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.
1. Jets: It looks like after a two week hiates I haven’t really missed much until this Friday when Barry Trotz informed the WInnipeg Jets he will not be coaching this season and concentrate on family matters.
2. NHL: In a bit of a surprise, under the radar move the Florida Panthers hired ex-Jets bench boss Paul Maurice as their new head coach. PoMo sure came out of this smelling like a rose. I’m not sure many people saw this coming.
3. Jets: Like him or not Corey Perry is just not some 4th line plug or bit player with Tampa, he is still a very usefull player. This is the type of 3rd or 4th line players/players I would like to see Chevy acquire.
4. CHL: I’m not a big fan of the one and done in The Memorial Cup. Teams grind all playoffs in their own leagues playing best of seven series and then a chintzy round-robin series at the Memorial Cup.
It is what it is and I don’t have a better option but I’m not sure it really distinguishes the best team in the country.
5. Jets: I have to admit I was quite shocked to see Jets captain Blake Wheeler ranked #3 on TSN’s trade board. If they can move his salary in a legit hockey trade I would have no problem with that but if they trade him as salary dump I don’t see where or who is going to replace his 60-70 points next season.
6. Jets: It looks like the Mark Scheifele drama has settled down and now we are hearing Pierre-Luc Dubois intends to play out his RFA years and head to free agency. Is it a bargaining ploy, who knows but it looks like the hockey gods just don’t want us to have two top centers.
7. Jets: The Trotz watch:
It didn’t end the way Jets fans wanted but at least Barry Trotz didn’t pick another team over us.
8. NHL: The further the playoffs went on the less penalties the officials called. There were a few games where the non-calls were embarrassing and most third periods were basically Hudson Bay rules. The inconsistency under Count Chocula is baffling and embarrassing.
9. Jets:
10. Jets: My weekly question for Kevin Cheveldayoff or Mark Chipman.
Ok boys, what is plan B, C, and D? Arniel? Tocchet? Babcock? Vigneault? Montgomery?
11. Jets: Now that the season is over, what would you like to see TNSE do with the Winnipeg Jets?
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GM Kevin Cheveldayoff has been extended for THREE more seasons as the Winnipeg Jets General Manager so he is safe from your wrath.
12. Important Dates:
July 7: First round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft at the Bell Centre in Montreal.
July 8: The second through seventh rounds.
July 6: UFA/RFA courting period starts.
July 13: The signing period for RFA and UFA free agents will begin at 11 am MB time.
August 9: U20 WHC starts in Edmonton and runs until Aug.20.
As far as the Memorial Cup goes I think a lot of teams and maybe fans think that winning your league is the more important. Winning the Memorial is just a bonus. Especially if the host gets knocked out of their league before their finals.
Might be time to rebuild. I think you can sell that if they are honest about it. They are not going to be able to draft their way out this without acquiring picks in bulk. It’s also time to upgrade analytics and re-evaluate a bunch of things. The last 11 years have proven they are not the smartest guys in the room. Of course that would require Chipman to acknowledge that. And is the past is prologue that ain’t happening any time soon.
Thanks for visiting Dave … Mark Chipman along with Chevy let a bad situation fester and it cost them Laine and maybe PLD … Chevy’s 3 year extention tells you all we need to know about their relationship.
Nice to see you back, Mitch.
Although they would be loathe to admit it, I believe Barry Trotz’ refusal comes as a relief to Messrs. Chipman and Cheveldayoff. Their trademark is to prioritize comfort over performance as demonstrated by Chipman giving a 3-year extension to his buddy, under whose watch the team suffered a series of mediocre seasons, the departures of key players and conflict in the dressing room.
As long as Trotz was available they had to make a play for him, but he would have been an awkward fit. He is not beholden to the Chipman-Cheveldayoff tandem and his hockey experience far outclasses theirs.
Now they are free to pick someone who will not rock their comfy boat.
Hey Eric, thanks for stopping by … You are bank on …. they will look for a Vigneault, Arniel, or Dupuis … somebody that knows how they operate and will fall in line.
Hey Mitch…Your point #8 is bang on. On one shift I noticed 3 uncalled blatant penalties. The first was a “whoa”, the second a Holy S**T, and the third a WTF??? That kind of inconsistency would cause the ref to lose control of a game during the regular season.
Welcome back Mitch…I missed your weekly views.
Hi Les … thanks for visiting … it was a perfect time for a little break … not much going on … as for the officiating, it was terrible and can’t be justified … like I said it was embarrassing at times.