Jets Talk: Oct. 26

October 26, 2026 by Leave a Comment

Join host Harley Friesen and Winnipeg Hockey Talk owner/writer Mitch Kasprick for a deeper dive into Jets Talk 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.

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

1. Jets:  The nightmare for Winnipeg Jets fans is finally over as Connor Hellebuyck has been traded to the New Jersey Devils.

2. Jets:   Winnipeg Jets played 3 games last week, finishing with a 0-2-1 record and 4-4-3 overall.

3. Jets:  Pet Peeve:  The Jets only seem to make roster decisions based on injuries and rarely on merit.

4. Jets:  Where were we at this time last season?

2025-26:  8-3-0, 16 pts.   GF: 40  GA: 28
2026-27:  4-4-3, 11 pts.    GF: 27  GA:  31

5. Jets: Poll Question:  Thoughts on the trade?

Now that Connor Hellebuyck has been trade how do you feel about the return?

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6. Jets:  Things that make me go hmmm: #1 🤔 Are we witnessing another Gus Nyquist situation on the Jets this season, but this time it’s Nino?  How long is the brainless trust going to wait this time?

7. 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: 19th at 19.40% down from 3rd at 30.00% 
  • PK: 14th at 80.40% up from 20th at 78.90% 
  • FO: 30th at 45.40% down from 29th at 45.90%

8. Jets:  Goaltending:

  • Stuart Skinner:  3-2-3 … 2.60 GAA … .911 SV%
  • Clay Stevenson:  1-2-0 … 3.08 GAA … .893 SV%

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

  • Good:  Stuart Skinner. Everything about the Heritage Classic (32,342).
  • Bad:  The Jets’ power play is MIA again, ZERO for their last TWELVE.  Me, I really wanted to love Buff this weekend, but I’m still not over him leaving us high and dry after an offseason where we already lost Tyler Myers and Ben Chiarot.
  • Ugly:  Faceoffs AGAIN.  In a game they lost 3-2 in OT, they were 38.5% 🤮

10. Tidbits and FYIs:

  • Walker Duehr cleared waivers and was assigned to the Moose.
  • Elias Salomonsson has been recalled by the Jets.
  • Jack St. Ivany was placed on waivers, and Vlad Namestnikov was placed on the IR to create roster spots after the big trade.
  • Jack St. Ivany was claimed from waivers by Washington. 
  • The Manitoba Moose are 7-2 to start their season.  GF: 38 GA: 20  🫎
  • Brayden Yager has 11 points in 7 games.
  • After a shaky start, I thought Salomonsson played pretty well in his first game back after a long rehab.

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

 

 

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October 19 Random Thoughts on Jets Talk

October 19, 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 a look at the opening night roster and viewer questions.

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

1. Jets:  The Winnipeg Jets played 3 games last week, finishing 1-1-1 record and 4-2-2 overall, and currently sit in the 1st wildcard position.

2. Jets:  Josh Morrissey’s injury has been downgraded to week-to-week.  We could be in trouble. (Not good news)

3. Jets:  After second thoughts, Jack St. Ivany is too slow for the NHL.

4. Jets:  Where were we at this time last season?

2025-26:  6-2-0, 8 pts.   GF: 28  GA: 19
2026-27:  4-2-2, 7 pts.    GF: 23  GA:  24

5. Jets: Poll Question:  Things could come to a head this week with Helle’s suspension expiring on Friday.  NHL insider Elliotte Friedman believes the Utah Mammoth are determined to acquire Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck.

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

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6. Jets:  Things that make me go hmmm: #1🤔Where is all this impatience coming from with Brad Lambert?  He has a total of 38 NHL games under his belt.  Are you serious?

7. 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: 3rd at 30.00% 
  • PK: 20th at 78.90% 
  • FO: 29th at 45.90%

8. Jets:  Goaltending:

  • Stuart Skinner:  3-0-2 … 2.76 GAA … .906 SV%
  • Clay Stevenson:  1-2-0 … 3.08 GAA … .893 SV%

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

  • Good:  The top line and 3rd line are playing well.
  • Bad:  The Jets’ defencemen!  Too many giveaways and seem to have no clue how to defend in front of their goaltenders.    
  • Ugly: Faceoffs AGAIN and front-of-the-net/slot coverage.  (Maybe bring Jonathan Toews in as a faceoff coach)

10. Tidbits and FYIs:

  • Stuart Skinner hasn’t lost in regulation time yet. (JINX)
  • The Manitoba Moose are 5-1 to start their season.  GF: 29 GA: 13
  • Nikita Chibrikov and Brayden Yager lead the Moose in scoring with 9 points in 6 games.
  • Heritage Classic is this coming Sunday.
  • The Jets still have 12 players with 0 goals.
  • The Jets have recalled Brayden Yager from the Manitoba Moose 🫎
  • Elias Salomonsson has been activated and loaned to the Moose for conditioning purposes.

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

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October 12 Random Thoughts on Jets Talk

October 12, 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 a look at the opening night roster and viewer questions.

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

1. Jets:  The Winnipeg Jets finished their opening schedule of 5 games in 8 nights with a 3-1-1 record and sit in 3rd place in the Central Division.

2. Jets:  We are still waiting for information on Josh Morrissey’s injury.  Josh is a player the Jets can’t afford to lose for any length of time.

3. Jets:  With his early-season play, it’s almost like KC is taking Helle’s snub personally.  KC has 6 goals and 2 assists for 8 points in 5 games.  Not bad.

4. Jets:  Right now the Jets have what I would consider four “significant” players sitting on ZERO points and getting into “pitter-patter, let’s get at her” territory.  The time for playing ok with nothing to show for it is over.   As Josh Donaldson from the 2017 Toronto Blue Jays said.

“This isn’t the try league, it’s the get it done league.”

5. Jets: Poll Question:

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

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6. Jets: Things that make me go hmmm: #1🤔  There has been some chatter about Connor Hellebuyck returning to the Jets while he waits for a trade, much like Dylan Larkin did in Detroit last week.  If you check the money ticker, it shows how much money he is losing every second.  I can’t help but wonder how he’ll be received by his teammates.

7. 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: 6th at 28.60% 
  • PK: 6th at 90.90% 
  • FO: 27th at 46.10%

8. Jets:  Goaltending:

  • Stuart Skinner:  2-0-1 … 2.62 GAA … .920 SV%
  • Clay Stevenson:  1-1-0 … 3.10 GAA … .872 SV%

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

  • Good:   The top line has been effective most nights.  Mario Ferraro has been a nice surprise.  Stuart Skinner has been solid.  Cole Perfetti looks good on the top line.
  • Bad:  The Jets’ defencemen seem to have no clue how to defend in front of their goaltenders.    
  • Ugly:  Faceoffs.  

10. Tidbits and FYIs:

  • 2025-26:  4-1-0, 8 pts.   GF: 21  GA: 12
    2026-27:  3-1-1, 7 pts.    GF: 13  GA:  15
  • The Manitoba Moose are 3-1 to start their season.  GF: 18 GA: 6
  • Noah Gregor leads the Moose in scoring with 4 goals and 3 assists.
  • Heritage Classic is in 2 weeks on Oct. 25.
  • Nin0 has been a healthy scratch the last 3 games.  Message sent.

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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September 28 Winnipeg Jets’ Opening Day Lineup.

September 30, 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 a look at the opening night roster and viewer questions.

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

1. Jets:  It’s a new season, with a new roster, new lines, new goaltenders, and new hope for the Winnipeg Jets. 

To get down to the 23-man roster limit, the Winnipeg Jets assigned Brayden Yager and Domenic DiVincentiis to the Manitoba Moose.

  • Goaltenders: 
  • Stuart Skinner … Clay Stevenson
  • Defencemen:
  • Josh Morrissey … Dylan DeMelo
  • Dylan Samberg … Neal Pionk
  • Mario Ferraro … Tyrel Bauer
  • Hayden Fleury … Jack St. Ivany
  • Forwards:
  • Kyle Connor … Mark Scheifele … Cole Perfetti
  • Isak Rosen … Viggo Bjorck … Gabe Vilardi
  • Morgan Barron … Adam Lowry … Brad Lambert
  • Nino Niederreiter … Vlad Namestnikov … Alex Iafallo … Cole Koepke
  • IR:
  • Garrett Brown … Elias Salomonsson … Walker Duehr

2. Jets:  Poll Question:

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

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 3. Jets:  According to multiple “INSIDERS,” a possible Connor Hellebuyck deal could hinge on a trade between Carolina and St. Louis involving Alexander Nikishin.  This trade may or may not happen, but if it does, then the next domino could be Helle.  Stay tuned!

4. Jets:  The Winnipeg Jets have their history back as the NHL announces consolidation of the Winnipeg Jets’ history and has united both franchise eras into one official statistical history.

The Jets’ history now includes their first stint in Winnipeg (1979-96) as well as their years as the Atlanta Thrashers (1999-2011) and their seasons in Winnipeg since 2011-12.

5. Jets:  Winnipeg Jets 2026 October Schedule.

The 84-game schedule has the Jets playing all their Central Division rivals four times, a pair at home and a pair on the road, for a total of 28 games.  They will play Pacific Division teams three times, while hosting and visiting all 16 Eastern Conference teams once.

Winnipeg has nine back-to-backs this season: six are two straight games on the road, two feature a home-and-road game, and one will be back-to-back games in Winnipeg against the Dallas Stars.

Viewer questions for the show:

From Ben: 

1.  What will Chevy and Helle’s mindsets be on either of the following?  Jets start season 8-2 or Jets start season 2-8.

2.  What kind of leash will Clay Stevenson have to prove himself before they either have to make another move or Milic or Dom get broken in?

From Sparky:

1.  Could the Jets have one of their best 4th lines?

2.  Is Chibrikov’s window closing?

From Andy:

1.  What do you think of our goalie we got off waivers?

2.  How much is Bauer gonna get into the rotation?

 

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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September 21 Winnipeg Jets’ Training Camp Opens.

September 21, 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 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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