the coach’s head, the trainer’s head, the Zamboni driver’s head etc. etc. etc.  We all get upset when the Jets lose but I’m not sure firing everybody is the answer right now. 

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5. NHL: The officials – WOW NHL you guys just don’t get it. I can see officials missing an infraction on the ice, the game is fast and shit happens … BUT … in the case of Mathieu Perreault taking a blatant elbow to the head and the Department of Player Safety DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT IS ABSOLUTELY CRIMINAL.  Jake Virtanen should have received at least two-games for that elbow.  The NHL under Gary Bettman’s watch is a joke.   

6. Jets: Jets fans are an odd lot.  It seems like our fanbase continually makes excuses for our player’s shortcomings.  The lastest for me is why is Patrik Laine’s decline in goals everybody else’s fault but Patrik Laine?   

7. Jets: Please take Andrew Copp off the second line and keep out of the top-six forward group.  Copp is not a top-six forward and will never be and if our coach or GM thinks he is then therein lies the problem and the fact that he gets the second unit PP time is even more disturbing.  I like Andrew Copp alongside Adam Lowry in a shut-down role.  That is a role he excels in. 

UPDATE:   

The Winnipeg Jets have announced that Adam Lowry will be out for four weeks and they have called up Kristian Vesalainen from the Manitoba Moose.  Andrew Copp will now center the third line with Mathieu Perreault and Mason Appleton.

8. Jets: The Dustin Byfuglien watch: No “BUFFARAZZI” updates.  I’m like a lot of other Jets fans that are wondering why the arbitration hearing between the Jets and the NHLPA as it pertains to the Dustin Byfuglien hasn’t happened yet.  This whole Buff situation is ridiculous. 

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9. Jets:  Funny how Patrik Laine had his best goal-scoring seasons with Bryan Little as his center?  I realize his PP goals are down and that has a lot to do with it but Patrik wanted to play with better players so what gives?  Let me guess, the defencemen aren’t getting him the puck.  Laine may not ever be that 50-goal man we all thought he was going to be but being a 30-goal scorer is still pretty good.  (see #6)   

10. Pet Peeve: I don’t understand why playoff goals aren’t included in a player’s career goal-scoring totals, especially when playoff goals hold more value.  They are dismissed like pre-season goals.  In my opinion, this is a huge fail by the NHL.  With the recent talk of whether OV can catch Wayne, it made me wonder about their actual career totals.   

11. Jets: This three-game road trip starts the annual parent trip and this year its the mom’s turn.  The “mom’s trip” might be just what this team needs and I can’t help but wonder if the moms ever go full-blown “hockey mom” on the boys?  

12. Jets: Anthony Bitetto is really struggling and this what happens when depth defencemen play more than intended.       

13. Jets: The NHL trade deadline is Feb. 24. 

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14. Jets: I would like to see Jansen Harkins get a look with some better players.  The Jets sure aren’t getting much out of Jack Roslovic or Andrew Copp.  

15. This week:

• Manitoba Moose – Jan. 24, 25
• Winnipeg Jets – Jan. 21, 22
• Winnipeg Ice – Jan. 25, 26

16. Goaltending:

• Conner Hellebuyck: 21-15-4 … 2.71 GAA … .919 SV% … 4 shutouts.
• Laurent Brossoit: 4-5-0 … 3.67 GAA … .885 SV%

17. 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: 14th at 20.10% down from 12th at 20.90%
• PK: 28th at 74.80% up from 30th at 73.30%
• FO: 14th at 50.50% down from 13th at 50.50%

18. NHL: I had to laugh at Sheldon Keefe getting a dose of reality and seeing what happens when you let the inmates run the asylum.  They are leading the NHL in scoring but have turned their goalie into Denis Lemieux from Slapshot.  The beleaguered Leafs goalie has been hung out to dry almost every night.  I wonder how Leafs GM Kyle Dumbass feels about that big meanie Mike Babcock now?  How dare Babcock ask for his team to play a little better defensively. 

19. Jets: Why is Nik Ehlers on the second unit powerplay? 

20. NHL:  Preventing goals will always be easier than scoring goals, ask Barry Trotz.  (see #18)   

In memory of my friend Darryl Manchulenko.

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Thanks, Mitch