Mar. 9 Random Thoughts on the Winnipeg Jets

March 9, 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.  

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1. Jets:  The Winnipeg Jets went 3-0-0 this past week and have earned points in all six of their games since the Olympic break.  They now have a record of .500 at 26-26-10, five points out of the playoffs.  The team has now won 3 of their first 8 games on this homestand and is making things a little more interesting in the Western Conference wildcard race.  The Jets have 20 games remaining in the regular season and are still kicking at the cat. 

 2. Jets:  The NHL trade deadline has come and gone, and I’d say Chevy had a pretty good day.  If you break it down into 3 separate deals, it would look like this:

  • Pending Unrestricted Free Agent, Luke Schenn (36) goes to Buffalo for 2nd (Buff) and 4th (best of Buff or Edm) round picks, and Winnipeg retains 50% of Schenn’s salary.
  • defenseman Logan Stanley (27) to Buffalo for pending Restricted Free Agent, forward Isak Rosen (22), the Sabres’ first-round pick (14th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft and pending Unrestricted Free Agent, defenceman Jacob Bryson (28), a fourth-round pick (99th overall) in the 2017 NHL Draft.
  • Pending Unrestricted Free Agent, Tanner Pearson (33) to Buffalo for their 7th round pick in 2026.

So, the Jets basically got back what they gave up for Schenn exactly a year ago and got to use him for a year for free.  Whether you liked Schenn or not, that’s not a bad ROI.

In the case of Logan Stanley, Chevy got a 22-year-old nugget in Isak Rosen that is on the cusp of breaking out and could be a potential replacement for Nik Ehlers. I said potential replacement, but Rosen has all the tools and the skillset to be a top-6 winger.  The Jets also received diminutive (a nice way of saying Smurf) defenceman Jacob Bryson.  All in all, not a bad haul for three pending UFAs, and the Jets can still revisit talks with “Big Stan” on July 1.

3. Things that make me go hmmm: #1🤔  Ville Heinola deserves better.  I think he has played very well in the games he has dressed since his call-up, and I can’t help but wonder what his evaluators see through their disapproving eyes.  Sorry for using this medical analogy, but this poor kid has been misdiagnosed by a bunch of quacks masquerading as hockey people.        

4. Jets:  Cole Perfetti has been playing pretty good hockey lately, but man, is he snakebit, and after having a good game, he had nothing to show for it until the final minute when he fired a wrister past Hawks goalie, Spencer Knight, to send it to overtime.  The hockey gods must have known they wronged him LOL.

5. Pet peeve:  When the Jets need a big faceoff in the offensive zone late in a period, Scott Arniel calls on Jonathon Toews, but to start overtime, he uses Adam Lowry, who never wins that draw.  WHY?

6. Jets:  All I have to say is Haydn Fleury sure can skate, and his skillset would suggest that after playing 21 games, albeit being spread out all season, due to injuries, you’d think he’d have a better scoring line than 0-0=0.

7. Jets:  Connor Hellebuyck was absolutely terrific last week and gave his team the Vesina style goaltending they’re used to seeing, and his duel with Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy on Thursday night was something to see until Helle’s teammates solved the big Russian keeper and won it 4-1.

8. Jets:  Question for Scott Arniel:  When you get to overtime, do you forget that you can use Gabe Vilardi, one of your best forwards?

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9. Jets:  Maybe the Logan Stanley era isn’t officially over. 

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

Sometimes I wish the analytics guys would just STFU.  Player on-ice metrics are important but very misleading at times.  It’s hard to quantify size and toughness into analytics, and players like Luke Schenn and Logan Stanley often get chastised for poor metrics.  How do you measure size, reach, and toughness in today’s game?  If you don’t think it’s important, you’ve missed the plot and you don’t know as much about hockey as you think you do.  Players like Schenn and Stanley rarely play behind the top lines, so their Corsi numbers would suffer, especially on this Jets team that isn’t a high-volume shooting team, and the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th lines don’t score a lot.  You need all types of players to win in this league so stop crapping on big, tough players.  Go back in your basement and play with your slide rule and STFU and while you’re at it put that in your pipe and smoke it.

11. 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: 24th at 18.50% (net 20th at 16.80%)
  • PK: 17th at 78.80% (net 16th at 81.60%)
  • FO: 14th at 50.60%

12. Jets:  Goaltending:

  • Connor Hellebuyck:  16-16-9 … 2.73 GAA … .902 SV%
  • Eric Comrie:  10-9-1 … 3.01 GAA … .893 SV%

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

  • Good:  Mark Scheifele was terrific in the Jets’ 3 wins last week with 3 goals and 5 assists for 8 points and continues to drive the offence for his team.  What a player.
  • Bad:  The Jets relied on Helle a little too much, but not any more than their opposition in all 3 games last week.  I guess that is today’s game.  
  • Ugly:  No ugly this week unless we talk about some of Scott Arniel’s lineup decisions.  

UPDATE:

14. Jets: Tidbits and FYIs:

  • Gus Nyquist finally got off the schneid on Thursday night versus the Lightning.  YAY!
  • Josh Morrissey sets a new Jets/Thrashers/Winnipeg record for most points by a defenceman (417), passing his mentor, Dustin Byfuglien.
  • The Jets are 4-0-2 since the Olympic break.
  • The Jets have made it to Count Chocula’s bogus .500.
  • The league’s 23-man roster limit has officially expired for the duration of this season, and the only roster requirement from now on is to remain cap compliant.
  • In the Jets’ past six games, they’ve gone to overtime 5 times.

 

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.  

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Mar. 2 Random Thoughts on the Winnipeg Jets

March 2, 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

Here >>>  This week’s show

1. Jets:  The Winnipeg Jets went 1-0-2 this past week, and although they got points in all three games, they lost ground to both Anaheim and San Jose, who both beat them in overtime.  Their record sits at a very underwhelming 23-26-10, nine points out of the playoffs.  The team now has an eight-game homestand that will be their last kick at the cat for those who still believe they have a shot at the playoffs.   

2. Jets:  Any coach who would play Adam Lowry in overtime ahead of Gabe Vilardi or even Alex Iafallo should not be allowed to coach in the NHL.  I am soooo done with Scott Arniel, and his idiotic lineup decisions, and don’t get me started on Dylan Samberg or Dylan DeMelo ahead of Elias Solomonsson in OT either.  

3. Jets:  The NHL trade deadline is this Friday at 2 pm local time.  So far, this is what we know.

  • Luke Schenn should be traded.
  • Even though Jonathon Toews is a pending UFA, he is committed to returning to Winnipeg next season, and he won’t waive his “No movement clause”.
  • Logan Stanley is a pending UFA and has said he would like to resign with the Jets but he doesn’t have a contract yet for next season.  The buzz around the league is that he could net the Jets a 1st round pick plus.  If the Jets don’t sign him before the deadline, they have to move him.

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

There sure is a lot of fake outrage over the USA hockey team visiting the White House.  This has always been the norm for all teams winning a championship, in all the major sports, to visit the White House, with the odd player bowing out because of politics, but it should be an honor.  I have a great example of a true story I’ll share with you during the live show on YouTube tonight.

If you are so narrow-minded that you can’t see the difference between celebrating a monumental achievement but see it as a political statement, you’re a moron and can eat shit, so put that in your pipe and smoke it.

5. Pet peeve:  TSN Jets announcer Dan Robertson tried putting a positive spin on the 3-game road trip by stating the Jets got 4 out of 6 points, which is factually incorrect because in those three games there were NINE points awarded, not SIX.  The Jets earned 4 out of 9 points.  Big difference.

6. Jets:  After watching that fiasco in Italy, tell me again how Mark Scheifele wouldn’t have been a top-6 forward on that team.

7. Jets:  Right now, Connor Hellebuyck’s value has never been higher … would the Jets ever consider trading him for multiple pieces and picks?

8. Jets:  I was impressed by Walker Duehr’s speed in his Winnipeg Jets debut on Sunday. 

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9. Jets:  Logan Stanley has a big, heavy shot, and he’s not afraid to use it, which adds a different element to the Jets’ powerplay.

10. Things that make me go hmmm: #1 🤔  I’m not opposed to trading Cole Perfetti depending on the return, BUT it would have to be for a center and at approximately the same stage in age and/or development.

11. 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: 22nd at 18.60% (net 20th at 16.80%)
  • PK: 17th at 79.30% (net 13th at 82.20%)
  • FO: 15th at 50.50%

12. Jets:  Goaltending:

  • Connor Hellebuyck:  13-16-9 … 2.82 GAA … .900 SV%
  • Eric Comrie:  10-9-1 … 3.01 GAA … .893 SV%

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

  • Good:  The Jets earned points in all 3 road games last week with a win and two overtime losses for 4 points total. 
  • Bad:  The Jets also gave up 5 points in those same 3 games.  
  • Ugly:   Watching Adam Lowry.  He is where offence goes to die, which is normal, but the rest of his game now stinks.  

14. Jets:  I’ve been known to be hard on Kyle Connor at times, but he didn’t deserve the hand he was dealt at the Olympics.  Even on KC’s worst day, he shouldn’t be the extra forward on that team.  I’m sure he is proud of his Gold Medal but probably has a hollow feeling about his contributions.

15. Things that make me go hmmm: #2🤔 Some post-Olympics fallout that got me thinking.  Is it sour grapes or a legitimate observation/complaint?

From Team Canada coach Jon Cooper:

“You take four players off the ice, now hockey’s not hockey anymore. There’s a reason overtime and shootouts are in play — it’s all TV-driven to end games, so it’s not a long time. There’s a reason why it’s not in the Stanley Cup Final or playoffs.”

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.  

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Feb. 16 Random Thoughts on the Winnipeg Jets

February 16, 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

1. Jets:  The Winnipeg Jets and their fans are hoping Josh Morrissey’s injury isn’t serious.  He hasn’t played since early in game one versus Czechia.  Injuries are always a major risk going into these tournaments and can impact NHL teams heading into the stretch drive.

2. Jets:  It seems Kyle Connor’s reputation doesn’t seem to travel very far outside of the perimeter.

3. Team Canada Women:  On Saturday, the Canadian women defeated Germany 5-1 with Marie-Philippe Poulin returning for the quarter-final match, and the team had no problem advancing to play Switzerland in the semi-final (this afternoon), and should move on to play the USA on Thursday for the Gold Medal.

4. Team Canada Men: Elimination games: 

5. Moose:  The Manitoba Moose are currently sitting with a record of 23-17-3-0, good for third place in the AHL’s Central Division with a .570 winning percentage.  The Moose are 9-5-1-0 since Christmas, but the disappointing thing is their young prospects seem to be playing much better, but not putting up very many points. 

6. Jets:  It is time to have another look at Patrik Laine?

Should the Jets be interested in UFA Patrik Laine?

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7. Old adage time:  This week’s old adage is “three sheets to the wind.”

It basically means DRUNK.

8. Olympic Hockey:  I wonder if anyone else is getting “Four Nations” fatigue from the announcers and panel on TSN?  If it were a drinking game, we’d all be “three sheets to the wind” halfway through the first period every time we heard Chris Cuthbert say “Four Nations.”

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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 

  

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Feb. 9 Random Thoughts on the Winnipeg Jets

February 9, 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

1. Jets:  The Winnipeg Jets went 0-1-1 this past week, and their record sits at a very underwhelming 22-26-8, eleven points out of the playoffs.  The team is now officially playing for pride, while the management is hoping for a better draft pick.     

2. Jets:  With the Jets now on their 3-week Olympic break, it looks like I’ll be spending quite a bit of time bitching about Kevin Cheveldayoff, so if you’re a Chevy lover, you should look away.

3. Jets:  From the Sour Grapes Department:  Nick Suzuki played 16:56 in the Habs’ win over the Jets, and I didn’t even know he played.  I never even noticed him.  Mark Scheifele really got screwed over, not making the Olympic team.

4. Jets:  Question for Scott Arniel:  HTF can I defend you or support you when you keep doing dumb shit?  Add starting Adam Lowry, Cole Perfetti, and Dylan Samberg in OVERTIME to the list.  BTW, the Jets weren’t short-handed.

5. Jets:  It is time to have another look at Patrik Laine?

Should the Jets be interested in UFA Patrik Laine?

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6. Jets:  As of Monday morning, the Jets have 26 games left in the regular season, and although they are not mathematically done, they actually have a better chance of winning the draft lottery than making the playoffs. We will now start tracking both.   

7. Things that make me go hmmm: #1 🤔 …. Vincent Trocheck

8. 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: 21st at 19.10%, up from 21st at 18.70% last week (net 18th at 17.20%)*
  • PK: 18th at 79.00%, down from 17th at 79.50% last week (net 14th at 82.00%)*
  • FO: 12th at 50.40%, down from 12th at 50.70% last week

9. Jets:  Goaltending:

  • Connor Hellebuyck:  13-16-7 … 2.79 GAA … .900 SV%
  • Eric Comrie:  9-9-1 … 3.07 GAA … .892 SV%

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

  • Good:  The boys played very well in Dallas last Monday, but their lack of finish reared its ugly head again. 
  • Bad:  This team’s reluctance to shoot the puck and continually play on the perimeter can make an average goalie like Sam Montembeault look good.  
  • Ugly:  The fact that Chevy didn’t make any trades at the mini-trade deadline.  I don’t know why I’m always surprised.   

 

11. Things that make me go hmmm: #2 🤔  I wonder how this team would have done? ******

12. Olympic Hockey:  All times are Central

Canada vs Czechia Thursday 9:40 am   Canada vs Switzerland Friday 2:10 pm

USA vs Latvia Thursday 2:10 pm   USA vs Denmark Saturday 2:10 pm

 

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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 

  

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Feb. 2 Random Thoughts on the Winnipeg Jets

February 2, 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 

1. Jets:  The Winnipeg Jets went 2-1-0 this past week, and their record sits at a very underwhelming 22-25-7, nine points out of the playoffs.  The team now has two games left before the Olympic break and the 1st mini-trade deadline.   

2. Jets:  I’ve been watching Luke Schenn quite a bit lately and although he is where offence goes to die, I understand why he moves at the trade deadline and why teams like that type of player in the playoffs.  His underlying numbers are weak but isn’t that because of his role and the players he plays behind.  Think about it.  The only line that is scoring is the Scheifele line and he rarely plays behind them so of course his 5v5 efficiency will be skewed.  At playoff time when the officials “let them play” a little more his toughness is valued.

3. Jets:  Elias Salomonsson has surprised me with his level of physicality.  He is shaping into a top-4 defenceman before our eyes.

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

Even though he has one of the toughest jobs in the NHL, I think it’s time to move on from Chevy.  For the most part he has done an acceptable job, some good things and some bad things but this past trade deadline and off-season he did the unacceptable and let a top UFA walk for nothing.   Managerial malpractice and should be a firing offence in this market where the Jets have to target 35-year-old players at the end of their careers.  Chevy valued TWO declining assets in the previous couple of seasons prior and him and his whole staff undervalued the importance and value of Nikolaj Ehlers.  For me that was the last straw so put that in your pipe and smoke it.

5. Jets:  The rumor of a deal between Seattle and Winnipeg seems to be gaining some traction with Cole Perfetti and Shane Wright being the main principles involved.  A deal in this realm wouldn’t break my heart but I won’t hold my breath waiting for Chevy to make a meaningful trade until the actual trade deadline if he does anything at all.

6. Jets:  Mark Scheifele is playing at a very high level, and right now I’d say he might be the best passer of the puck in the league.  His vision, stick-handling, and playmaking are elite.

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 7. Jets:  Does anybody miss Neal Pionk and his 8 measly points and his plethora of free pizzas?

8. Jets:  It is time to give another Moose forward a look.  Which one or two?

Which Manitoba Moose forward would you like to see next?

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9. Jets:  As of Monday morning, the Jets’ have 28 games left in the regular season and their chances of making the playoffs are sitting at a paltry 5.6%, basically slim and none and slim just left town.  As you can see, the percentage fluctuates daily, whether the team plays or not; however, the days following games exhibit larger fluctuations.  

10. Things that make me go hmmm: #1 🤔 I’ve started watching faceoffs a lot more lately and especially on the PK, and I have noticed that for the most part all of our centers do a pretty good job and that it is the wingers and defenseman that are the weak link.  They look like 98-lb weaklings at the beach, getting sand kicked in their faces.  It takes more than a good center to win a draw, and I wondered if it’s something they work on or just talk about because they are very poor at it.  Hmmmmm.

11. 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: 21st at 18.70%, down from 21st at 19.90% last week (net 18th at 17.30%)*
  • PK: 17th at 79.50%, up from 17th at 79.50% last week (net 14th at 82.60%)*
  • FO: 12th at 50.70%, up from 12th at 50.60% last week

12. Jets:  Goaltending:

  • Connor Hellebuyck:  13-15-6 … 2.71 GAA … .902 SV%
  • Eric Comrie:  9-9-1 … 3.07 GAA … .892 SV%

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

  • Good:  Two out of three so far on their 4-game road trip. 
  • Bad:  The goals at even strength are still tough to come by, but seem even harder on their PP.  
  • Ugly:   Trying to win a faceoff while being short-handed.  

14. Jets:  Old adage time: This week’s old adage is very pertinent concerning the Winnipeg Jets.  It’s Not the Size of the Dog in the Fight, It’s the Size of the Fight in the Dog

15. Things that make me go hmmm: #2🤔 HTF is Mark Scheifele not on Canada’s Olympic hockey team? (see #6)

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.  

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