September 21 Winnipeg Jets’ Training Camp Opens.

September 21, 2026 by Leave a Comment

Please join host Harley Friesen and Winnipeg Hockey Talk owner/writer Mitch Kasprick for a more in-depth discussion of these Random Thoughts on the Winnipeg Jets, Manitoba Moose, and the National Hockey League on our new WHT YouTube channel here >>>> https://www.youtube.com/@WpgHockTalk  LIVE every Monday at 7:00 pm.  

This week’s YouTube show

Join Harley and Mitch on YouTube at 7 pm, Sept. 21.

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

1. Jets:  Winnipeg Jets’ training camp officially opened with medicals this past Wednesday, and Connor Hellebuyck was a no-show.  Helle was promptly put on the suspended list. 

Being on the suspended list is not a big deal until it starts costing Helle money, which won’t be for a couple of weeks (Oct.8), and then we’ll see how strong his resolve is.       

2. Jets:  Poll Question:

What should Chevy do now that Helle is officially a "holdout"?

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 3. Jets:  Viggo certainly did not disappoint in his first game as a Winnipeg Jets prospect.  My first impressions of Viggo were very positive. He can skate, has good vision, can pass the puck, and has a very high compete level.  

4. Jets:  The rumblings we heard that Elias Salomonsson’s recovery is tracking toward being ready around training camp or the beginning of the regular season were close.  He is in camp in full uniform, rehabbing, and the soft projection for his return is late October.

5. Jets:  During Kevin Cheveldayoff’s presser on Friday, he was asked about the “promise to win” not being fulfilled with Hellebuyck:

“A contract is a contract in the National Hockey League.  Period.  There are no side agreements; the league doesn’t allow for that, so any notion around that would not have any merit.”

6. Jets:  Kyle Connor described the Hellebuyck situation as “heartbreaking.”  KC also said he tried to talk him out of it, but respects that he has to make his own decision.

7. Jets:  Winnipeg Jets 2026 Pre-season Broadcast Schedule.

8. Jets:  I may be accused of being a little biased, but I thought Thomas Milic acquitted himself fairly well versus Edmonton on Saturday night.

9. Jets:   On paper, the line of Viggo Bjorck, Isak Rosen, and Brad Lambert looked like it should be the Jets’ first line versus Edmonton, and they actually played the part.  They created some good scoring chances and were very dangerous at times 

10. Jets:  I was surprised by Noah Gregor’s speed, but the problem is we have enough of these 4th-line type of players.

Released: 

  • D – Noa Ta’amu (Edmonton – WHL)
    D – Alexandre Taillefer (Quebec – QMJHL)
    F – Jacob Cloutier (Saginaw – OHL)
  • G – Alex Worthington  (PTO)

Next Week:  

  • New look lines.
  • Schedule.
  • Back-to-backs.
  • Were there actually threats on Helle and/or his family?

For a much more detailed look check out the video version HERE with Harley and Mitch on YouTube.

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Apr. 27 Random Thoughts on the Winnipeg Jets

April 27, 2026 by

1. Moose:  The Manitoba Moose won their opening round series two games to one over the Milwaukee Admirals, exercising some old playoff demons from tough losses to Milwaukee in the 2022-23 and 2023-24 Central Division Semifinals.

2. Jets:  I thought Brayden Yager showed pretty well in the 3 games he played with the Jets at the end of the season, and his solid play continued in his first three playoff games as a pro.  I’m sure he has his sights set on making the big club next season, and that could be a big ask for the young centerman, but I like what I am seeing, and I’m pulling for him.   

3.  Moose:  Domenic DiVincentiis was very solid in leading the Moose to both victories over the weekend when they were facing elimination after Thomas Milic dropped the first game to a very opportunistic Milwaukee squad.   

4. Moose:  It looks like the Moose will be rotating the goalies on a win-and-stay-in basis.

5. Moose:  A brilliant effort on the forecheck by David Gustafsson, and then a nice pass leads to the 2-0 goal for the Moose late in the second period to give the team a little breathing room going into the 3rd period, and boy did they need it.

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6. Moose:  I was very pleased and surprised with Elias Salomonsson’s level of physicality in the two games he played in the series.  Paired with Isaak Phillips, they made a formidable duo on the back end, and it is no coincidence the Moose won with Salo back in the lineup.

7. Things that make me go hmmm 🤔:  Why is David Gustafsson playing in the AHL?  I’m so on board with the “Gus Bus.”  I don’t get it.

8. Jets:  Based on what I’ve seen so far in the first round of the NHL playoffs, I’m not sure if the Jets could compete physically.

9. Jets:   Everybody was making a big deal about Helle’s garbage bag day interview, but not much has been said about this quote from Scott Arniel.

I’d love to be a 100 mph team, but I have to coach what’s in front of me.

10. Moose:  Brayden Yager and Brad Lambert have developed some interesting chemistry together.

11.  Moose Turds:

  • Gus has 3 points in 3 games (1 goal & 2 assists) and all of them huge.
  • Nobody stands in front of the Moose net when Terell Bauer is on the ice.
  • Domenic DiVincentiis only allowed 1 goal in each win this weekend, along with a .962 sv%.
  • Attendance was 4,853 for game 3.

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Apr. 6 Random Thoughts on the Winnipeg Jets

April 6, 2026 by

Please join host Harley Friesen and Winnipeg Hockey Talk owner/writer Mitch Kasprick for a more in-depth discussion of these Random Thoughts on the Winnipeg Jets, Manitoba Moose, and the National Hockey League on our new WHT YouTube channel here >>>> https://www.youtube.com/@WpgHockTalk  LIVE every Monday at 7:00 pm.  

This week’s YouTube show

Join Harley and Mitch on YouTube for the Apr. 6 Random Thoughts on the Winnipeg Jets.

Listen to a more detailed version of the Curmudgeon’s thoughts.

Note: Because of today’s Jets game, we will be Live at 5:30 pm

1. Jets:  The Winnipeg Jets went 2-1-0 this past week but have failed to gain any ground in their pursuit of the final wildcard in the Western Conference.  Their record currently sits at 33-31-12.  The boys are 3 points out of the playoffs with 6 games remaining in the regular season and still kicking at the cat, but they’re running out of games.

2. Jets:  It’s funny, Brad Lambert hasn’t put any points on the board lately, BUT you’d never know he’s the rookie out there.  

3. Things that make me go hmmm #1 🤔:  Almost all of the local podcasters or YouTube channels dedicated to following the Winnipeg Jets have all said the same thing.

The Winnipeg Jets are a much better team right now, but no thanks to the braintrust that finally made the correct roster moves based on necessity and not good roster management.

Most of us had been begging for these moves months ago, and if a bunch of keyboard warriors and basement dwellers could see it, why couldn’t our illustrious braintrust?  This organisation is so slow to react, if they react at all.  VERY FRUSTRATING.

4. Jets:  From the “Put that in your pipe and smoke it” file.   It’s hard to get “frontier justice” if the intended target doesn’t want to engage, like on Thursday night in Dallas when Jason Robertson executed a legal but dirty reverse-hit on Elias Salomonsson that knocked him out of the game and the next game in Columbus.  The thing is, he (Robertson) tried it again late in the 3rd period on the much smaller Cole Perfetti with the score 3-0, and Neal Pionk wasn’t happy about it and gave him a couple of shots, then challenged him, but Robertson wanted no part of that, and his teammates came to his aid and jumped Pionk.  The part that bothered me about this course of events was that Jets’ captain, Adam Lowry, ended up having to fight Stars’ captain Jamie Benn while the gutless puke stood there and watched, uninvolved and unscathed.  Jason Robertson, who is 6’3 and 200 lbs, is under no obligation to fight if he doesn’t want to, but I’m sorry, if he can’t sack-up and fight the smaller Neal Pionk at 6’0, 190 lbs, he shouldn’t be playing that way.  As far as I’m concerned, this isn’t settled, and I hope the Jets’players don’t forget it either, which they won’t.  I’m sorry to all the snowflakes that won’t like the “frontier justice,” but that’s how it works, so put that in your pipe and smoke it.

5. Jets:  The second period in Columbus might be the most dominant period of hockey they’ve played all season, but it took them 18 min and 14 sec to get something to show for it.

6. Pet Peeve:  Officials/linesmen constantly in the way along the boards affecting play.  GET THE HELL OUT OF THE WAY FFS.

7. Jets:  This past week, whenever the Jets were in trouble on the ice, it seemed like Dylan DeMelo or Jacob Bryson were the cause.  We are contractually (2 more years) stuck with DeMelo, but I hope Chevy doesn’t do something stupid like offer Bryson a contract.

8. Jets:  Playoff and Lottery Odds:  As of April 6

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Note: Because of today’s Jets game, we will be Live at 5:30 pm at

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9. 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: 28th at 17.20% (net 26th at 15.80%)
  • PK: 19th at 78.30% (net 19th at 81.20%)
  • FO: 12th at 50.80%

10. Jets:  Goaltending:

  • Connor Hellebuyck:  21-21-11 … 2.77 GAA … .898 SV%
  • Eric Comrie:  12-9-1 … 2.85 GAA … .897 SV%

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

  • Good:  The compete level of the younger players. 
  • Bad:  Helle’s wandering out of the net.
  • Ugly:  How Dallas overwhelmed the Jets with their size.

12. Jets: Tidbits and FYIs:

  • Mark Scheifele has 31 multipoint games this season.
  • On Saturday night, Kyle Connor scored his 35th and 36th goals of the season.
  • Danny Zhilkin notched his first NHL point on Tuesday in Chicago by assisting on Isak Rosen’s goal.
  • Winnipeg is 3 points ahead of its Monday night opposition, the Seattle Kraken

13. WHT on X:

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Random Thoughts on the Winnipeg Jets for Nov. 17 2025

November 17, 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 finished their 6-game trip with a 2-4-0 record and fulfilled my prediction of winning 2 of the last 3 games to help salvage the backend of the trip, BUT, BUT, had to go to a shootout versus the lowly Calgary Flames to do it.  The team has an 11-7-0 record and currently sits in 3rd place in the Central Division. 

2. Jets:  Dylan Samberg returned to the lineup last week and made a noticeable difference, but unfortunately, he and Josh can’t make up for the rest of the def corps’ shortcomings, although he does help Neal Pionk look a little better, but not enough in my opinion. 

3. Jets:  I know I’ve been harping on the Jets’ blueline an awful lot this season, and good team defence needs to include the forwards as well, BUT most of the glaring mistakes that are leading to goals against have been when we’ve already had possession of the puck and given away by our dmen.  

4. NHL:  FYI:  In standings, a victory in a shootout counts as one goal for, while a shootout loss counts as one goal against.

5. Jets:  Dylan DeMelo gift-wrapped Seattle’s first goal on Thursday night.  I feel so sorry for Josh.  It’s getting tough to miss the constant mistakes from #2.

6. Jets:  Question for Kevin Cheveldayoff:  I’m sure you’re seeing the same mistakes and poor play defensively from your team, so my question is, what are you going to do about it?  I know top-4 defencemen don’t grow on trees and aren’t readily available in the trade market, but are you looking, or do you need to look within the organisation?

7. Jets:  Just based on the “eye test,” I would have never thought that Jonathon Toews was a team high -8 in the +/- statistic.

8. Moose:  The Manitoba Moose won all three of their games last week and finished their 5-game road trip with 4 wins, improving their record to 7-6-2-0.  The Moose are now in a tie for 3rd in the Central Division and are back home for six games.  Brayden Yager is starting to find the score sheet a little more regularly after a slow start.  The first-year pro now has a very respectable 8 points in 15 games.  Thomas Milic is the leading goaltender with a 4-2 record, 2.28 GAA and .915 SV%.

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

9. Jets:  Not only is Josh Morrissey the Jets’ best defenceman, he is one of the team’s best offensive weapons as well.  Josh is 3rd in team scoring, and the team scores many of their goals where he doesn’t get an assist, but it was one of his slick breakout passes that started the rush.  Josh has officially reached stud status in my books.  Josh is an All-Star and a lock for Canada’s Olympic team.

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10. Jets:  I had to laugh when the HNIC announcer, Jon Abbott, said there sure have been some egregious turnovers in this game just seconds after Dylan DeMelo served up a pizza with extra cheese.

11. Jets:  WHT Poll

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

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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 24.10% up from 13th at 20.00% last week
  • PK: 8th at 84.10% down from 6th 86.90% last week
  • FO: 7th at 53.00% up from 8th at 52.70% last week

13. Jets:  Goaltending:

  • Connor Hellebuyck:  8-6-0 … 2.51 GAA … .913 SV%
  • Eric Comrie:  3-1-0 … 2.75 GAA … .908 SV%

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

  • Good:  The return of Dylan Samberg and the stability he has brought to the second defence pairing.   
  • Bad:  The Jets blew two 3-goal leads twice in the last two games of the road trip.  It cost them a win in Seattle and forced the Calgary game into overtime, then a shootout, which they won.  
  • Ugly:  The schedule.  Six games on the road, then three at home, and back on the road for five more.  Not great when the team is not playing well. 

15. Things that make me go hmmm: Part 1  

There are a lot of fans and people who cover the Jets, scratching their heads, wondering why the Jets can’t protect a lead when they were so good at it last year.  Well, it doesn’t take a genius to figure out this is not the same team.

16. Things that make me go hmmm: Part 2  

Why would you continue to play Gus Nyquist, who has done nothing to justify his icetime and not give David Gustafsson the job he has rightfully earned OR let one of the kids like Nikita Chibrikov or Brad Lambert get some much-needed on-the-job training since they are the future of this team?

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

Right now, as this Jets team is currently built, it looks like they will be in a dog fight all season for a playoff spot, and there is a chance they could not make it.  Do I think they’ll miss the playoffs?  No, because I don’t think Chicago, Anaheim, Seattle, or San Jose will stay in the race, but you never know.  The Jets are a veteran team that knows how to win, but Scott Arniel needs to fix whatever ails them quickly! 

18. CFL:  As a proud Winnipegger, it hurts when you hear people badmouth our hometown, but this week, all we heard is out-of-town visitors here for the Grey Cup compliment the people and hospitality at the events and how terrific they were.  I have to admit it felt nice. Well done, Winnipeg!

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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…]

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