Random Thoughts on the Winnipeg Jets for Dec. 8, 2025

December 8, 2025 by

Mitch Kasprick is now the “Westdale Curmudgeon.“ Odds and Ends, Thoughts, and Questions from this past week in Hockey

I am a fan of the Winnipeg Jets, the Manitoba Moose, and all Team Canada Hockey teams.  I am NOT a fan of Gary Bettman, or as I call him, Count Chocula.  I am a big believer in the 7Ps, or is it the 8Ps?  You’ve been warned.

For a more in-depth look at these Random Thoughts, check out the new WHT YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/@WpgHockTalk

Host Harley Friesen and Winnipeg Hockey Talk writer Mitch Kasprick discuss his Random Thoughts on the Winnipeg Jets, Manitoba Moose, and the National Hockey League. 

1. Jets:  The Winnipeg Jets finished their 5-game road trip with a disappointing 1-3-1 record, and after a week where they went 1-2-1, their record of 14-13-1 still has them hovering around the wildcard position.  The good guys now have 4 in a row at home and need to start banking some points.

2. Jets:  The lack of scoring, and by that I mean scoring from the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th lines, is a much bigger problem than the lack of Helle.  The good news is that the 4th line has scored in the last 2 games, but the bad news is that the 2nd and 3rd lines have completely gone dry.

3. Jets:  Adam Lowry and Dylan Samberg are not playing their best hockey right now.  I think missing games to start the season has impacted both of them more than we would have expected.  You can add Cole Perfetti to this list as well and while I’m at it, let’s add Jonathon Toews, who hasn’t played in a couple of years.  I’m looking forward to a big second half from all 4 of these players because we’re going to need it.  I just hope it’s not too late.

4. Jets:  From the “Put that in your pipe and smoke it” file.  

I’m not a Chevy hater nor a Chevy apologist, but at what point does the GM have to take responsibility for the fiasco he has created?  Under Chevy’s tenure, the Winnipeg Jets have only won 4 playoff rounds in 14 years, and year 15 isn’t looking very promising.  It’s time to start holding his feet to the fire, as he is the architect of this old, slow team, so put that in your pipe and smoke it.  

5. Jets:  After being very hard on Eric Comrie last week, he was incredible on Wednesday night in Montreal.  I also thought he was excellent versus Buffalo on Friday night.

6. Jets:  Question for Scott Arniel:  With your team having to go to Edmonton on a back-to-back, your big roster move was to sit Elias Salomonsson and dress Luke Schenn?

7. Jets:  Logan Stanley, Neal Pionk, and Dylan Samberg were taking turns serving up free pizzas in Montreal on Wednesday night.

8. Moose:  The Manitoba Moose went 2-1 last week, making their record 13-9-2-0.  The Moose are in 2nd in the Central Division and are in a tie for 3rd in the 17-team Western Conference.  The boys now have 6 in a row at home to finish off the month of December.  The part that frustrates me about the Moose is that I want to see Brad Lambert and Nikita Chibrikov get called up to the Jets, but if I were being honest, the way they are playing at the AHL level, they don’t deserve a promotion. 

Update:  Thomas Milic down to the Moose, Dom DiVincentiis up to the Jets. 

Watch the WHT YouTube channel live every Monday at 7 pm … @WpgHockTalk

9. Jets:  Elias Salomonsson played in two games last week, and his overall play actually looked pretty solid.  It will be interesting to see what happens when Haydn Fleury is ready to return.  IMHO, he would not be my choice to come out of the Jets lineup.

10. Jets:  The NHL has announced that the Winnipeg Jets and Montreal Canadiens will play in an outdoor game in the 2026 “Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic” at Princess Auto Stadium in Winnipeg.  The game will be played on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, and I’m guessing it won’t be an afternoon game where the sun can play havoc like the last time in 2016.

11. Jets:  WHT Poll

If the price is right should Chevy look into acquiring Steve Stamkos?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

12. Jets:  Special Teams:  Rule of thumb.  Have the power play and penalty kill (PK and PP) numbers total at least 100% when added (as your minimum).

  • PP: 12th at 21.30% down from 11th at 22.70% last week (net 12th at 18.80%)*
  • PK: 14th at 81.30% down from 6th 84.50% last week (net 12th at 84.60%)*
  • FO: 9th at 52.10% down from 6th at 53.00% last week

13. Jets:  Goaltending:

  • Connor Hellebuyck:  8-6-0 … 2.51 GAA … .913 SV%
  • Eric Comrie:  6-6-0 … 3.08 GAA … .898 SV%
  • Thomas Milic:  0-1-0 … 3.56 … .871 SV%
  • Domenic DiVincentiis:  6-7-0–0 … 2.49 GAA … .915 SV%  (Manitoba Moose)

14. Jets:  The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly this past week.

  • Good:  The 3rd period versus Buffalo on Friday night looked like last year’s Jets.
  • Bad:  Adam Lowry should be embarrassed by being outmuscled by the much smaller Matt Savoie on Edmonton’s 3rd goal on Saturday night.  
  • Ugly:  The Jets are 3-6-1 post-Helle surgery.

15.  Things that make me go hmmm:🤔  

I’ve already heard a lot of Jets fans griping about Montreal being the Jets’ opponent for the Heritage Classic, when Minnesota is our closest rival in proximity and our biggest rival, period.  I totally concur, but I don’t know what the criteria are for choosing an opponent.  Is it about Canadian Heritage and not necessarily rivalries?  I wonder?

16.  WHT Poll

Who would you prefer to see in the Tim Hortons Heritage Classic?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

17.  WHT Poll

Should Chevy look into Laurent Brossoit?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

18. Jets:  Cole Koepke has NHL speed, but he has AHL hands.  If Cole had better hands, he’d have 3 or 4 more goals this season.  I love the way he takes the puck to the net and doesn’t live on the perimeter like some of his teammates. 

19. Jets:  I like Vladdy, but I’m sorry, you can’t have a guy with 0 goals and 1 assist in his last 15 games playing on the 2nd line and second unit powerplay.  He’s okay in a pinch, but he is a bottom-six guy on most teams.

20. Jets:  Kevin Cheveldayoff’s scorecard has a lot of birdies on it as well as a lot of bogies.  He also has a couple of eagles and a few double-bogies too, but after you add up his scorecard, he is a par golfer at best, and par golfers never win a golf tournament and rarely even make the cut.  It’s time for Mark Chipman to find a new golfer to back.  

Watch the WHT YouTube channel live at 7 pm on Monday nights … @WpgHockTalk

Click ICON to follow WHT  on X👉👉👉 Follow @WpgHockTalk

*

Filed Under: Featured, Random Thoughts Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Random Thoughts on the Winnipeg Jets for Nov. 24, 2025

November 24, 2025 by

Mitch Kasprick is now the “Westdale Curmudgeon.“ Odds and Ends, Thoughts, and Questions from this past week in Hockey

I am a fan of the Winnipeg Jets, the Manitoba Moose, and all Team Canada Hockey teams.  I am NOT a fan of Gary Bettman, or as I call him, Count Chocula.  I am a big believer in the 7Ps, or is it the 8Ps?  You’ve been warned.

For a more in-depth look at these Random Thoughts, check out the new WHT YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/@WpgHockTalk

Host Harley Friesen and Winnipeg Hockey Talk writer Mitch Kasprick discuss his Random Thoughts on the Winnipeg Jets, Manitoba Moose, and the National Hockey League.

Watch WHT’s YouTube show here >>> https://youtu.be/gsFpDc79Kxw  at 7 pm every Monday.

1. Jets:  Friday night versus the Carolina Hurricanes, four to six weeks of life without goaltender Connor Hellebuyck officially started for the Winnipeg Jets. 

It was probably smart to have the surgery now and rehab through the Christmas break so he won’t miss as many games. 

2. Jets:  The Winnipeg Jets finished their 3-game homestand with a 1-2-0 record and sit in 5th place in the Central Division, just a couple of points outside of a wildcard spot.  The boys now head back out on the road for 5 games visiting Washington, Carolina, Nashville, Buffalo, and Montreal.  I have a very bad feeling about this trip.

3. Jets:  Some good news if you’re an Adam Lowry fan. 

4. NHL:  From the “Put that in your pipe and smoke it” file. 

Nikolaj “don’t call me Nik” Ehlers, who was one of my favourite players as a Winnipeg Jet.  Nik played in his first game as a Carolina Hurricane versus his old team for the first time in Winnipeg on Friday night, and apparently, I was supposed to give a crap.  I’m glad he got a warm ovation during his video tribute, but I find it hard to feel warm and fuzzy about a player who left us high and dry.  He is gone and I don’t give a #&%! about him, so put that in your pipe and smoke it.

5. Jets:  The DeMelo Files: The truth is out there.

Tuesday night versus Columbus, Miles Wood blew past him like he was standing still and tied the game 1-1 after the Jets dominated the 1st period.

Friday night against Carolina, DD made a terrific breakout pass (got an assist) to Scheif that led to a goal by Josh Morrissey.

Later in that period, he saved a sure goal by swatting a puck out of mid-air that was on its way into an open net.

Sunday afternoon, versus Minnesota, he took an interference penalty that I thought was a weak call, but he lost body position, and the official got fooled.

I rag on DD quite a bit, but overall, I think he had a decent week.

6. Jets:  Question for Scott Arniel:  You’ve been juggling the lines a lot lately in 3rd periods when you’re behind or looking for more offence.  Why not try some new lines and attempt to bolster the 2nd line on a more permanent basis?

7. Jets:  There is a current trend that’s been going on for quite some time, that if you’re in a playoff position on American Thanksgiving, you will indeed make the playoffs.  This Thursday is American Thanksgiving, and I have a bad feeling Friday will show the Jets on the outside looking in.

8. Moose:  The Manitoba Moose won both of their games this week to make it 6 in a row, improving their record to 9-6-2-0.  The Moose are now in a tie for 2nd in the Central Division and are in a tie for 5th in the 17-team Western Conference.  The boys have 4 home games this coming week.  Three up, one down as the Moose got three players ( Brad Lambert,  Parker Ford, and Nikita Chibrikov) back from the parent club, while losing one ( Thomas Milic) to the Jets. 

Watch the WHT YouTube channel live every Monday at 7 pm.

9. Jets:  This is getting really old. 

10. Jets:  I think it’s time to give some props to Alex Iafallo.  AI is the new Mathieu Perrault type of Swiss Army Knife.  Play him on any line, use him in any role, and he just keeps on chugging and never complains.  He is definitely one of my favourite Jets.

Embed from Getty Images

 

11. Jets:  WHT Poll

If the price is right should Chevy look into acquiring Steve Stamkos?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

12. Jets:  Special Teams:  Rule of thumb.  Have the power play and penalty kill (PK and PP) numbers total at least 100% when added (as your minimum).

  • PP: 8th at 23.30% down from 8th at 24.10% last week
  • PK: 6th at 83.80% down from 6th 84.10% last week
  • FO: 5th at 53.01% up from 7th at 53.00% last week

13. Jets:  Goaltending:

  • Connor Hellebuyck:  8-6-0 … 2.51 GAA … .913 SV%
  • Eric Comrie:  4-3-0 … 2.87 GAA … .899 SV%

14. Jets:  The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly this past week.

  • Good:  I thought the Jets played pretty well last week, but got nothing to show for it.
  • Bad:  No puck-luck.  
  • Ugly:  0-2 post Helle.

15. Things that make me go hmmm:🤔

In the grand scheme of things, it doesn’t matter, but I was wondering why Frank Seravalli broke the news about Brad Lambert’s trade request, and Darren Dreger broke the story about Helle’s surgery and not one of our local guys.

16. Things that make me go hmmm:🤔Part 2.  

I wonder if it pisses off our local guys?

17. Jets: From the “You want the truth, you can’t handle the truth” file.

We are at the 1/4 pole of the season, and I have to ask myself to put aside my Jonathon Toews bias and ask myself the question.  Is JT working out?  I’m going to ignore the question for now because I might not like the answer.

18. NHL:  Pet Peave:  “The lacrosse line change.”

The lacrosse line change in hockey happens when the team skating from their offensive zone back towards their defensive zone have 2 players jump into the back gate of their players’ bench, while 2 players jump onto the ice out of the front gate, and gain the length of their players’ bench plus the 2-3 steps grace they’re allowed.  The problem is that the 2-3 step grace at both ends has turned into 3-4 steps, then 4-5 steps.  Do you see where I’m going with this?

Friday night in the 3rd period versus Carolina, the Jets had a 2-on-1 developing coming out of their defensive zone when 2 Hurricanes jumped out of the far end of their box while the 2 players they were replacing were still 6 feet away, basically turning a 2-on-1 into a 2-on-3, and it pisses me off even more when the announcers don’t mention it.

Give ’em an inch, and they’ll take a mile, and you know for sure that Count Chocula’s minions will call the first “too many men on the ice” penalty on a lacrosse change in 5 years against the Jets on their upcoming 6-game road trip.  

19. Jets:  Kyle Connor is starting to let some of his old bad habits creep back into his game, and it really showed on the 2 short-handed goals that were scored against the Jets in both their losses this weekend.  I’m not saying the shorties were his fault, but the sight of him dogging it on the backcheck wasn’t a good look. 

20. Jets:  Neal Pionk left the game after his 2nd shift in the 1st period and did not return.  Pionk is day-to-day with the injury, but there will be an update after the team practices on Monday afternoon.

*

Watch the WHT YouTube channel live at 7 pm on Monday nights.

Click ICON to follow WHT 👉👉👉 Follow @WpgHockTalk *

Filed Under: Featured, Random Thoughts Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Random Thoughts on the Winnipeg Jets for Nov. 10 2025

November 10, 2025 by

Mitch Kasprick is now the “Westdale Curmudgeon.” 

Odds and Ends, Thoughts, and Questions from this past week in Hockey –

Just so there’s no confusion when I’m spewing my bias, I am a fan of the Winnipeg Jets, Manitoba Moose, and all Team Canada Hockey teams.

I am NOT a fan of Gary Bettman, or as I call him, Count Chocula.  I am a big believer in the 7Ps, or is it the 8Ps?  You’ve been warned.

For a more in-depth look at these Random Thoughts, check out the new WHT YouTube channel.

https://www.youtube.com/@WpgHockTalk

Host Harley Friesen and Winnipeg Hockey Talk writer Mitch Kasprick discuss his Random Thoughts on the Winnipeg Jets, Manitoba Moose, and the National Hockey League.

Watch WHT’s YouTube show here >>> https://youtu.be/gsFpDc79Kxw

1. Jets:  The Winnipeg Jets are halfway through their six-game Western road trip and went 0 for California and looked like crap doing it.  The only way they can salvage this road trip is by winning the last 3 games.  That won’t happen, only scoring 2 goals in 3 games.

2. Jets:  Adam Lowry returned to the lineup on Thursday night vs LA, and Cole Perfetti drew back in against Anaheim last night, but they will probably need a few more games to be difference-makers.  The player this team needs back desperately is Dylan Samberg.

3. Jets:  It is really frustrating staying up late and watching your team crap the bed, scoring only 2 goals in 3 games, plus I really hate going to bed pissed off. 

4. Jets:  From the “Put that in your pipe and smoke it” file.

Josh Morrissey has been a little off in his own end lately, but he’s actually playing decently.  That’ll happen when you have to play both positions on defence.  Obviously, I’m not happy with the play of Dylan DeMelo, and I haven’t been for a long time.  I’m tired of hearing about his good plus/minus or his positive Corsi numbers.  You could put a chimp with Josh, and he’d have positive numbers.  Right now, he is an anchor in that top pairing.  I’m not buying into the DeMelo rhetoric anymore; it was warranted at one time, but not anymore, so put that in your pipe and smoke it.

5. Jets:  Connor Hellebuyck’s wandering and poor puck handling are starting to rear their ugly head again.

6. Jets:  Question for Kevin Cheveldayoff:   How much of Steven Stamkos’ 3 x $8,000,000 contract would Nashville have to eat for you to take him off their hands?  His talents are just rotting away there.  He sure would look good alongside Jonathan Toews and Cole Perfetti.

7. Jets:  Games against young, skating teams like the San Jose Sharks and Anaheim Ducks can really expose slower players like Dylan DeMelo, Luke Schenn, and Logan Stanley. DeMelo was beyond awful in both of those games.

8. Moose:  The Manitoba Moose are 4-6-2-0 after their first dozen games and are in 14th place in the 17-team Western Conference.  Their biggest issue is a lack of scoring.  Ville Heinola only has 2 points, and is the runaway leader with a -14 plus/minus.  Wow, how the mighty have fallen.

Watch the WHT YouTube channel live at 7 pm on Monday nights.

9. Jets:  I posted this in the 3rd period during the Sharks game on Friday night.

10. Jets:  I can’t imagine how I would react if the Jets lost a home game 9-1.  Oiler fans and Conner McDavid were livid after being thumped 9-1 by the visiting Colorado Avalanche on Saturday night. 

11. Jets:  WHT Poll

If the price is right should Chevy look into acquiring Steve Stamkos?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

12. Jets:  Special Teams: Rule of thumb. Have the power play and penalty kill (PK and PP) numbers total at least 100% when added (as your minimum).

  • PP: 13th at 20.00% down from 8th at 21.60% 
  • PK: 6th at 86.90% down from 5th 89.40%
  • FO: 8th at 52.70% down from 6th at 53.10%

13. Jets:  Goaltending:

  • Connor Hellebuyck:  6-5-0 … 2.30 GAA … .922 SV%
  • Eric Comrie:  3-1-0 … 2.75 GAA … .908 SV%

14. Jets:  The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly this past week.

  • Good:  Jonathon Toews is looking better and better every game, but needs some help; hopefully, Cole Perfetti is the answer. 
  • Bad:  Helle is starting to make poor decisions with the puck again, causing angst amongst his defencemen.  (see #5)
  • Ugly:  Four 2-on-1s in one period!!!! UGLY!!!!

15. Things that make me go hmmm:

With the Winter Olympics fast approaching, many are wondering what the Russian athletes and/or teams will be called.   In 1992, they were called the Unified Team.  In 2018, they were called the “Olympic Athletes from Russia” (OAR).  At the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, Russian athletes competed under the name of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) and at the 2024 Summer Games in Paris, these athletes were referred to as Individual Neutral Athletes (AIN).  Whether you like the Russians or not, I miss them in International competitions, even though those commies are rotten, cheating, bastards.  LOL

16. PWHL:  The Professional Women’s Hockey League announced that Canada Life Centre will host one of the 16 neutral-site games in the expanded 2025-26 “PWHL Takeover Tour”.  The Winnipeg game will feature the MONTRÉAL VICTOIRE and the OTTAWA CHARGE on Sunday, March 22 at 6 p.m.

This tour brings many of the top women’s hockey players in the world to cities across North America, giving fans a chance to experience the competitiveness of the PWHL’s regular season in their own communities.

Click ICON to follow WHT 👉👉👉 Follow @WpgHockTalk

*

Filed Under: Featured, Random Thoughts Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Random Thoughts on the Winnipeg Jets for Nov. 3 2025

November 3, 2025 by

Mitch Kasprick is now the “Westdale Curmudgeon.” 

Odds and Ends, Thoughts, and Questions from this past week in Hockey –

Just so there’s no confusion when I’m spewing my bias, I am a fan of the Winnipeg Jets, Manitoba Moose, and all Team Canada Hockey teams.

I am NOT a fan of Gary Bettman, or as I call him, Count Chocula.  I am a big believer in the 7Ps, or is it the 8Ps?  You’ve been warned. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Featured, Random Thoughts Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Random Thoughts on the Winnipeg Jets for Oct.15, 2025

October 15, 2025 by

Mitch Kasprick is now the “Westdale Curmudgeon.” 

Odds and Ends, Thoughts, and Questions from this past week in Hockey –

Just so there’s no confusion when I’m spewing my bias, I am a fan of the Winnipeg Jets, Manitoba Moose, and all Team Canada Hockey teams.

I am NOT a fan of Gary Bettman, or as I call him, Count Chocula.  I am a big believer in the 7Ps, or is it the 8Ps?  You’ve been warned. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Featured, Random Thoughts Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Blog Stats

  • 192,495 hits