Winnipeg Jets grades for the forwards –
As usual in any hockey season, any given NHL roster is going to have its surprises and it’s disappointments. The Winnipeg Jets are no exception. The Winnipeg Jets forward group in the first quarter of the season has been very inconsistent with the exception of Blake Wheeler and Bryan Little. Bryan Little has been terrific and very good in the face-off circle while Blake Wheeler is off to his fastest start in putting up points. The rest of the forwards have had some bright moments but not consistently enough to get the grades of Wheeler and Little.
Andrew Ladd is off to a slow start and he might still be feeling the effects from his off-season surgery or some have speculated it could be the on again/off again contract negotiations which I don’t buy for a moment. I’ll lean toward the former rather than the latter.
Paul Maurice seems to have the Winnipeg Jets playing a new defensive system that has the fans confused and more importantly the players.
Biggest surprise: Blake Wheeler
Biggest disappointment: Andrew Ladd
Grading: I assign two grades; first (hockey grade) is just strictly what you see is what you get and the second (ROI) is weighed against salary or “bang for your buck”.
At the time of this “Report Card” (after the Arizona Coyotes game), the Winnipeg Jets record was 10-9-2 and not far off where they were at the same time last year but this team certainly has a different vibe that is making even the most optimistic Jets fan uneasy.
I feel these grades fairly reflect their play … in my opinion.
Please feel free to add your grades or opinions on any player/players you feel I have over-rated or short-changed. Remember, this is only my opinion and mine only and it does not reflect the opinion or opinions of the other writers here at Winnipeg Hockey Talk.
Please feel free to comment below.
Defencemen, goaltenders and special teams tomorrow.
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Of the players on the team last year, I am interested in what their grades were (last year) at this point.
Can you link me to that specific post (last year) instead of me sifting through previous posts? Silly question?
Sure hope Ladd can get back on track. It’s ‘bad’ for the guy wearing the ‘C’ (pun intended: grade reference/captaincy) to be underperforming…significantly, one would think.
Thanks.
Hey Todd … go to the “Home Page” and under the “Winnipeg Jets” tab you will find the report cards.
BTW … nice pun
Cool. Got it. Cheers.
In a one minute math effort, the Jets 1st quarter grades are (almost) exactly the same as last year’s on average. Eerily, nearly exactly.