Random Thoughts On The Winnipeg Jets: Nov. 17

Things about the Winnipeg Jets and the NHL that crossed my mind —

Some random facts and a few thoughts from this past week about the Winnipeg Jets, the Manitoba Moose and the National Hockey League.

1.  The tone of today’s RTs is relax, the sky is not falling.  The Winnipeg Jets had a rough week on the road in the Central Division going 0-4-0 and not looking good doing it!  Although, they looked okay last night. 

2.  I am not buying one iota of this lame narrative that Andrew Ladd’s and Dustin Byfuglien’s contact status is weighing on the team and a reason for this current slide.  Give me a break.  I think the only ones talking about it are the fans and media.   

3.  Paul Maurice will be joining Team Europe’s coaching staff for 2016 World Cup of Hockey.  Congrats PoMo but before you leave could you please straighten out this mess in Winnipeg.  Of course I jest.  Congrats PoMo!

4.  Paul Postma got schooled by Thomas Vanek on Monday night in St. Paul on a basic play a pee-wee defenceman should stop AND after I complimented him in last weeks Random Thoughts!  

5.  It was really nice to see that the Manitoba Moose signed local boy Kelly Zajac to an AHL contract yesterday.  He should be a nice addition.     

6. Even after the shit show in Nashville, I feel that if the Jets can fix their “not so special teams” and execute a basic system (like last season’s) they will be fine.  I believe that Paul Maurice over-estimated the talent level of this team to execute his new system.  They would be better served to get back to basics, clog up the neutral zone, maintaining good gap control, AND staying the hell out of the penalty box.  At times, when it comes to taking penalties I really question this group’s “Hockey IQ”.

7.  Gary Lawless’s piece on TSN’s “That’s Hockey” last night was a load of crap. He talked about the Jets being young with 9 players under the age of 25 on the roster and 3 brand new players as a reason for their poor play of late.  The truth of the matter is Nic Petan, Andrew Copp, and Nik Ehlers are the least of their problems.  I think Dustin Byfuglien, Andrew Ladd, Tyler Myers, Toby Enstrom, Drew Stafford, Mark Scheifele, Mathieu Perreault, Mark Stuart, Alex Burmistrov and Paul Maurice had all better take a long, long look in the mirror though.

8.  Further to the last thought, I believe this funk is something that every team goes through and I don’t believe it is permanent.  There is too much talent in that room.     

9.  The good news: The Winnipeg Jets lost 3-2 in a hard-fought battle vs St. Louis last night but they finally looked like a hockey team again.  The bad news:  They lost the special teams battle again.            

10.  Even the best of teams can and will go through poor stretches of play during the course of an 82 game season but, what I found very discouraging about the Jets 7-0 ass-kicking at the hands of the Nashville Predators is that when the Buffalo Sabres were purposely tanking last season they never took a shit-kicking like that.

11.  I hate Toby Enstrom’s stupid extra-long freak hockey stick.  That’s it, no need for an explanation.   

12.  For the third straight week, both of the Winnipeg Jets special teams are going in the wrong direction.  Another example was their loss to Dallas.  Late in the game they had a 4-minute PP and didn’t even get a sniff and minutes later gave up the GWG to Dallas’s PP. 

13.  I find it strange that PoMo is juggling the forward lines but refuses to put Blake Wheeler back with Mark Scheifele and Mathieu Perreault.  Another head-scratcher for me.

14.  It’s time for the Jets and their fans to put that 4-game road trip in the rear view mirror and run the table at home in the next 3 games.  (Vancouver, Arizona, Colorado)     

15.  Congrats to the Manitoba Moose on their first home-ice victory, a 3-2 OT over the Chicago Wolves.  Joel Armia with the winner.  

16.  There are quite a few Jets forwards that have all gone ice-cold at the same time.  This reminds me of the Jets first 10-game segment last year and they eventually worked their way out of it.    

17.  All the readers out there that know me, know how I agonize over Jets/Coyotes games and we have one next Saturday night.  My rule of thumb is I hope for OT so they both teams get at least one point and the extra point goes to the team that needs it most.  At this point of the season, I think the Jets need it more.

18.  Winnipeg Jets PK:  13th at 80.5% down from 13th at 82.5% last week.  

19.  Winnipeg Jets PP:  20th at 16.7% down from 15th at 18.2% last week.   

20.  Countdown to the 2016 World Cup:  307 days (Sept. 17-Oct. 1 in Toronto).  

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If you have any thoughts on any of these comments or questions, please let me know.  I would love to hear your opinions.

Thanks, Mitch 

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