Random Thoughts On The Winnipeg Jets: June 6

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.  It’s that crazy time of the season where NHL trade rumors and free agency are hot topics now that the playoffs are down to hockey every other night (if we’re lucky).    

2.  Outside of the “top prospect” player interviews, does the NHL Combine mean anything?  Who gives a crap about how many pull-ups a kid can do.  At least the NFL Combine does drills that are actually applicable to football. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for the NHL Combine.  Why copy something for the sake of copying something?  I’d rather watch a John Deere combine working the fields than this useless NHL publicity stunt. 

3.  I thought this was cut and dried but it isn’t going to be that simple.     

   

4.  Patrik Laine has been a journalist’s dream with all of his bravado soundbites. He certainly isn’t shy or lacking in confidence.   

5.  The Winnipeg Jets waited until the last day but eventually signed 2014 fourth round draft pick Nelson Nogier to a 3-year ELC with an AAV of $771,700 per season.    

6.  Unfortunately, Grant Clitsome’s back problems have forced him into a premature retirement.  It’s too bad because Clitsome was a useful depth defenceman.     

7.  Joonas Donskoi’s OT goal in game three saved this Stanley Cup Final from being irrelevant and has actually peaked my interest a little bit.   

UPDATE: 10pm Monday night 

Sharks are done like dinner.  This may be one of the most boring Stanley Cup Finals in recent memory.  

8.  Andrew Ladd was quoted earlier this week saying that returning to Winnipeg could be a possibility.  I guess anything is possible if “The Price is Right”.            

9.  Why do some hockey fans think the Arizona Coyotes would give up 3 or 4 blue chip prospects to get Auston Matthews?  Just because he’s from Scottsdale, AZ?       

10.  Now that Grant Clitsome has retired, I wonder if Nikolaj Ehlers will don his #24 jersey?   

11.  It still boggles my mind how the eastern media fawn over Kris Letang.       

12.  Reading some of the trade proposals that fans post on twitter makes me happy they are not the GM of my favourite team.      

13.  I’ve written in this space before that I think this year’s NHL Entry Draft is going to be action packed with lots of trades and that the Jets were going to be right in the middle of all the action.  I’ve been disappointed in previous years BUT could this be the year?

14.  This past weekend’s twitter narrative was all about shipping Jacob Trouba out-of-town because of his camps’ unsubstantiated contract demands.  Hockey fans have no clue as to what the GM and players agent talk about 99% of the time in spite of what the “TSN Insiders” would have you believe!  Sadly, crap like this doesn’t surprise anymore.   

15.  Travis Hamonic was the “flavour of the month” (actually months) and now it seems to be Tyson Barrie.   

16.  I remember 3-4 years ago a certain part of the Jets fanbase was salivating when it was rumored Buffalo/Winnipeg were talking about a Drew Stafford trade and now those same experts can’t stop ripping him.     

17.  Ya …. like Kirk Muller was going to come here.    

18.  Part of me hopes the Jets draft Jesse Puljujarvi just to piss off the twitter experts.  (Although, I really, really like Patrik Laine.)

19.  Countdown to the 2016 NHL Entry Draft:  19 days (1st round on June 24th) in Buffalo, N.Y.   

20. Countdown to the 2016 World Cup of Hockey:  104 days (Sept. 17) in Toronto, Ont.  The final rosters of 20 skaters and 3 goalies are posted here >>> Rosters

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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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