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 news of local boy Travis Hamonic requesting a trade from the New York Islanders for personal reasons (to be closer to his family) to a team out west, preferably Winnipeg is still the hot topic in town. I’m sure it will probably dominate these “Random Thoughts” as well but you never know.
2. The Winnipeg Jets went 2-1-0 on their 3-game home-stand after a rough road trip through the Central Division going 0-4-0 and not looking good doing it!
3. Info on Travis Hamonic:
Drafted by: NYI Round: 2nd Overall: 53rd Year: 2008 NHL Entry Draft
Position: Defense Shot: Right
DOB: Aug 16, 1990 Born: St. Malo, Manitoba
Height: 6.02 Weight: 205
Contract status: UFA in 2020-21
Salary: 2015-16 – $3,750,000 2016-17 – 2019-20 – $4,875,000
Annual cap hit: $3,875,142
4. If I hear one more “Paul Postma and Adam Pardy to the Islanders for Travis Hamonic” or “Paul Postma and a 2nd round draft pick for Travis Hamonic” from our fan-base I’m going to scream! Garth Snow isn’t Mike Milbury! It ain’t gonna happen. These are real GMs, not the idiots in your fantasy hockey pool.
5. I guess we’ll see what life without Ondrej Pavelec looks like for the next few months after he was injured in a collision with Arizona Coyotes captain Shane Doan. Paul Maurice called it a “significant knee sprain” that could keep him out until February.
6. Do you think Nikolaj Ehlers would have received an apology from Lucas Sbisa for his head-shot in their game last Thursday if they didn’t share the same agent?
7. Apparently Travis Hamonic put in his trade request during the off-season. I wonder how many times Garth Snow and Kevin Cheveldayoff spoken since then. (see #2)
8. Why doesn’t the NHL just scrap the “All-Star Game” and just give the players three days off and STOP with Gary’s carnival games and gimmicks!
9. The Winnipeg Jets have recalled Connor Hellebuyck (no surprise) and Joel Armia (small surprise) for their upcoming 3-game road trip.
10. Not including Toby Enstrom in trade talks because he’s our best left-handed defenceman is a lame narrative in my opinion. How about keeping your best six? I’m reading and listening to everybody shipping Dustin Byfuglien or Jacob Trouba out-of-town BUT I’d rather have those two over Toby and his extra-long freak stick. AND this doesn’t mean I don’t like Toby, it just means I like the other guys more!
11. Due to Ondrej Pavelec’s injury and Connor Hellebuyck’s call-up, Eric Comrie will see a significant bump in playing time in the Manitoba Moose net. The plot thickens.
12. There were people seven days ago that couldn’t tell you what number Travis Hamonic wears with the New York Islanders that have become instant experts on what Kevin Cheveldayoff should be offering Garth Snow in a trade.
13. Andrew Ladd is going through his toughest stretch as a Winnipeg Jets right now and there are all kinds of reasons or excuses making the rounds but I’m not buying any of them. I just think he is going through a rough stretch but I must admit I have thought in some games his “give a shit” level was lacking.
14. Before you start floating out potential trade offers for Travis Hamonic on talk radio programs when they ask and you know they are going to ask, stop and ask yourself if you were on the flip-side would do that trade. I bet you 9 times out of 10 you would say no. (see #4)
15. The Jets actually won a hockey game on a special teams play, Chris Thorburn’s shorty vs the Coyotes but they lost the special teams battle again. The Coyotes were 2 for 6 on their PP and the Jets were 0 for 5 on theirs.
16. I once heard a wise man say you can’t score on a rebound if you don’t hit the net. Sometimes the Winnipeg Jets shooters are trying to be too perfect. Just hit the net!
17. What do you think the odds of Travis Hamonic ending up in a Winnipeg Jets uniform are? Not a chance 0% … 10% … 20% … 30% … 40% … 50% … 60% … 70% … 80% … 90% … It’s a done deal 100%?
18. Winnipeg Jets Special teams update:
PK: Down for the 4th straight week – 17th at 79.5% down from 13th at 80.5% last week.
PP: Down for the 4th straight week – 26th at 14.7% down from 20th at 16.7% last week.
19. Right now a lot of Winnipeg Jets fans are looking at ownership and management for answers and as usual it is awfully quite over at TNSE.
20. Countdown to the 2016 World Cup: 300 days (Sept. 17-Oct. 1 in Toronto). How many Winnipeg Jets do you think will be playing in this event?
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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
Use the “Comment Section” below.
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RE: #20… I wonder if I’m in a large minority where I don’t give a rat’s ass about the 2016 world cup. I think it’s just too much.
I’m not too familiar with the Moose organization. I assume that the team is made up of wanna be Jets or soon to be Jets… Looking at their record I wonder if the prospects are not really all that good. Doesn’t bode well for the big team.
I’ve been wrong before!
A lot of AHL teams success are based on “career” AHL players for the most-part so you can’t always base the quality of an organisations prospects on the AHL teams record … the St. Johns Ice Caps team that went to the Calder Cup Final 2 years ago had minimal Jets prospects on that team playing a starring role outside of Hutch.
when you say “too much” about the World Cup do you mean money (ticket prices) or too much hockey or too much hype …. I, for one will be fascinated to watch the Under 23 North American team.
just too much hockey… if there is actually such a thing.
Actually, I have a question:
When do season ticket holders get to have their tete-a-tete/Q & A with TSNE? Or, do they get that chance?
Don’t all teams do that (invite season ticket-holders for a State of the ‘Union’ address?
Just wonderin’.
I’m not sure they do anything during the season but they have a “Fan Fest” at the MTS IcePlex around training camp with a Q&A with management, coaches, and players. Right now TNSE has a captive audience and a long waiting list for tickets and IMO they don’t give a shit what we think. They have a plan and they’re sticking too it whether it’s right or wrong.
Cool. Thanks.
Sure hope they have a winning plan and not just a money plan.
Money is happy, I guess.
Good luck, Jets!