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, the National Hockey League and the World Championships.
1. Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele and his Team Canada teammates are the 2016 WHC Gold Medal winners! Finland won the Silver Medal and Russia won the Bronze. Canada with back to back World Championships!
2. ALSO, congratulations to Winnipeggers Mark Stone and Calvin Pickard on their GOLD MEDAL VICTORY with Team Canada!
3. Dylan Larkin and Kyle Connor put up similar numbers with Michigan in their final NCAA seasons (Connor’s were actually better) BUT they are light years apart right now. In fairness, Larkin has a year of pro under his belt and Connor was banged up a bit during the WHC BUT Winnipeg Jets fans need to temper their expectations for the young man.
4. There is going to be a bidding war for a couple of KHL free agents this summer. Vadim Shipachyov and Yevgeni Dadonov have expressed their desire to ply their trade in the NHL this coming season.
5. For a guy that lives, breathes, and eats hockey 24/7, I have to admit I have watched more NBA playoff basketball (Toronto Raptors) than NHL playoff hockey this spring.
6. I need somebody from the NHL to explain to me what the purpose of the goal-crease is in hockey. I bet if you asked 10 different people you would get 10 different answers. Gary and his clowns have no clue. It’s a war zone in the goalie’s crease most nights when it’s supposed to be their “safe place”.
7. I wonder what’s going on with Slava Voynov?
8. The range of emotions in tournament hockey is interesting … Gold Medal and Bronze Medal winners are happy but the Silver Medal winner is sad. Like they say “you win the Gold and Bronze but the Silver medal is awarded after a loss”. (see #1)
9. The “feel good” story of this year’s IIHF WHC was definitely Selkirk, MB’s Rich Chernomaz and his Hungarian team. Team Hungary won their first game in the “A Pool” since 1939 but unfortunately they couldn’t avoid relegation to the “B Pool”.
10. Kazakhstan and Hungary will be relegated to the “B Pool” while Slovenia and Italy will be promoted to the “A Pool” for the 2017 IIHF WHC in France and Germany.
11. With a strong World Championships, it looks like Winnipeg Jets property Ivan Telegin has become a commodity again. He played very well and might draw some interest around the NHL and maybe even the Jets.
12. I believe Mark Scheifele has made a very strong case to be named to the North American U23 Team for this fall’s World Cup Of Hockey.
13. I also believe that Nikolaj Ehlers is a no-brainer to be added to Team Europe’s World Cup team as well.
14. Eighteen-year-old Finnish forward Patrik Laine was named the 2016 WHC MVP! Does anybody out there think the Winnipeg Jets are drafting Jesse Puljujarvi now?
15. I find it strange that Finnish goalkeeper Mikko Koskinen who was drafted 31st overall in 2009 by the New York Islanders isn’t playing in the NHL and especially since the Islanders goaltending hasn’t exactly been stellar in recent history.
16. The Brandon Wheat Kings dropped their Memorial Cup opener to a very strong Rouyn-Noranda team on Saturday night. It won’t get any easier tonight when the face the OHL Champs from London. Go Wheaties Go! Tournament schedule >>> here
17. I wonder if the Jets signed the wrong Russian last summer? (see #11)
18. It was quite surprising to see Mark Scheifele at the top face-off stats at the WHC. He finished the tournament in fourth place. I hope he can transition this success in the dot to the NHL next season.
19. Countdown to the 2016 NHL Entry Draft: 33 days (1st round on June 24th) in Buffalo, N.Y.
20. Countdown to the 2016 World Cup of Hockey: It is 118 days (Sept. 17) Toronto, Ont. The final rosters (20 skaters/3 goalies) to be posted on June 1.
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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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Thanks for sharing your thoughts Mitch . I look forward to what you have to say on a weekly basis . I wonder if Telegen ever plays in NA again . Seems he was home sick so he left Winnipeg or just didn’t want to play in the AHL
Thanks, Dale …. Telegin never really got on track over here mostly because of injuries …. I believe Telegin would still like to play in the NHL … you don’t come over to NA at a young age to play in the OHL if you don’t want to play in the best league in the world. He’s healthy and mature now, so it could be his time.
#5 – It’s been kind of fun flipping between NHL, IIHL, NBA, and the Blue Jays. I have to say that the NHL playoffs has been very entertaining. Much more fun to watch when the ref’s have put the whistle away.
#9 – the Hungarian team and their fans should be commended for their efforts. Likewise Finland.
#12 – Love Scheifele’s physical game. He played well and was a force any time he was on the ice.
#14 – Laine made Toronto’s decision a little tougher. If he was a centre, he would be a Maple Leaf next season.
agree about Laine
#8 The Silver medal is the first medal won in any tournament. It is won in the semi-finals. Saying that, it still is a heart-breaker to not win in the Final.
#14 If Laine ends up in a Jets uniform, who is the Jets’ Backstrom to his Ovechkin?
Yup … teams I’ve coached have won Silver and it stings for quite a long time …. we don’t have a Backstrom so Little or Scheif will have to do …. Wheeler might bounce between the two until they find the perfect mix.