Random Thoughts On The Winnipeg Jets: Jan. 18

January 18, 2021 by

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 are 1-0 after winning their only game this season over Calgary (4-3 in OT) but it sure looked ugly after the first period.  The Jets looked disorganized and awful defensively but they completely turned it around in the second and third period and won it on a terrific goal by Patrik Laine in overtime.  Wheeeeeeew.

2. Jets:  After one game Patrik Laine certainly has Winnipeg Jets’ fans shouting “SIGN HIM NOW”.  Laine’s two-goal and one assist performance was a thing of beauty.

3. Jets:  With Tucker Poolman not making the road trip because of Covid protocol and Dylan DeMelo missing because of the birth of his child we should get a look at Logan Stanley, Dylan Samberg or Ville Heinola on this road trip.   

4. Jets:  Based on what we’ve seen here with Nik Ehlers and Tucker Poolman the Winnipeg Jets and the NHL are taking no chances when it comes to their Covid-19 protocols and especially after what happened to the Dallas Stars.

5. Jets:  Elliott Friedman has reported that the Pittsburg Penguins may have interest in disgruntled Jets RFA Jack Roslovic.  It would interesting to see what they would offer?  I’m guessing nothing off their current roster. 

FYI:  Jack Roslovic (RFA) has until Feb. 11 to sign with the Winnipeg Jets or another team, if the Jets trade him, or he becomes ineligible to play this season.   

6. SPHL:  This is pretty good from the Knoxville Ice Bears of the Southern Professional Hockey League.  

7. Jets:  The Winnipeg Jets play five games this week and six games over the next nine days and although I would like to see them go 6-0, I don’t think that is realistic.  Considering the line-up challenges and the schedule I would be ok with 6-7 points but would be a little disappointed if we didn’t get 7-8 points.  

8. Jets:  For me, the jury is still out on the Tucker Poolman/Josh Morrissey paring.  I thought Poolman really looked over-matched at times BUT I also thought he did some good things.  In fairness, I think we need to see him for at least a 10-game segment before passing judgement.   

9. Jets: I thought Derek Forbort quietly had a nice first game for his new team.  I thought he and Neal Pionk were the Jets’ best pairing.

10. Jets:  Me, last week before the New Jersey Devils claimed Eric Comrie on waivers.

Why didn’t Chevy bring in a veteran goalie on a PTO as insurance for Helle and Brossoit.  The thought of Eric Comrie having to play leaves me sleepless at nights and Mikhail “birdman” Berdin is not quite ready yet.

Asked and answered:

11. Jets:  It is too bad but I think we may have seen the last of Sami Niku. 

12. NHL:  Key dates. 

  • Feb. 1 – Teams may start requesting players waive their NMC for the expansion draft
  • Feb. 11 – Deadline to sign Group II RFAs (usually December 1)
  • Mar. 12 – Players on one-year deals can sign extensions (usually Jan. 1)
  • Apr. 12 – Trade Deadline
  • May 8 – End of the regular season
  • May 11 – Playoffs begin
  • July 15 – The latest the Stanley Cup can be awarded
  • July 17 – Expansion draft protection lists tentatively due
  • July 21 – Expansion draft
  • July 23-24 – 2021 NHL Entry Draft
  • July 28 – Free agency opens

13. Pet peeve:  I don’t care what the NHL rulebook states, I  don’t understand why this is allowed in today’s game?  What is the purpose of having a goal crease?  I like the IIHF rule where if you enter the crease on your own without being pushed in, the referee blows the play dead and moves the faceoff outside the blueline.

      

14. Jets:  After losing Eric Comrie to the New Jersey Devils (waivers) and claiming Anton Fosberg from the waiver wire (Carolina) there is no doubt in my mind the Winnipeg Jets got the best of this exchange.  

15. Jets:  Schedule

16. NHL:  The problem with 3-point games in the NHL is the misinformation that goes along with them.  After the Boston Bruins and the New Jersey Devils split their two games in overtime/shootout both teams’ tv analysts declared their teams both had a successful opening two-game series by taking 3 out of 4 points when they actually took 3 out of 6 points.  

*

In memory of my friend Darryl Manchulenko.

If you have any questions, please give me a shout. You can use the comment section or use the #ASKWHTPOD hashtag on Twitter.

If you like our new format, let us know in the comment section or hit me on Twitter at WpgSportsTalk or WpgHockTalk

If you are interested in writing for Winnipeg Sports Talk or if you know somebody interested, please contact us at:

[email protected]

We are looking for writers to cover the Winnipeg Jets, Manitoba Moose, The Winnipeg ICE, Manitoba Bisons, Winnipeg AAA, MJHL, MMJHL, KIJHL, and Winnipeg High School or any sports team in town.

If you have any thoughts on any of these comments or questions, please let me know. We would love to hear your opinions.

Thanks, Mitch

 

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Random Thoughts On The Winnipeg Jets: Jan. 11

January 11, 2021 by

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. NHL:  Our first Covid hiccup happened last week with the Dallas Stars having six players and two staff members being placed into quarantine after testing positive for Covid-19.  Lets hope this is just a blip and doesn’t become a talking point every week.  Since the time I first wrote this, Columbus, Pittsburg, and Vancouver all have cancelled practices.  OH BOY!

2. NHL:  The NHL (Bill Daly) stated that the advertising on the players’ helmets could be around for a while and based on the economic climate it could be around for a few years.  Once the NHL owners get a taste of this new revenue I can’t see them giving it up.

 3. Moose:  The Manitoba Moose have opted-in to play the 2020-21 season and will play in the Canadian Division along with the Belleville Senators, Laval Rocket, and the Toronto Marlies.   

4. Jets:  The Winnipeg Jets and the Manitoba Moose have been cleared to play their home games in the local barn and before everybody gets their shit in a knot because little Johnnie can’t play but the big bad professionals can it really isn’t the same thing.  The pros can afford to follow the strict protocols and testing set forth by the NHL where other leagues and organisations can’t.  Yes, I guess, in this case, money does talk.   

5. Jets:  All is quiet on the Jack Roslovic front.  I wonder how much interest there is around the league and what type of offers Chevy is getting.  If I had to guess it is probably middling draft picks. 

FYI:  Jack Roslovic (RFA) has until Feb. 11 to sign with the Winnipeg Jets or another team, if the Jets trade him, or he becomes ineligible to play this season.   

6. Jets:  Does anybody out there actually think Tucker Poolman can handle the responsibility, minutes, and tougher opposition that playing alongside Josh Morrissey demands.  I liked Poolman’s play during the play-in round this summer but this is a mighty big ask of him.   

Embed from Getty Images

7. Jets:  I wonder how long Paul Maurice stays with his new lines and the defence pairings that he is trying out during training camp?  I’m sure he has the blender on speed dial.

8. Jets:  I am very very interested to see if and/or how much influence Winnipeg Jets’ new assistant coach, Dave Lowry has on this group of Jets forwards.  If the forwards can learn to be better defensively without sacrificing their offence this team could take a lot of pressure off their defencemen and especially Helle.  Fingers crossed.    

9. Jets:  For this season the number of games for an Entry Level Contract to be activated is now seven (pro-rated) instead of the usual ten games.  If a player plays in a seventh game his contract officially kicks in.  

Will Cole Perfetti play more than 6 games.

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10. Jets:  Why didn’t Chevy bring in a veteran goalie on a PTO as insurance for Helle and Brossoit.  The thought of Eric Comrie having to play leaves me sleepless at nights and Mikhail “birdman” Berdin is not quite ready yet. 

UPDATE: 

Eric Comrie was claimed on waivers by the New Jersey Devils and Luca Sbisa was claimed by the Nashville Predators.

11. Jets:  I would have loved to have seen a whole season of Josh Morrissey and Dylan DeMelo playing together.  (see #7)     

12. NHL:  Key dates. 

  • Jan. 13 – Season opener
  • Feb. 1 – Teams may start requesting players waive their NMC for the expansion draft
  • Feb. 11 – Deadline to sign Group II RFAs (usually December 1)
  • Mar. 12 – Players on one-year deals can sign extensions (usually Jan. 1)
  • Apr. 12 – Trade Deadline
  • May 8 – End of the regular season
  • May 11 – Playoffs begin
  • July 15 – The latest the Stanley Cup can be awarded
  • July 17 – Expansion draft protection lists tentatively due
  • July 21 – Expansion draft
  • July 23-24 – 2021 NHL Entry Draft
  • July 28 – Free agency opens

13. NHL:  I’m not sure having fans in the stands in some of the American rinks is a smart idea.  I wouldn’t want to be indoors with anybody and especially in states like Florida, Texas, Arizona, or California, hell any State.  What’s the rush?    

14. Jets:  So far the early returns on Trevor Lewis have been positive.  I wasn’t a fan of this potential signing and we still don’t know if he is being offered a contract but it never hurts to have players with a Stanley Cup winning pedigree no matter what their role in the win was.     

15. Jets:  Schedule

In memory of my friend Darryl Manchulenko.

If you have any questions, please give me a shout. You can use the comment section or use the #ASKWHTPOD hashtag on Twitter.

If you like our new format, let us know in the comment section or hit me on Twitter at WpgSportsTalk or WpgHockTalk

If you are interested in writing for Winnipeg Sports Talk or if you know somebody interested, please contact us at:

[email protected]

We are looking for writers to cover the Winnipeg Jets, Manitoba Moose, The Winnipeg ICE, Manitoba Bisons, Winnipeg AAA, MJHL, MMJHL, KIJHL, and Winnipeg High School or any sports team in town.

If you have any thoughts on any of these comments or questions, please let me know. We would love to hear your opinions.

Thanks, Mitch

 

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Winnipeg Jets Week One Free Agency Recap

October 13, 2020 by

Grades and analysis from all the Jets moves since free agency opened

Trade:

To Winnipeg: C Paul Stastny, 1 year remaining at $6.5 million

To Vegas: D Carl Dahlström, 1 year remaining at $850k, conditional 2022 fourth-round pick [Read more…]

Filed Under: Featured, Roster, Winnipeg Jets Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Dylan DeMelo Locked Up For Four More Years

October 7, 2020 by

The Winnipeg Jets sign Dylan DeMelo to a four-year deal –

The Winnipeg Jets have signed pending UFA defenceman Dylan DeMelo to a four-year contract extension with an average annual value of $3,000,000.  DeMelo also has a limited NTC in each of the four years.

Dylan DeMelo was acquired from the Ottawa Senators on February 18, 2020 for a 2020 3rd round draft pick.
[Read more…]

Filed Under: Featured, Roster, Winnipeg Jets Tagged With: , , ,

Random Thoughts On The Winnipeg Jets: Aug. 10

August 10, 2020 by

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

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

[Read more…]

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