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. To nobody’s surprise, the Winnipeg Jets have signed forward JC Lipon to a one-year, two-way contract worth an average annual value of $650,000 in the NHL. The question I have is why did it take so long? Who does he think he is, Jacob Trouba?
2. Hallelujah!!! We can all sleep at night now, Jimmy Vesey has made his big decision and picked the NYR.
3. We all know that Chevy has made great use of the waiver wire when it comes to claiming players BUT I hope he has read the chapter about placing players on the waiver wire. If a couple of prospects make serious bids for roster spots this upcoming season there could be some players that are under contract that will need to be traded or waived. The Manitoba Moose could be a short-term option but I can’t see the Jets paying NHL salaries to AHL players.
4. I am really pulling for Brendan Lemieux at this fall’s Winnipeg Jets training camp even though I think he’s a longshot BUT I think he is a lot closer than a lot of the much more ballyhooed prospects.
5. Most “Top whatever” lists are very subjective for the most part but I’m not sure I agree with NHL.com’s latest “Top 20 defenceman” list. I was never a huge Dustin Byfuglien supporter but I have come to love the “good Buff” because we see him much more than “bad Buff”. I don’t know what the eastern media’s infatuation with Kris Letang is but I’d take Buff any day of the week and twice on Sundays. Letang at #6 is a JOKE! I’d also take Buff over Victor Hedman, Ryan Suter, P.K. Subban (I love P.K.), Shea Weber AND I would take “Norris Buff” over almost everybody on that list. Yes, I have come a long way.
6. There is nothing more amusing than listening to guys that think they understand hockey analytics when they really don’t. I don’t profess to be an analytics expert, far from it BUT then again I also don’t go around pretending to be one.
7. This really isn’t a hockey related thought but it kind of is. NHL Hockey and NBA Basketball are both played in the winter, right? Then why are hockey in the winter Olympics and basketball in the summer Olympics?
8. Is Shawn Mattias now the de facto third line center for the Winnipeg Jets or is that job actually up for grabs. I see a few centermen playing out of position this upcoming season and that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
9. Countdown to the 2016 World Cup of Hockey: 27 days (Sept. 17) in Toronto, Ont. The final rosters of 20 skaters and 3 goalies are posted here >>> Rosters
10. Countdown to the 2016 Tim Hortons Heritage Classic: 63 days (Oct. 23) in Winnipeg, MB.
Download our new “FREE” Winnipeg Hockey Talk mobile phone app for Android users here >>>> WHT app
We are looking at a couple of designs for a WHT Podcast t-shirt. Please give us your feedback. We would like to have a tee-shirt design in place and available for purchase sometime this summer.
Loading ...
If you are interested in writing for Winnipeg Hockey Talk or if you know somebody interested, please contact us at:
We are looking for writers to cover the Winnipeg Jets, Manitoba Moose, Manitoba Bisons, Winnipeg AAA, MJHL, MMJHL, KIJHL and Winnipeg High School.
If you have any thoughts on any of these comments or questions, please let me know. We would love to hear your opinions.
Thanks, Mitch
Use the “Comment Section” below.
*
Good report, as always. I am still on the Buff fence. Letang? Fast, strong, good with the puck. I think that’s why he is there. Buff still gives up so many pucks. I am not convinced he is worth $7.5M/year. Question: does Trouba get signed? I’m thinking so, but they sure are waiting this one out.
I think the “good Buff” is worth the money BUT “bad Buff” ????