Random Thoughts On The Winnipeg Jets: Feb. 29

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.

Updated: #7

1.  The Winnipeg Jets ended up 1-2-0 on the week and are 26-31-4 overall.       

2.  Andrew Ladd has been traded to the Chicago Blackhawks, ending many months of speculation and angst in Winnipeg.  The Jets received Marko Dano and a first round pick, (plus a conditional third round pick if Chicago wins the Stanley Cup).  The popular Jets captain will be missed.  Good Luck Laddy!      

3.  On Mar. 10, 1980, the New York Islanders acquired Butch Goring from the Los Angeles Kings and this was probably one of the best trade deadline day acquisitions of all-time.  He was a huge part of that NYI dynasty.           

4.  Right now at this year’s NHL Entry Draft, the Jets are poised to get a legacy player in Matthew Tkachuk.  I’d be fine with that.       

5.  Without ruining the content of one of my upcoming articles, the Andrew Ladd trade had nothing to do with the play of Kyle Connor in Michigan or the thought that Mathieu Perreault could replace him BUT it’s all about the surprisingly strong play of rookie Nikolaj Ehlers.        

6.  Screw the conditional pick from the Blackhawks, I hope they get knocked out in the opening round of the playoffs.  (see #2)           

7.  After parking Adam Pardy in the press box with the popcorn brigade for 90% of this season, the Jets placed him on waivers Sunday morning.  I guess he wasn’t tradeable or maybe he gets traded today.  Sometimes teams would prefer to trade a contract back.  I guess we will see by the deadline.

UPDATE: 10 am local time:  Adam Pardy was claimed on waivers by the Edmonton Oilers           

8.  Not that the NHL Player Safety Department could have prevented Bryan Little’s season ending injury but they sure as hell put their stamp of approval on the hit by doing NOTHING!  WELL DONE GARY!                

9.  It looks like the Winnipeg Jets won’t be naming a captain to finish out this season.  Most Jets fans assume that Blake Wheeler is the heir apparent but there is still a slight chance Andrew Ladd could re-sign in Winnipeg after July 1st. Highly unlikely but stranger things have happened.       

10.  Is there a possibility the Jets move a goaltender by the deadline?         

11.  According to Andrew Ladd’s agent J.P. Barry, the Jets, and Barry hadn’t talked since around Christmas.  I guess Chevy drew his line in the sand.    

12.  Although the Jets ended up extending Buff’s contract for five more years, I can’t help but wonder what was going through “Hockey Operations” heads if it was indeed a Ladd vs Buff decision and they were “all-in” on Ladd until their negotiations went south.  This really makes me wonder how smart these guys are.  The Jets have very few defensive prospects but yet Andrew Ladd was their priority?  At times, I don’t have a lot of faith in the decision makers of this team. It’s been five years and they’re still spinning their wheels.             

13.  I realize the Winnipeg Jets are a budget team and when the time comes they will spend to the cap, especially when they are contenders and capable of going a couple of playoff rounds BUT the Jets have the richest owner in the NHL and every once in a while I would like to see TNSE flex their muscles and let their competitors know they are a force.  

14.  If I were Chevy, I’d try taking a run at Drouin with that Chicago first rounder as one of the pieces.  

15.  For a team that is overly faithful to their players, they sure make odd choices.  Why wouldn’t they prioritize keeping Ladd over, Stu, Thor, Tony, Pav?    

16.  Things that make you go hmmm?:  There are Winnipeg Jets fans that were actually complaining about what the Jets received in return for Andrew Ladd.  I thought it was a very good return for an expiring contract.  What did they figure we were going to get for a rental player?   

17.  Winnipeg Jets Special teams update: 

PK:  27th at 77.1% a slight change from 27th at 77.9% last week.

PP:  28th at 16.5% down from 26th at 16.7% last week.

18.  Countdown to the 2016 NHL Trade Deadline:  TODAY at 2 pm Manitoba time.  (Feb. 29) 

19.  Countdown to the 2016 World Cup:  202 days (Sept. 17-Oct. 1 in Toronto) Preliminary rosters (16 players) will be posted this Wednesday.    

20.  I expect Connor Hellebuyck, Blake Wheeler, Nikolaj Ehlers to be named to their World Cup teams preliminary rosters this Wednesday.  I also believe there is an outside chance for Dustin Byfuglien and Jacob Trouba to be considered as well.  Remember, these are just preliminary rosters and they can be added to and subtracted from up until a couple of weeks before the tournament.        

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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 

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