Mitch Kasprick is the “Motown Curmudgeon” aka “Motown Mitch”
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.
This week’s Random Thoughts brought to you by the good folks at onlinecasinosnoop.com.
1. Jets: The Winnipeg Jets just finished their busiest week of the season playing five games, winning three and losing two. Their record sits at 4-2-0 for the season. I think this is an acceptable start to the season and especially with Laine and DeMelo missing a few games.
2. Jets: After months of rumours and speculation the Winnipeg Jets have traded sniper, Patrik Laine. Laine along with Jack Roslovic are on their way to Columbus for center Pierre-Luc Dubois and a 2022 third-round draft pick. The Jets’ quest for a top center is finally over but it cost them one of the NHL’s top snipers. This is a trade that will probably end up benefitting both teams and all the players involved.
3. Jets: There were a lot of Jets fans that thought Chevy gave up too much to acquire Pierre-Luc Dubois but 22-year-old, top-six centers are rarely ever available and if they are every NHL team would be in competition for that player. I can be critical of Kevin Cheveldayoff at times but I must commend him for having the kohones to make a deal like this happen and especially when he knows how unpopular this trade would be with Winnipeg’s fanbase.
4. Jets: After checking the stats page I found it hard to believe that Paul Stastny had zero points in his first four games. I thought he had played quite well but he got off the schneid Saturday night with a goal and 2 assists. I wonder if Stastny will move to the wing or center the 3rd line after PLD arrives.
5. Jets: I am really sad to see Patrik Laine leave and I can’t help but remember how happy I was when the Winnipeg Jets selected him with that second overall pick. Laine was far from a perfect player but his game was evolving and I just loved watching him rip those lasers past goalies. I will never forget his 5-goal game in St. Louis and his OT winner at home vs Toronto. He will be missed.
Poll Question: You can select up to three answers.
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6. Jets: Now on to Jack Roslovic. Where do I start? There is nothing that grinds my gears more than whinny little self-entitled bitches like Jack Roslovic. I can never blame a player for wanting a larger role on a team and especially IF they deserve it but in Jacko’s case, he deserved sweet “you know what” all. He was not now or ever a top-six forward on this Winnipeg Jets team. He did get second unit PP duty and was always the first one elevated in the lineup if there was an injury, so in my opinion, he had NOTHING to bitch about. Jack Roslovic is a player that rode the coat-tails of Auston Matthews and Matthew Tkachuk in becoming a first-round selection and somehow thought he was entitled. Sorry Jacko but piss off and don’t let the door hit your ass on the way out. Enjoy Columbus and Tort’s doghouse.
7. Jets: The Winnipeg Jets may have the most underrated stud on their team and the best-kept secret in the NHL. Nikolaj “don’t call me Nik” Ehlers has skill, a good shot, speed to burn, and is one of the best zone-entry players in the league. He is a line driver and he makes everybody that plays with him better. That is the true measure of a star player.
8. Jets: It was nice to see Dylan DeMelo playing defence again this weekend. He was a little rusty but the Jets are a much better team with him in their lineup.
9. Jets: It’s cliche time. I wonder if in hindsight Patrik Laine’s trade request might become a case of be careful what you wish for because it may come true? The grass isn’t always greener on the other side? John Tortorella is not the easiest coach to play for.
10. Jets: The Winnipeg Jets received a little bit of criticism for trading up to select Logan Stanley in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft and the Jets defenceman finally made his NHL debut this past week in Ottawa. I wasn’t expecting much but I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised. He made a lot of nice simple plays, some very nice stretch passes and seemed to move a lot better than I remember. I’m not quite sure after a handful of games I’m ready to anoint him as a bonafide starter but he is much closer than I anticipated. It has been reported he has been working hard on improving all aspects of his game and it looks like his hard work is paying off. I think all Winnipeg Jets fans would like to see him succeed. In my opinion, Logan Stanley has worked his way into the Jets top-8-9 on the depth chart and you couldn’t say that last year and that defence corp was much weaker. Morrissey, DeMelo, Pionk, Forbort, Heinola, Samberg, Beaulieu, Poolman and Stanley are much better than the dog’s breakfast we watched last year. I forgot to mention Niku.
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11. Jets: Ville Heinola made his 2021 debut last week in Ottawa and for the most part looked smooth as silk. I have never seen a player his age have so much poise. He has top-four blueliner written all over him.
12. NHL: Key dates.
- Feb. 1 – Teams may start requesting players waive their NMC for the expansion draft
- Feb. 11 – Deadline to sign Group II RFAs (usually December 1)
- Mar. 12 – Players on one-year deals can sign extensions (usually Jan. 1)
- Apr. 12 – Trade Deadline
- May 8 – End of the regular season
- May 11 – Playoffs begin
- July 15 – The latest the Stanley Cup can be awarded
- July 17 – Expansion draft protection lists tentatively due
- July 21 – Expansion draft
- July 23-24 – 2021 NHL Entry Draft
- July 28 – Free agency opens
13. Pet peeve: Fans that blame Paul Maurice for Jack Roslovic’s holdout and ultimately his trade demand. I would like to know what Maurice did wrong? I’m so tired of this narrative that he held Roslovic back. Jacko thinks he is a top-six forward but not on this Jets team and not on the majority of others in this league.
14. Jets: I wonder how long it will take for Patrik Laine to realize how talented his former teammates were?
15. Jets: Schedule
16. Jets: Would it be a stretch to say that early on, Derek Forbort has been the Winnipeg Jets biggest surprise and probably the Jets most consistent defenceman? Not bad for a late free-agent signing.
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: 18th at 20.00%
- PK: 17th at 76.50%
- FO: 20th at 48.90%
18. Jets: I wonder when we will see Dylan Samberg make his NHL debut? As of right now, he is on the taxi squad but I wonder if he is destined for the Manitoba Moose?
19. Goaltending:
- Conner Hellebuyck: 3-1-0 … 2.25 GAA … .920 SV%
- Laurent Brossoit: 1-1-0 … 3.46 GAA … .911 SV%
20. Jets: For those Winnipeg Jets fans that hate the Patrik Laine trade just pretend that the draft lottery and the last four years were a dream and the Winnipeg Jets actually drew the 3rd ping-pong ball and not the second ping-pong ball.
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In memory of my friend Darryl Manchulenko.
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Thanks, Mitch
