July 6 Random Thoughts on the Winnipeg Jets

July 8, 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 for the July 7 Random Thoughts on the Winnipeg Jets.

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

 

 

1. Jets: The Winnipeg Jets dipped their toes into the UFA pool on July 1, the opening day and signed two interesting players in goaltender Stuart Skinner and defenceman Mario Ferraro.

2. NHL:  The early stages of “Free Agent Frenzy 2026” has come and gone with a few interesting names still on the board.

3. Jets:  Cole Perfetti has filed for salary arbitration.  Is this a big deal?

4. NHL:  NHL salary arbitration is a formal process that allows eligible Restricted Free Agents (RFAs) and their teams to settle contract disputes.  Both sides submit a proposed salary to a neutral arbitrator, who holds a hearing and issues a binding one or two-year contract for the player.

The arbitration process works according to the following specific rules:
  • Eligibility: To file, players must have accrued enough professional experience.  Eligibility depends on the age at which they signed their first contract (e.g., typically four years for players aged 18-20). 
  • The Hearing: Both the player and the team present arguments, evidence (such as statistics and injury history), and a desired salary to the arbitrator. In the NHL, arbitrators have the flexibility to rule anywhere between the two proposed salaries.
  • Settlements: The vast majority of cases are settled before the official hearing.  The player and team can continue to negotiate right up until the arbitrator announces their ruling. 
  • Walk-Away Rights: Once the arbitrator makes a decision, the team has the right to “walk away” from the award if the salary exceeds a certain threshold (adjusted annually, e.g., $4.95M), which makes the player an unrestricted free agent.

5. Jets:  Connor Hellebuyck is still a Winnipeg Jet.

6. NHL:  Interesting.

Questions for the show:

From Andy:

1. At Comrie’s price, why didn’t they re-sign him instead of Skinner?

2. Do you think our first-round pick will crack the lineup?

From Ben:
1. Do you think we are in a win-win situation, Mitch? If Helle stays, we have a legit backup, so maybe Helle only plays 50 games and is rested for the playoffs. Or, if Chevy does get good compensation on a deal, we gather more assets and still have competence in net

2.  Based on what everyone is saying about Viggo’s camp, is it out of the question to think our drastic search for that elusive 2C is over?

From Sparky:

1. Once the Jets move Helly, how soon will 55 and 81 want out?
2. Who’s this new Dman?

Check out the video version HERE with Harley and Mitch on YouTube for a much more detailed look, and with the answers to the questions above.

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June 22 Random Thoughts on the Winnipeg Jets

June 22, 2026 by

1. NHL:  The NHL off-season has now officially started, now that the Carolina Hurricanes have won the Stanley Cup.  I’m glad that’s over; it seemed like months of torture.

2. Jets:  Three of the four franchises that the NHL absorbed from the WHA have now won Stanley Cups …. I wonder which one hasn’t.

3. NHL:  Red Wings’ captain, Dylan Larkin, has asked for a trade and listed Florida, Minnesota, and Vegas as his destinations of choice.  WOW!  Also, asking for a trade is Oilers’ defenceman, Darnell Nurse.

4. Jets:  The NHL Entry Draft is this Friday and Saturday in Buffalo, and there is a lot of discussion in Jetsville whether Kevin Cheveldayoff should use the 8th overall pick in this year’s draft or trade it for a second-line center.  What do you think?

Should use the 8th overall pick or trade it for a second-line center.

  • No (51%, 160 Votes)
  • Yes (25%, 77 Votes)
  • Why settle for a second line center? (24%, 74 Votes)

Total Voters: 265

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5. Put That In Your Pipe And Smoke It:  I think NHL players who request a trade while under contract should lose all no-movement protection, making them null and void.  Case in point is Dylan Larkin.  He asks Detroit to trade him and then gives them a 3-team list.  That’s horseshit and will need to be addressed in the next CBA.  Players shouldn’t be able to dictate any trade parameters if they demand a trade.  IMHO, you can’t have it both ways, so Put That In Your Pipe And Smoke It.

6. NHL:  With NHL free agency fast approaching, a reminder that the salary cap for 2026 is set to be 104 million, with 76.9 million being the floor.  Most teams have lots of extra money to spend, and there will be a lot of competition for players in a slim UFA class.  Maybe we’ll see some offer sheets for the RFAs?!?! 

7. Jets:  TSN insider Darren Dreger appeared on the radio show Overdrive on Thursday and was direct in his assessment of the Winnipeg Jets’ situation, stating that he can

“confidently say that they’re not shopping Connor Hellebuyck.” 

Also, in a recent appearance on the Barn Burner podcast,  Dreger stated

the Jets have been willing to listen to offers on their three-time Vezina Trophy winner, a distinction that matters.  Listening and shopping are two very different things, and as of Thursday, Winnipeg appears to be firmly in the former camp.

8. Jets:  It doesn’t matter how much I hate a team, watching the players lift the SC never gets old. Seeing their joy and real emotion is special.

“I loved being in Winnipeg. This was the dream there. I’m obviously sad I wasn’t able to do that with the guys in Winnipeg and the city of Winnipeg. They hold a special place in my heart, I’ve said that. They’re family. The whole organization gave me a shot at playing in the NHL and I couldn’t be more thankful. Like I said, it was a hard decision this summer, but I loved my ten years in Winnipeg. It was a special time.”

9. Jets:  According to Dave Pagnota from “The Fourth Period”, the Winnipeg Jets have been linked to Vegas goaltender Adin Hill and Vancouver winger Jake DeBrusk.

10. Jets:  It looks like the Jets are going to get themselves a good defenceman.

11. Jets:  Jonathon Toews officially retired on Friday and was very eloquent in his farewell speech.

 “I’m so proud to be from Winnipeg.  Thank you for making this year so special. I hope I represented you well. Thank you very much.”

Check out the video version with Harley and Mitch on YouTube for a much more detailed look >>> https://www.youtube.com/live/Dhttps://youtube.com/live/Dv9eCne2f08v9eCne2f08?si=aK4VRGw58LAER3Uo

 

 

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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

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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: 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

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17.  WHT Poll

Should Chevy look into Laurent Brossoit?

View Results

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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

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Random Thoughts on the Winnipeg Jets for Dec. 1, 2025

December 1, 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 >>> at 7 pm every Monday.

1.  Jets: The Winnipeg Jets finished the first 3 games of their 5-game road trip with a 1-2 record and finally stopped their losing streak at 4 games.  Their record of 13-11-0 still has them hovering around the wildcard position, even though the team is going through one of its roughest patches in quite a few years. 

2. Jets:  While most Jets fans are lamenting the loss of Connor Hellebuyck, I am actually more concerned about the lack of scoring.  Up until Saturday night in Nashville, the Jets have not had any secondary scoring since their last win, 5 games ago, versus Columbus.   

3. Jets:  The Jets aren’t scoring enough goals to constantly be chasing the game.  They are such a different team when they score the first goal.  Saturday night was a perfect example; they scored the first 3 goals and won 5-2.

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

I wrote this after the second period of the Caps game on Wednesday night, with the Jets trailing 3-2.  Two of the three goals that Eric Comrie let in were muffins that were very low-level scoring chances.  When the goalie plays poorly, the narrative is that “it’s a team game, BUT in a 4-3 loss, those 2 goals were the difference, and yes, you can blame the goaltending, so put that in your pipe and smoke it.

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

I think Dylan DeMelo looked like his normal self last week, and although he still takes penalties due to his lack of speed, his overall play was solid.

6. Jets:  Question for Scott Arniel:  WHY … WHY … WHY

7. Jets:  Looking at SOG metrics is meaningless when you watch a Winnipeg Jets game.  In some games, they shoot the puck, and in some games, they don’t.  It doesn’t matter if they are in a good scoring position or not.  Let’s just say they have been known to overpass.  Trying to guess the score by the SOG in a Jets game is almost impossible. 

8. Moose:  The Manitoba Moose went 2-2 last week, making their record 11-8-2-0.  The Moose are still in a tie for 2nd in the Central Division and are in a tie for 6th in the 17-team Western Conference.  The boys now head out on the road for 3 games next week.  This Moose team also has a hard time scoring, which doesn’t bode well for prospects looking for a call-up.

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

9. Jets:  Elias Salomonsson (RD) and Thomas Milic (G) both made their NHL debuts last week to mixed reviews, but the only ones that matter are the ones here, and they were both good IMHO.  If you want to hear my reviews, watch us live tonight at 7 PM on YouTube or anytime after it’s uploaded.

10. Jets:  Memory Lane:  Ulf  Nilsson is my favourite Jets player of all-time.  Who is yours?

11. Jets:  WHT Poll

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

View Results

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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: 11th at 22.70% down from 8th at 23.30% last week
  • PK: 6th at 84.50% up from 6th 83.80% last week
  • FO: 6th at 53.00% down from 5th at 53.01% last week

13. Jets:  Goaltending:

  • Connor Hellebuyck:  8-6-0 … 2.51 GAA … .913 SV%
  • Eric Comrie:  5-4-0 … 2.91 GAA … .898 SV%
  • Thomas Milic:  0-1-0 … 4.09 … .882 SV%

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

  • Good:  Perfetti has been a disappointment so far this season, but maybe scoring a goal versus Nashville on Saturday night will get him going. 
  • Bad:  I don’t like how easily the Jets are giving up their blueline and backing up into their goalie.
  • Ugly:  1-4 post Helle.

15. Things that make me go hmmm:🤔  One of my favourite Jets is Vladdy Namestnikov, but I still haven’t really figured out what he is.  He’s a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.”  His scoring output doesn’t align with his skill set.  

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

It looks like Laurent Brossoit is a man without a home.  He hasn’t played for Chicago since signing a two-year contract with them on July 1, 2024.

During “Saturday Headlines” on Hockey Night in Canada, Elliotte Friedman reported the Blackhawks have given other teams permission to speak with Laurent Brossoit’s camp about trading for him, as the Blackhawks don’t have room for his $3,300,000 cap hit.  Spencer Knight is currently their starting netminder with Arvid Soderblom serving as his backup.

The good news is he can probably be had at a bargain basement price, AND Chicago has two salary retention slots still available and could retain a portion of Brossoit’s contract if the price is right.

Brossoit is set to start playing in a conditioning stint in the American Hockey League this week.

17. Jets:  WHT Poll

Should Chevy look into Laurent Brossoit?

View Results

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18. NHL:  Pet Peeve:

Hockey announcers who base a player’s play on their points.  On Saturday night, Garry Galley was gushing about a certain player because he had 2 assists in the game, even though he was a tire fire most of the night.

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

Maybe last year was the outlier, and this is the real Jets.

20. Jets:  I’m not sure Brad Lambert or Nikita Chibrikov earned their way onto the Jets roster coming out of training camp this year, or not, as I didn’t attend camp this year.  They did make the roster because of injuries to Adam Lowry and Dylan Samberg though.  What I can say now, after 24 games, is that I would prefer any combination of Lambert, Chibrikov, and Salomonsson in the lineup. 

I’m not sure what criteria are being used to justify the icetime and roster positions occupied by Tanner Pearson, Gus Nyquist, or Luke Schenn, but I’m not buying whatever it is.  I have 2 eyes.  

  

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

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Random Thoughts On The Winnipeg Jets: Oct. 16 Audio Version

October 16, 2023 by

Random Thoughts:  October 16 Audio Version

Winnipeg Hockey Talk’s Mitch Kasprick talks about the Winnipeg  Jets opening week. [Read more…]

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