Things about the Winnipeg Jets and the NHL that crossed my mind over the weekend —
These were a few of the things that rattled through my head this past week about the NHL and our Winnipeg Jets.
1. The Winnipeg Jets were 2-0-1 this past week with ALL 3 on the road. Thoughts?
2. Why did Buffalo Sabres forward, Patrick Keleta, just sit there with his back exposed knowing Adam Lowry was barreling down on him . This doesn’t excuse Lowry’s hit but I’m sick of players not knowing what’s going on around them. AKA “no hockey sense”!
3. The Winnipeg Jets didn’t play particularly well on their 3 game road trip but the PP clicked in all 3 games and they took 5 of 6 points! Mmmmm?
4. Jets are 8-4-3 on the road and only 4-5-1 at home …. Do they not like us? Is it something we said?
5. Michael Hutchinson just keeps on making a case for more starts. Competition is healthy and could push both goaltenders to be even better!
6. It’s time G.M. Keven Cheveldayoff made a move to fix the bottom 6 forwards and especially the 4th line. Outside of Jim Slater, PoMo doesn’t trust the rest and this team can’t play 82 games with the current ice-time distribution.
7. With PP goals in back to back to back nights this past week, I found it interesting that Toby Enstrom didn’t dress for any of those games. Any coincidence or correlation? (see #3)
Jets defenceman Toby Enstrom photo by Shawn Coates
8. Should Winnipeg Jets fans be concerned that they have garnered most of their points versus Eastern Conference teams and lost 7 of 11 versus the West?
9. I don’t want to sound like a homer but I don’t think the Jets get the same type of officiating at the MTS Centre as other teams do in their home rinks.
10. It looks like Jets goaltending prospect, Connor Hellebuyck, is starting to find his groove as a pro: 16 games: 9-5-2 GAA: 2.35 SV%: .929
11. The Jets play 9 of their 13 games at the MTS Centre in December. Is this a good thing? (see #4)
12. The Winnipeg Jets have scored: 7 PP goals on the road – 3 PP goals at home – they really don’t like us! 😛 (see #4)
13. Winnipeg Jets prospect, Scott Kosmachuk, is off to a slow start in his pro career with just 5 points in his first 22 games.
14. The biggest surprise playing in St. John’s right now is Chase Balisy. He was chosen in the 6th round, 170th overall in 2011 by the Nashville Predators and was signed to an AHL contract by the IceCaps. He is currently leading the IceCaps in scoring!
15. I wonder how the Washington Capitals feel about the Martin Erat/Filip Forsberg trade today?
If you have any thoughts on any of these comments or questions, please let me know. I am a curious person by nature and I need answers.
Thanks, Mitch
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More and more players expose themselves to checks from behind trying to draw penalties, turning at the last minute. (Not the case with Kaleta hit). Players are taught to finish checks. Nhl needs to bring back the ability to pin the opponent to the boards as opposed to hitting.
No coincidence to me the pp is working better without Toby on the point. His refusal to shoot makes it easier to overplay Buff and take away his shot.
On the Forsberg trade in the words of Homer Simpson; “DOH”
LOL …. “DOH” sums it up perfectly …. I thought that was a head-shaker then and it looks even worse now …. you’re bang on about Toby … they overplay Buff ….. the weird part is the point shot doesn’t need to be a 100 mph slapshot.
Hockey players are no longer required to have hockey sense, rule changes have taken that aspect of the game away. I never liked to see a player injured by a hit, but too many players believe that they are protected because a hit anywhere other than eye-to-eye square in front of them is now a penalty – no reason to ‘keep your head up’ anymore. I like to see the players protected, but too many of them take it for granted I think.
You are right about that …. today’s rules have created some bad habits in players
Just some random observations. Nice to see Chariot come in and play well. I liked his play in training camp. I was very critical of Bogosian in the past but in my opinion he has really picked up his play and then he gets hurt. Is he just snake bit or what? Every year it happens. Nice to see Balisy playing well and Hellebuyck as well. I wonder if Zinger had anything to do with picking up Balisy. He is a great judge of hockey talent! We will see if the Jets have the depth to overcome all the injuries on defense.
Bogo has been real good of late … I think he got injured blocking a short ….. as for Balisy he is on an AHL contract so the Jets don’t have his rights … he’s still an NHL free agent.
Thanks Mitch for the info. I didn’t realize Balisy was a free agent. I wonder if Chevy and Zinger will sign him? I like the way they have developed Chariot and I hope the kid plays well.
Well, he is their leading scorer …. it’s a long way from Rancho Santa Margarita, California to St. John’s Newfoundland.