Random Thoughts On The Winnipeg Jets: Nov.28

Mitch Kasprick is now the “Westdale Curmudgeon” 

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:  The Winnipeg Jets had a good week going 3-1 and improving their record to 13-6-1.  FYI, the Jets have the best winning percentage in the Central Division at the quarter poll. 

2. Jets:  The National Hockey League announced that defenceman Josh Morrissey has been named the NHL’s Second Star of the Week for the week ending Nov. 27.  Well deserved.

3. Jets:  Blake Wheeler is playing pretty good hockey for a guy that is washed up.

4. Jets:  I’m not sure what David Gustafsson’s latest injury is and I hope it’s not serious but I’m getting a little concerned he might be made of glass.  He is playing great hockey on the fourth line but we need him on the ice.

5. Jets:  I love the edge and physical play Brenden Dillon brings to the Jets’ back end.  I love guys that look after their teammates.  Too bad there isn’t a metric for measuring intangibles.

6. Moose:  The Manitoba Moose moose went 1-2 last week and currently have a record of 9-5-2-0 and have dropped to ninth place in the tight Western Conference.    

7. NHL:  RIP Borje Salming.  My favourite player growing up.

8. ICE:  The Canadian Hockey League announced their Week 8 edition of the Kia CHL Top-10 Rankings for the 2022-23 season.  The Winnipeg ICE went 3-1 this week and improved their record to 22-3-0 and still have the best record in the WHL.  The ICE still hold the #1 spot in the CHL.    

Kia CHL Top-10 Rankings – Week 8

as of Nov. 23

1. Winnipeg ICE (20-1-0-0)
2. Quebec Remparts (19-2-0-1)
3. Ottawa 67’s (18-2-0-0)
4. Portland Winterhawks (16-1-1-1)
5. Seattle Thunderbirds (13-3-1-0)
6. Sherbrooke Phoenix (16-4-1-1)
7. Saskatoon Blades (15-4-0-0)
8. Red Deer Rebels (16-4-0-2)
9. North Bay Battalion (14-6-0-0)
10. Windsor Spitfires (12-4-3-0)

9. Jets:  With the return of Morgan Barron from the IR the Jets have reassigned Ville Heinola to the Manitoba Moose.  Ville just hasn’t moved the needle enough to take away a job from any of the veterans ahead of him.  His best chance to become a regular is Chevy trading one or two of the guys ahead of him on the depth chart.  

10. Jets: Mikey Eyssimont is making the most of his opportunity.  He has decent speed, a good skill set and most importantly for me he plays with an edge.  Eyssimont has become a guy I’m pulling for.

 

11. Jets:  There is no way the tying goal Dallas scored Friday night should have counted with Helle laying on the ice with no helmet on.  I know what the rule states but the rule wasn’t the problem, it was the interpretation of the rule by the on-ice officials and the command center in Toronto.  

12. Jets:  Poll question- 

To this point of the season who do you think is the Winnipeg Jets most improved defenceman? (you can pick more than one)

View Results

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13. Jets:  Mark Scheifele, Blake Wheeler, and Cole Perfetti have developed a nice bit of chemistry.  I give Rick Bowness a lot of credit for trying different things with his forward lines.  

14. Jets:  My weekly question for Rick Bowness, Kevin Cheveldayoff, or Mark Chipman.

This is for Rick Bowness.  How concerned are you with the number of goals scored against you with the opposition pulling their goalie at the end of the game?  I believe there were FIVE.

15. Jets:  Special Teams: Rule of thumb. Have the two red numbers (PK and PP) total at least 100% when added (as your minimum). 

  • PP: 23rd at 20.00% down from 19th last week at 20.40% 
  • PK: 10th at 81.10% down from 3rd last week at 83.90%  
  • FO: 28th at 46.30% down from 24th last week at 47.10%  

16. Jets:  Goaltending:

  • Conner Hellebuyck:  10-5-1 … 2.43 GAA … .925 SV% … 2 shutouts  
  • David Rittich:  3-1-0 … 2.77 GAA … .890 SV%

17. Jets:  The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly this past week.

  • Good:  Josh Morrissey’s two overtime winners last week and his overall offensive output.  
  • Bad:  The late game collapses against the extra attacker.       
  • Ugly:  The non-whistle when Connor Hellebuyck’s helmet was knocked off.

18. Jets:  I don’t know if it’s my imagination, but Adam Lowry’s hands look better this year.   

19. Jets:  I mention it quite often nowadays but the Winnipeg Jets are not getting the ROI they need from Neal Pionk. 

20. Jets:  I would trade for Jonathon Toews (64.9%) or Bo Horvat (57.5%) just so the Jets could start with the puck once in a while.  The Jets don’t have one regular center at 50.0%.  

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Comments

  1. Hi Mitch…Regarding point #3, I think removing the “C” from Wheeler has rejuvenated his play. Now he doesn’t have to sit around and reply to redundant questions ad nauseam after a game. Can you imagine answering the same questions over and over and over again? That’s big time pressure taken off his shoulders. Bowness did well to recognize this, and Wheelers play confirms it as well…just my observation.

    • Mitch Kasprick says

      Hey Les … thanks for stopping by …. you’re right … Wheeler loved being captain but the immense pressure of being a captain in a Canadian market has finally been lifted of his shoulders. Bowness certainly isn;t Maurice, is he?

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