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 took care of business and won both of their games this past week and kept themselves in the hunt for the final wildcard spot while the teams around them made up some of their games in hand. The Winnipeg Jets overall record now sits at 35-28-6 and scoreboard watching is now a nightly occurrence.
2. Jets: It is well known that I’m a huge Coyotes fan but not tonight. The Winnipeg Jets are my #1 and if they need the points they are always my first choice.
3. Jets: I am glad Mark Letestu getting better after missing most of the season with a virus that attacked his heart BUT with all due respect I don’t ever want to see him in a Jets uniform again.
4. NHL: The GMs voted to amend the offside rule to have a player ruled onside as long as the player has one skate above the vertical plane of the blue line. The league’s current rule requires a player to have their back skate on the ice and on or behind the blueline. The question I have is why did it take THREE years? DUH!
5. Jets: As of this morning (Mon) the Winnipeg Jets odds of making the playoffs sit at 30.2%, up from 17.5% last week while their chances of winning the draft lottery are at 2.5%, down from 3.7% last week.
6. Jets: It was nice to see Mathieu Perreault back in the lineup versus Vegas on Friday night. That puts Gabriel Bourque back in the press box where he belongs.
7. NHL: It looks like teams pushed up against the salary cap could be getting some relief next season with the cap going up to between $84, 000,000 and $88,000,000. More money for the owners and players. It would be nice to see the fans get some relief but that is crazy talk.
8. Jets: The Dustin Byfuglien watch: The Buff settlement or contract termination with the Jets seems to be on hold or put on the back-burner for now so I can’t help but wonder or hope that maybe this could be leading to a reconciliation.
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9. Jets: Man could this team use Bryan Little right now.
10. Jets: Connor Hellebuyck pitched another shutout on Friday night versus Vegas and now leads all NHL goaltenders with SIX and although there is a lot of competition this year he should be a Vezina finalist.
11. Jets: Every game is a must at this time of year but how big is tonight’s home game versus Arizona and then the next three games on the road in Edmonton, Calgary, and Vancouver? Four, 4-pointers. Jets need at least SIX points this week.
12. Goaltending:
- Conner Hellebuyck: 29-21-5 … 2.59 GAA … .921 SV% … 6 shutouts.
- Laurent Brossoit: 6-7-1 … 3.28 GAA … .895 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 20.70% up from 17th at 19.70%
- PK: 23rd at 77.20% up from 26th at 77.20%
- FO: 15th at 50.10% up from 16th at 49.90%
14. Jets: I have to give Patrik Laine credit for his commitment to improving his defensive play this season. He is light-years ahead of where he was last season and he is no longer a liability defensively. Huge props to #29. Maybe some of the other forwards will take notice.
15: Jets: It looks like Adam Lowry is close to returning to the Jets lineup and now Paul Maurice has the best forward group he has had all season. If Nick Shore is your 13th forward, that s not too bad.
UPDATE:
It looks like Adam Lowry is in tonight and the odd mad out is Jansen Harkins. I do not like this decision at all and I know I’m not alone.
16. NHL: If your a GM of a cap team and you miss the playoffs you should do your organization a favour and resign. (see #7)
In memory of my friend Darryl Manchulenko.
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Thanks, Mitch
