Mitch Kasprick is the “Motown Curmudgeon” aka “Motown Mitch”

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, Arizona Coyotes, Manitoba Moose, Winnipeg Ice, 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. You’ve been warned. 

1. Jets:  The Winnipeg Jets had a decent week and rediscovered their goal-scoring as they went 2-1-0.   Their record currently sits at 12-8-4 on the season.  The Jets now play Carolina at home on Tuesday night and then head out west for back-to-backs versus Seattle and Vancouver on Thursday and Friday.   

2. Jets:  If you know me you’ll know that I’m kind of twisted.  I’m not a Paul Maurice supporter but I’m not a hater either.  Don’t get me wrong, he drives me crazy at times but not as crazy as his haters on Twitter.  For some reason, I get great amusement from their angst, to the point where I can’t wait for Mark Chipman to announce PoMo’s 5-year extension.  What an a-hole eh?    

3. Jets:  Congratulations to Winnipeg Jets captain, Blake Wheeler on playing in his 1000th NHL game on Sunday night.  It would have been nice to see him pot his first goal of the season on his special day but I’m sure he’ll be happy with two assists and a win.  

4. Jets:  I’ve mentioned this a few times in the previous weeks but Kristian Vesalainen is slowly and I mean glacier speed slowly coming out of his shell.  He is giving us small glimpses of offensive chops in his game.  I would love to see him get to the point where Paul Maurice or whoever is responsible for our powerplay tries him in the right half-wall one-timer spot.  Vesy had great success there in the Finish League and he was actually called “the left-handed Laine”. 

5. Team Canada:  Hockey Canada has invited Cole Perfetti to the U20 World Junior Selection Camp later this month.  Perfetti will be the only returning forward from last year’s silver medal-winning team and should have a huge role with this year’s team.       

6. Jets:  I’ve decided that #6 is going to be the permanent home dedicated to my weekly bitch-fest about NHL officiating.  I’ll never have to worry about having a lack of content, hell I could probably fill all 20 thoughts here on NHL officiating.  Here’s one from Friday night.  Check out this subtle little slew foot or should I say slew knee by PK Subban.  PK is one of my favourite NHL players but he is getting a bit of a reputation for the slew foot.  I believe he has been flagged for 2 or 3 of these lately.  Maybe his nickname should be PK Slewban.  This infraction went uncalled and Nikolaj Ehlers was rightfully not pleased. 

PK Subban takes out #NHLJets Nikolaj Ehlers pic.twitter.com/Ivc0wQAtUi

— Michael Remis (@mremis) December 4, 2021

Next, on Sunday night after Rasmus Sandin collided knee on knee with Neal Pionk, the next shift Jason Spezza knees Neal Pionk in the head while he is sliding on the ice.  In my opinion, this was premeditated as retaliation to Sandin being injured and should be suspendable but I wonder if the DOPS will even look at it.

UPDATE: 

NHL Department of Player Safety offers Jason Spezza an in-person hearing, meaning there is option to suspend him more than 5 games. Neal Pionk will have a phone hearing and Wayne Simmonds fined $2,250. All from last night’s TOR/WIN game.

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) December 6, 2021

UPDATE:

Neal Pionk is suspended for 2 games.  Jason Spezza was suspended for 6 games.

Winnipeg’s Neal Pionk has been suspended for two games for Kneeing Toronto’s Rasmus Sandin. https://t.co/69HHijjoXA

— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) December 6, 2021

Toronto’s Jason Spezza has been suspended for six games for Kneeing Winnipeg’s Neal Pionk. https://t.co/DDlM0Tdzw3

— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) December 8, 2021

7. Jets:  Riley Nash has now been healthy scratched for 5 straight games.  Wow, how the mighty have fallen, from the 1st unit powerplay to the first unit in the popcorn brigade.  Put him on waivers and put this chapter behind us and do it now before the Christmas roster freeze.      

UPDATE:

Riley Nash (WIN) & Kevin Connauton (FLA) on waivers

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) December 6, 2021

UPDATE:  This is huge news and looks like finally an opening for David Gustafsson.

TB claims Riley Nash

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) December 7, 2021

8. Jets:  Say what you want about Paul Maurice reuniting Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele, and Blake Wheeler but this threesome does have unspoken chemistry that is eerie at times.  They’ve never had a problem scoring, it’s been their play in their own zone that’s been an issue the past 2-3 years.  I’m curious to see if they can hold their own this time around at even strength.  Time will tell I guess.  

9. Jets:  I’ve never been keen on Andrew Copp playing as a top-6 forward but he surprises me every now and then.  I’m not saying I’m completely off the fence but I’m slowly slipping.  I actually like the new line of Andrew Copp, Pierre-Luc Dubois, and Nikolaj Ehlers.  I have a feeling though, that Paul Maurice will have the blender on overdrive all season long.