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. WHC: Pierre-Luc Dubois and Adam Lowry are playing very well for Team Canada, Nikolaj Ehlers is easily Denmark’s best player and Nate Schmidt is one of Team USA’s steadier defencemen. Leon Gawanke just joined Team Germany and notched a point in his first game and now all five players representing the Jets have points for their countries. Not bad.
2. Jets: Nikolaj “don’t call me Nik” Ehlers will face Adam Lowry, Pierre-Luc Dubois and Team Canada today and I’m guessing there will be a couple of friendly wagers. I hope NIK was smart enough to get his buddies to give him some odds.
3. Jets: SURPRISE SURPRISE
Story here out of Sweden suggesting #NHLJets forward Kristian Vesalainen could sign in the SHL as early as next week.
Not that surprising. He hasn’t panned out in North America. https://t.co/s1qKYSoLu5
— Scott Billeck (@ScottBilleck) May 21, 2022
4. NHL: My weekly analysis (bitching) about NHL officiating.
I don’t understand when these idiot players started thinking it was ok to head-butt a guy AND the officials/league aren’t calling it the right way even IF they do see it. For me it’s cut and dried, it is a match penalty and needs to go to the NHL’s DOPS for a suspension AND screw that narrative that it’s the playoffs so the penalty is worth half of what a regular-season suspension would be. SCREW THAT, throw the f’n book at these morons, there is nothing more gutless that head-butting a guy in hockey.
5. Jets: Morgan Barron played very well with the Manitoba Moose in their first-round playoff series putting up 4 goals and 2 assists in 5 games and looking dominant at times. I’m sure this had a lot to do with him gaining some confidence at the NHL level where he finished out the regular season (14 games) with the Winnipeg Jets. The curious thing is his previous AHL numbers didn’t really show this type of potential so I’m very interested to see if this carries over into his first training camp and his first full season in the Jets organisation. I think he is no worse than a 4th-line winger next year and potentially a 3rd-line winger down the road.
6. ICE: The Winnipeg ICE are in a dog fight with Edmonton in the WHL’s Eastern Conference Final after the two teams split their first two games in Winnipeg. The two teams now head to Edmonton for three straight games starting tonight and the ICE will need to win at least one game on the road to bring it back to Winnipeg. This has the makings of an epic 7-game series.
WHL Eastern Conference Championship Schedule
All times are local
|
Game |
Visitor |
|
Home |
Date |
Time |
|
1 |
EDM 5 |
@ |
WPG 4 OT |
Fri, May 20 |
7:00 |
|
2 |
EDM 1 |
@ |
WPG 5 |
Sat, May 21 |
7:00 |
|
3 |
WPG 3 |
@ |
EDM 4 OT |
Mon, May 23 |
7:00 |
|
4 |
WPG |
@ |
EDM |
Wed, May 25 |
7:00 |
|
5 * |
WPG |
@ |
EDM |
Fri, May 27 |
7:00 |
|
6 * |
EDM |
@ |
WPG |
Suny, May 29 |
5:00 |
|
7 * |
EDM |
@ |
WPG |
Tue, May 31 |
7:00 |
* If necessary
7. Jets: I hate to be a “Debbie Downer” but watching the intensity, the compete level, and the physicality in some of the Western Conference playoff games really shows me how far away the Winnipeg Jets are as legitimate contenders. I think our skill level is fine but this team is going to need a major injection of kohones.
8. NHL: Why isn’t a crossbar or a goal post counted as a shot on goal? It actually is a shot on the goal. I’ll let myself out now.
9. NHL: Erik Cernak has really caught my eye for Tampa during this year’s playoffs. This guy is the epitome of heart for the Lightning. Cernak plays big minutes and hard minutes. He can play on my team any day.
10. IIHF: The IIHF isn’t a perfect organisation but they do two things better than the NHL.
- 1. The 3-point regulation win system where every game has the same amount of points awarded. This makes way too much sense and should be implemented in the NHL but Count Chocula likes thinking he is fooling us with his FAKE PARITY.
- 2. In my opinion their crease rule is far superior to the NHL’s as well. The official will blow the play dead if a player goes in the goal crease. Simple! It would eliminate all the controversy on goaltender interference and give the goal crease back to its rightful owner, the goalie. For those of you who say it will cause too many needless whistles I call BS because if NHL players can adapt to this rule during the WHC they can adapt to it in the NHL.
11. NHL: Is there fighting anymore in the NHL or is it just yapping, face-washes and headlocks? Guys are pairing off and wrestling, it is actually embarrassing. If I were an official I’d give them 2 and 10 for embarrassing themselves. It is so embarrassing watching two guys square off and looking at the referee and pleading their case while they’re hugging.
“Battle of Alberta” my ass, it’s more like the “Pillow Fight of Alberta”. Don’t get me wrong the “Battle of Alberta” is compelling because of the hockey being played but as far as toughness is concerned I’ve seen better fights in the buffet line at the Kam Loon Restaurant in Morris.
EITHER DROP THE GLOVES AND FIGHT LIKE MEN OR STFU.
12. Jets: My weekly question for Kevin Cheveldayoff or Mark Chipman.
Just for shits and giggles could you rank your new head coaching wish list? If it doesn’t look something like this we may have a problem.
- Barry Trotz
- Barry Trotz
- Barry Trotz
- Barry Trotz
- Barry Trotz
13. Jets: Now that the season is over, what would you like to see TNSE do with the Winnipeg Jets?
Loading ...
GM Kevin Cheveldayoff has been extended for THREE more seasons as the Winnipeg Jets General Manager so he is safe from your wrath.
14. 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 13: The signing period for RFA and UFA free agents will begin at 11 am MB time.
August 9: U20 WHC in Edmonton runs until Aug.20.
A zinger off the goal post or cross bar should be counted as half a goal because technically the goalie missed making a save when it’s that close the goalie has to make a play on it. 🤪 Over the last few years, Mark Schfie has been the master of goal posts hits per game and often averaging 5 posts per game. Would love to see intense game scores like 7.5 to 8.0 with two minutes to go in the last period. 🤣
Hey Hart … thanks for visiting …. I only have one thing to say ….. LOOK WHERE I’M POINTING.
🤣🤣🤣 By the way, I doubt it that Barry Trotz will be at the helm with the Jets. He’s a hot commodity right now and many big market teams will be vying for him. Winnipeg’s one incentive is that he’s a Manitoba boy but who knows how much weight that carries against some higher profile teams.
The management oppurtunity could tip the scales but that probably means a promotion for Chevy.