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. Thank God it’s over! I don’t know about you but I don’t think hockey should be played in June. IMO, the NHL should start the regular season in September so we NEVER have to see a hockey game in the month of June again.
2. Since I just mentioned it, we might as well vote on it.
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3. Last weeks poll question was “Who should be the Jets next captain” and Blake Wheeler (66%) was the popular choice over Mark Scheifele (30%) and others (4%).
4. Is it just me or does it seem like the Winnipeg Jets fans are looking forward to the “Jets 1.0 vs Oilers Alumni Game” more than the actual regular season Jets 2.0 vs Oilers game in the Heritage Classic this October? I think so.
5. I guess Jacob Trouba will have to publicly declare his love for Winnipeg so Jets fans can stop trying to have him traded to every NHL team for a bag of pucks. Relax people! A signing of his and Mark Scheifele’s magnitude is a process. Yes, I used the “P” word.
6. I find it quite amusing that in the NHL where right-shooting defencemen are a luxury and hard to come by that Jets fans are so quick to trade Tyler Myers and Jacob Trouba. Having a strong right side isn’t the problem; having a weak left side is. The Jets have a left-shooting Josh Morrissey close to making the jump to the NHL and the Jets have enough assets to acquire a left defenceman if they are motivated to do so. The real problem is they could be happy with the status quo.
7. Tickets for the Heritage Classic go on sale for season ticket holders this Wednesday and I was quite surprised by the pricing. The two-game package isn’t cheap but I thought it was going to be more of a “gouge job”. I still don’t understand how the prices can be double/triple a regular NHL game for the privilege of freezing outdoors in really awful seats with horrible sight lines.
FYI: The two games are being sold as a package and not individually with season ticket holders, suite owners, and wait list members get first crack at packages before being made available to the general public.
8. Why do the networks feel the need to show us these “fan parties” outside of every arena come playoff time? (hockey and basketball) Why are they showing this? Who cares?
9. I would like to see the NHL eventually eliminate NMC (no movement clauses) from NHL contracts.
10. On Friday, the hockey world mourned the loss of Gordie Howe aka “Mr. Hockey”. Gordie Howe came out of retirement at the age of 45 to play hockey with his two sons, Marty and Mark with the WHA’s Houston Aeros and although he had lost a couple of steps he was still the smartest player on the ice. Mr. Howe will always be remembered as one of the greatest players of all-time but more importantly, he will always be remembered as being a gentleman.
11. I wonder how much these NHL outdoor games (New Years Day game, the Stadium Series, and Heritage games) impact the salary cap since they generate huge HRR (hockey related revenue) for the league.
12. It looks like the expansion to Las Vegas is a done deal. NHL teams are already receiving info on what the parameters of the expansion draft will look like. Of course, nothing is official until it is voted on at the BOG meetings on June 22.
I wrote a little piece about some of the Winnipeg Jets options >>>> here.
13. In another move to irritate me, Gary declares “The Stanley Cup is the hardest trophy in all of sports to win”. Sorry Gary but there’s this little trophy called the Memorial Cup that truly is the hardest trophy to in ALL of sports to win.
14. I wonder how many NHL players would waive their “no movement clauses” to be exposed in the expansion draft so they could work and live in Las Vegas?
15. I was perusing through the July 1st UFA list this weekend and to be honest there wasn’t too much there that got me excited. I couldn’t find a Mathieu Perreault type signing in that group but for the right price, Kris Russell and maybe Alex Goligoski could be a good fit.
16. I wonder if Evander Kane prays every night that the Buffalo Sabres leave him unprotected in the expansion draft and he gets selected by Las Vegas. Is there a player in the NHL that would be better suited to play hockey and live in “Sin City” than Evander Kane? (see #12)
17. Winnipeg Jets season ticket prices have increased every season by 2%-3% and I would be willing to bet that the average Jets season ticket holder can’t say the same about their salary. I can’t help but wonder how long it is before TNSE price themselves right out of the average fans budget and Winnipeg becomes a corporate crowd just like in Toronto?
18. Countdown to the 2016 NHL Entry Draft: 12 days (1st round on June 24th) in Buffalo, N.Y.
19. Countdown to the 2016 World Cup of Hockey: 97 days (Sept. 17) in Toronto, Ont. The final rosters of 20 skaters and 3 goalies are posted here >>> Rosters
20. Countdown to the 2016 Tim Hortons Heritage Classic: 133 days (Oct. 23) in Winnipeg, MB.
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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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