Odds and Ends about the Winnipeg Jets and the NHL that crossed my mind this past week —
Odds and Ends about the Winnipeg Jets and the NHL that crossed my mind this past week —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 finished the week 2-1-0 and now have a record of 22-23-4 overall. According to Sports Club Stats, the Winnipeg Jets playoff chances are 18.6% …. up from 10.9% last week.
2. I was as surprised as the next guy when the Jets called up Ondrej Pavelec but after sitting back and reflecting on it I realized that this was about Hutch and not Helle. The fan in me says I don’t give a rat’s ass who is net as long as the team wins. If Pav can go on a little run and give the Jets some wins that Hutch couldn’t I’m okay with that.
3. I have no problem with Paul Maurice giving Nikolaj Ehlers a little tough love BUT I think PoMo has made more faux pas this season than young Nik Ehlers.
4. Patrik Laine is practicing again and is getting real close to returning to the Jets lineup. It looks like he will play this week. Happy days Winnipeg Jets fans.
5. I like Joel Armia. I like his game. He is an interesting player but I don’t know if he will be much better than a bottom six forward. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. He works very well on the third line with Adam Lowry and Shawn Matthias.
6. Nikolaj “don’t call me Nik” Ehlers is arguably the Winnipeg Jets most dynamic player. It’s going to be scary to see where he will be in a couple of years. I know I gush about his play every week but he is that good and we’re lucky to have him.
7. It was nice to see the Jets special teams impact a game in a positive way. Saturday afternoon in a 5-3 win versus the St. Louis Blues the Winnipeg Jets PP went 3 for 5.
8. Pet peeve: Players that chop an opponent’s stick in half and then have the nerve to bitch at the referee for calling the penalty. As brutal as the NHL’s men in stripes are it’s pretty hard to ignore the evidence when it is lying on the ice.
9. I would like to see Mark Chipman hire a qualified President of Hockey Operations that oversees the GM and coach BUT not a yes man. It seems to be working in Toronto and Columbus.
10. It looks like Mathieu Perreault is finding his mojo again. He has looked real good lately along with his linemates Blake Wheeler and Bryan Little. The Winnipeg Jets are going to need this line playing well if they want to make a second-half push for the playoffs.
11. Last weeks poll question was ” Who is to blame when Dustin Byfuglien is playing poorly?” Paul Maurice ( he has given Buff way too much freedom to roam) received 13%, Buff received (he is a professional and responsible for his own game) 30%, and a combination of both received 73% of the votes.
12. Poll question: Who will get the most starts in the next ten games? Keep in mind there are two sets of back to backs.
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13. FYI: Ondrej Pavelec will only require waivers if he plays more than nine games or is up with the big club for more than thirty days.
14. Question for Kevin Cheveldayoff: What were you thinking when you signed Brain Strait? He isn’t even a good AHL depth defenceman.
15. Make no doubt about it, Connor Hellebuyck is the Jets goaltender now and going forward so just relax Pav haters. (see#2)
16. Bryan Little is sporting an impressive 56.8% faceoff percentage.
17. I’m starting to worry about Kyle Connor a bit. He is not adapting to the pro game IMO and not playing very well in the AHL. He is still having a hard time finding the corners and I don’t mean the corners of the net. Even skilled players need to compete and his compete level is poor.
18. The numbers:
- Connor Hellebuyck: GAA – 2.82 … SV% – .907 … 3 shutouts.
- Michael Hutchinson: GAA – 3.18 … SV% – .896 … 1 shutout.
- Ondrej Pavelec: GAA – 3.03 … SV% – .914
19. Dumping on Dustin Byfuglien’s play has become an annual event here in Winnipeg and at times rightly so. When Buff goes off the rails he doesn’t mess around but Dustin Byfuglien makes so many subtle little plays that most fans don’t notice because he does them so quick and effortlessly.
20. Special Teams:
- PP: 15th at 18.5% up from … 17th at 17.7% … last week.
- PK: 26th at 77.4% down from … 26th at 77.6% … last week.
21. Find the Seinfeldism.
22. Ex-Jet Alex Burmistrov is off to a nice start with his new team in Arizona tallying three points in three games.
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Thanks, Mitch
Use the “Comment Section” below.
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I know where you’re coming from, Mitch, but the Jets already have a President of Hockey Operations who oversees the GM and head coach. It’s the Puck Pontiff himself, Mark Chipman.
I believe that’s common knowledge.
yes and therein lies the problem … shoot … in my original draft I had the word “qualified” LOL … is it too late to add that … I think not.
It’s your blog. You can add or subtract anything you like.
Even if Chipman were to hire someone and give him the title President of Hockey Operations, we all know it would be nothing more than window dressing. He is the Puck Pontiff and those who work under him are his College of Yes Men.
unfortunately, I think you’re probably right
So what’s the Seinfeldism?
#5 … Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
Of course. D’oh!