Random Thoughts On The Winnipeg Jets: Jan. 27

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

RIP Kobe Bryant

1. Jets: The Winnipeg Jets lost their final two games going into the All-Star break and it was two games they could have and maybe should have earned points but no such luck.  There is a lot of angst in town right now and especially when you look at their schedule coming off their bye week.  The Jets play 9 of their next 10 games at home and that will probably decide whether they are buyers or sellers before the Feb. 24 trade deadline.  Their overall record is  25-22-4.

2. WHL: Amid the Winnipeg Jets and Manitoba Moose woes the Winnipeg Ice have quietly put together a nice season and are in first place in the East Division.

3. NHL:  I don’t know about you but I believe that Wayne Gretzky story in the Tim Horton’s commercial.  I say this because lots of people on Twitter say it isn’t real.

4. Jets: I watched the All-Star but I didn’t enjoy it until the last minute of each game.  Any game where the players don’t try is hard to watch.  You can put lipstick on a pig but this game was still a pig.  

5. NHL: After the “Elite women’s 3 on 3 game” during the All-Star festivities Cassie Campbell stated that the women were ready for a WNHL league and sooner than later.  Everbody was feeling all warm and fuzzy about the game but when push comes to shove will anybody go to the games?  Build it and they will come is not a given here.

6. Jets:  Does anybody remember superstar Sergei Fedorov playing defence for the Red Wings?  Fedorov was an All-Star forward and one of the best NHL players in the 1990s.  The Detroit Red Wings were banged up on defence so he played on the blue line for six weeks.  He didn’t just fill in, many including Scotty Bowman said that Fedorov could have been an All-Star as a defenceman.

7. Jets: The reason I had the above thought was all the injuries and struggles on the Jets blueline.  Is there Winnipeg forward that could play defence that would be better than the bottom pairing guys we have right now?  I don’t think its a stretch to wonder.  Before you think I’m off my rocker let this marinate for a minute.  The way the Jets chase their man all over the ice with their ridiculous man to man defence does it matter if it is a forward or a defenceman?  Defencemen following their man to the blue line is just dumb.  

8. Jets: The Dustin Byfuglien watch: No “BUFFARAZZI” updates.  There have been reports that Buff has skated BUT nothing confirmed so I’m going with he hasn’t skated yet. 

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

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10. Jets: Laurent Brossoit wasn’t very good versus Columbus and he probably cost the Jets a huge two points on their final game before the break.  I know they say you win as a team and you lose as a team but you just can’t hide crappy goaltending.  

11. This week:

• Manitoba Moose – Jan. 31, Feb. 1
• Winnipeg Jets – Jan. 31, Feb. 1
• Winnipeg Ice – Jan. 25, 26

12. Goaltending:

• Conner Hellebuyck: 21-16-4 … 2.74 GAA … .917 SV% … 4 shutouts.
• Laurent Brossoit: 4-6-0 … 3.71 GAA … .883 SV%

13. 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: 15th at 20.00% down from 14th at 20.10%
• PK: 28th at 74.40% down from 28th at 74.80%
• FO: 16th at 50.20% down from 14th at 50.50%

14. Jets: The Paul Maurice lynch mob thought this break is where he would be replaced but it looks like he has survived for now although I’m not sure he is completely out of the woods.  The villagers still have their torches lit and are ready to run him out of town.  If you think about it Chevy would be a fool to fire Maurice now.  Paul Maurice is his sacrifical lamb if this thing goes completely off the rails.    

15.Things that make you go hmm: Did you know that all those multi-coloured Fruit Loops are all the same flavour?  It is true.  

In memory of my friend Darryl Manchulenko.

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Thanks, Mitch