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. The Winnipeg Jets played four games this past week going 1-2-1 and are 27-33-5 overall.
2. It’s OFFICIAL! The Winnipeg Jets will host the Heritage Classic at Investors Group Field on Oct. 23 versus the Edmonton Oilers.
3. I don’t think that “not being named” in the first sixteen players for a World Cup roster is a snub BUT it certainly might work to motivate some players.
4. Congrats to Mark Scheifele on his first NHL hat-trick.
UPDATE: Mark Scheifele has been named the NHL’s Second Star of the week. He tallied 6 goals and an assist in his four games played.
5. It looks like Nikolaj Ehlers will be okay after a scary eye injury versus the Islanders on Thursday. That was a scary sight seeing the puck break his visor.
6. Suck it Habs!
7. In this day and age, Ondrej Pavelec’s play outside of his goal crease is embarrassing.
8. Josh Morrissey made his NHL debut on Saturday night versus the Habs and I thought he looked very solid.
9. Will Ehlers/Scheifele/Wheeler be the Winnipeg Jets top line next season?
10. I don’t care how many injuries the Jets have, I can’t stand seeing Chris Thorburn anywhere but the 4th line.
11. I hope Jets fans aren’t over-hyping Kyle Connor. He’s having a terrific year but he needs to work on his defensive game to have any chance of playing in the NHL next season AND yes I know we were saying the same thing about Nik Ehlers last year.
12. I find it interesting that the Heritage Classic alumni game will be all WHA and NHL 1.0 Jets. I’m not saying I disagree but I am surprised.
13. I like Mathieu Perreault but I believe I was correct in saying that he is not going to replace Andrew Ladd in the Jets line-up and he’s done nothing since the trade to prove me wrong.
14. I still can’t quite figure out where Andrew Copp fits into this Jets line-up and I can say the same about Adam Lowry and Alex Burmistrov.
15. My off-season Jets trade bait: Stafford, Thorburn, Stuart, Pavelec, Postma, Enstrom,
16. Things that make you go hmmm?: Dustin Byfuglien didn’t get a sniff at the last “Team USA” but yet he was named as one of four defencemen on “Team USA’s” preliminary 16-man roster.
17. Winnipeg Jets Special teams update:
PK: 26th at 77.7% up from 27th at 77.1% a slight change from 27th at 77.9% last week.
PP: 29th at 15.9% down from 28th at 16.5% last week.
18. Even the most die-hard Jets fans must now realize there is no chance for the playoffs and that these are the standings everyone should be watching.
As on Monday morning, Mar. 7
19. Countdown to the 2016 World Cup: 195 days (Sept. 17-Oct. 1 in Toronto) Preliminary rosters were posted this past Wednesday with the final rosters to be posted on June 1.
20. Connor Hellebuyck (North America U24), Blake Wheeler and Dustin Byfuglien (Team USA), and Ondrej Pavelec (Czech Rep) were named to their team’s preliminary 16-man rosters. I believe Nikolaj Ehlers (Team Europe), Jacob Trouba and Mark Scheifele (North America U24) have a good shot to be added to the 23-man rosters of their teams.
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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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7 – Pavelec has been an enigma. He has shown he can carry the team some nights and other nights he blows. He definitely is not a skilled puck handler and it costs. Speaking of costs, he is also the poster boy for an over paid piece of the puzzle. Unfortunately, the Jets will have to put up with him for another season because he is not “tradable” with his contract. I don’t see the Jets buying him out – not in their nature to do so no matter how much sense it would make. Similarly, I’m glad the Jet’s traded Ladd or he would be the same type of problem in a couple of years.
8 – Morrissey has to be ready to make the move to the big club next year. Time to live up to the billing and be a big part of the team. He did seem to handle himself with poise vs the Habs. Do you think that #39 is tradable. I don’t see the Jet’s being a play off team with d-men like Toby playing a role.
9 – That would be a great line and fun to watch over the season. Unfortunately, the Jets will still have to spread out the scoring and find a way to get production on a regular basis from other lines. I’d love to see Lemieux develop into an important cog in the wheel.