Random Thoughts On The Winnipeg Jets: Sept. 28

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

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 Winnipeg Jets have re-assigned 16 players.  Nelson Nogier and Brendan Lemieux has been sent back to their respective junior teams.  John Albert, Joel Armia, Eric Comrie, Chase De Leo, Brendan Kichton, Scott Kosmachuk, Jan Kostalek, Andrew McWilliam, Ryan Olsen and Josh Morrissey have been assigned to the Manitoba Moose.  Patrice Cormier, Matt Fraser, Julian Melchiori and Matt Halischuk will also join the Moose once they clear waivers.  Any surprises for you Jets fans? 

2.  The Winnipeg Jets young stars got spanked 8-1 in Minnesota on Sunday night by a veteran laden roster.  Should there be cause for concern or is this just part of the process. 

3.  Was anybody else surprised at the Oilers signing defenceman Oscar Klefbom for seven years at $4,167,000? 

4.  Paul Maurice actually made me chuckle last night when he said he the Jets were honoured to be on the same ice as the Wild.  

5.  I found the Jets meltdown versus the Edmonton Oilers on Friday night a lot harder to handle than Sunday nights loss to the Wild.  The Oiler dressed the NHL’s CBA negotiated bare minimum of NHLers and still pulled off a third period come from behind win.  OUCH!     

6.  I have to admit that I am a little concerned that the Jets really haven’t played much hockey yet and they already have so many guys banged up.      

7.  As an “old school” guy I don’t buy into the narrative that “it was only a pre-season game.”      

8.  After a 8-1 drubbing at the hands of the Minnesota Wild it looks like the Jets really missed the Thrasher core!    

9.  IMHO, Joel Armia has shown me very little in his bid for full-time NHL employment and I’m not surprised he is AHL bound.  

10.  Has Nic Petan done enough at this point to make the Winnipeg Jets opening night roster? 

11. Nothing to update in regards to a Dustin Byfuglien or Andrew Ladd extension.

12.  I’m always surprised by how little respect bottom of the roster players get from fans.  These guys are in the NHL for a reason and take on lesser roles to stay in the show.  These guys were all elite players somewhere at sometime. The NHL is a tough nut to crack.

13.  Thomas Raffl has made it through this latest cut but IMO he is not an NHLer. He has played okay and might earn himself an AHL contract but is he any better than J.C. Lipon, Ryan Olsen, Andrew Copp, Nic Petan etc etc?      

14.  Countdowns:

A.  Jets 1st regular season game:  9 days (at Boston)

B.  2016 World Cup:  354 days (Sept. 17-Oct. 1 in Toronto)

15.  Jets 2015 draft pick, Michael Spacek is off to a nice start with his new team, the Red Deer Rebels.  He has 3 goals and 2 assists in his first two games including an overtime winner.  Welcome to the WHL!    

16.  Nikolaj Ehlers has looked very dangerous at times in the pre-season but has nothing to show for it yet!

17.  Does anybody else remember Hannu Jarvenpaa’s 4 goal pre-season game versus the Minnesota North Stars back in 1986?  That was the highlight of a less than stellar Jets 1.0 NHL career for the Finnish winger.

18.  I have to admit that I have been very impressed by Andrew Copp’s skating so far this pre-season.

19.  Mark Scheifele, Adam Lowry, Jacob Trouba, Mathieu Perreault and Michael Hutchinson got a taste of life without the likes of Bryan Little Andrew Ladd, Big Buff, Toby and Stu and Wheels last night in Minny.  (see #8)

20.  Winnipeg Hockey Talk is looking for Winnipeg Jets and Manitoba Moose writers AND we would love somebody to cover the Manitoba Bisons as well.  If you or somebody you know is interested, please contact us at:

[email protected]

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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