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 Mar. 30 Random Thoughts on the Winnipeg Jets.

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

1. Jets:  The Winnipeg Jets went 2-1-0 this past week in what was probably one of their toughest weeks, with Vegas and a home-and-home versus Colorado on their dance card.  Their record currently sits at 31-30-12.  The boys are 3 points out of the playoffs with 9 games remaining in the regular season and still kicking at the cat, but they’re running out of games.

2. Jets:  It took all year, but Adam Lowry looks like himself again.

3. Things that make me go hmmm #1 🤔:  The Jets are a tidy 9-4-4 since the Olympic break, that is, points in 13 out of 17 games, and I can’t help but wonder how this current roster, even with its flaws, would have done if they were together the whole season.  

4. Jets:  With his 2 goals on Thursday night, Mark Scheifele tied and passed his career high in points with 88 and still counting.  Scheif has been very consistent since becoming the Jets’ #1 center, basically a point per game player.

5. Pet Peeve:  The Winnipeg Jets have this annoying habit of overpassing and not shooting when they get a “Grade A” chance in the slot.  I don’t know why you would work that hard to get in that position and not take advantage of it.

6. Jets:  I would like to see a little more of Danil Zhilkin down the stretch, but with NHL wingers.  I’ve seen enough of Parker Ford to last me a lifetime.  

7. Jets:  If the Jets’ intentions concerning Ville Heinola weren’t completely clear before, the writing must certainly be on the wall now.

8. Jets:  Question for Scott Arniel:  With the way your powerplay is struggling, have you even considered switching the personnel around instead of watching the same shit-show every night?

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9. Things that make me go hmmm #2 🤔:  I wonder what Kyle Connor could fetch on the trade market, or is he considered persona non grata after TWO uninspired international events and/or an 8-year, $96,000,000 contract that starts next season?

10.  Things that make me go hmmm #3 🤔:  The Jets have been looking for a 2C for what seems like a decade now, and they drafted Cole Perfetti as a center, but have not given him an opportunity to give it a try.  Perfetti isn’t the biggest guy, and he isn’t the fastest guy, but he has great vision, good hockey sense, and he is a very good passer, all the things that make a center.  It’s just a thought.  What am I missing here?

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: 27th at 17.20% (net 24th at 15.70%)
• PK: 22nd at 78.30% (net 20th at 81.30%)
• FO: 13th at 50.80%

12. Jets:  Goaltending:

• Connor Hellebuyck:  19-20-11 … 2.80 GAA … .899 SV%
• Eric Comrie:  12-9-1 … 2.85 GAA … .897 SV%

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

• Good:  The determination of Connor Hellebuyck in all 3 games last week. 
• Bad:  In a 3-2 loss to Colorado, where the powerplay could have been a difference maker, it went 0-4.
• Ugly:  The Jets’ zone entries on the powerplay are ugly

14. Jets: Tidbits and FYIs:

• Mark Scheifele is now the Jets’ all-time games played leader at 951, passing Thomas Steen.
• On Tuesday night versus Vegas, Mark Scheifele had his fourth “Gordie Howe” hat trick.
• Yesterday (Sunday), Captain Adam Lowry turned 33 years young.
• Cole Perfetti scored his 4th GWG Saturday vs Colorado.  Not bad for a guy with only 11 goals.
• Gabe Vilardi’s 28th goal of the season on Saturday is a career high, and he has 9 more games to add to it.

15. WHT on X:  These were from the two games vs Colorado.

Thursday:

Maybe the tv guys should mention the Josh Morrissey turnover before critiquing Elias Salomonsson’s small error … for some reason, they really pissed me off.

— Winnipeg Hockey Talk (@WpgHockTalk) March 27, 2026

Saturday:

Its games like this that make me despise KC … 12 mil for his constant disappearing act … Yes he can score but still not enough to make up for his frequent no-shows.

— Winnipeg Hockey Talk (@WpgHockTalk) March 29, 2026

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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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 Mar. 23 Random Thoughts on the Winnipeg Jets

1. Jets:  The Winnipeg Jets went 1-1-2 this past week and earned points in 3 of 4 games but still sit at “Count Chocula’s” bogus .500 at 29-29-12.  The boys are still five points out of the playoffs with 12 games remaining in the regular season and still kicking at the cat but it’s getting tougher because they’re running out of games.

2. Jets:  I would say Brad Lambert had his best week as a professional hockey player. He really looked like he belonged.

3. Things that make me go hmmm #1 🤔:  I can only sit here and dream about the day the Jets defence corp is Josh Morrissey, Elias Salomonsson, Dylan Samberg, Alfonz Freij, Isaak Phillips, Sascha Boumedienne, and Terrell Bauer.  Speed, size, skill, and toughness. 

4. Jets:  The Jets have a terrible habit of puck-watching, and even when their man is marked, it’s always a split second too late, and it results in a great scoring chance or a goal, and it always happens when the puck is behind the net.  Every team does it, but I think the Jets do it more than any other NHL team.

5. Pet Peeve:  The Winnipeg Jets 2.0 only seem to make roster decisions because of injuries and not because of great roster management or decisions that were for the best of the team.  This franchise seems incapable of promoting prospects on time.  For a team that prides itself as a draft and develop team, they sure are piss-poor at it. 

6. Jets:  I’m going to admit something, but don’t tell anyone.  I was actually happy to see Neil Pionk back in the lineup on Saturday vs Pittsburgh because I missed his compete level.

7. PWHL:  The Ottawa Charge defeated the Montreal Victoire 2-1 in overtime in front of 15,225 fans at Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg on Sunday night. This was the first PWHL game ever played in Winnipeg, and I can’t help but wonder if the purpose of these “PWHL TAKEOVER TOUR” games is to audition for potential expansion teams in the future.

8. Jets:  Question for Scott Arniel:  Have you considered giving Brad Lambert a shot with KC and Scheif?

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9. Things that make me go hmmm #2 🤔:  Things that make me go hmmm.  It’s been a few games since Brad Lambert’s call-up, and based on his play with the big club, I don’t understand why his numbers are so underwhelming at the AHL level.  It might be time for a complete review from top to bottom on how this organisation is developing their prospects.  I always thought the job of a primary farm team was to develop their prospects, not career AHLers.

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

In the past, I have said right here in this forum that I miss the Russians in international hockey tournaments, BUT that in no way means I think they should be included in said events.  Russian players make a good living playing in the NHL, and like it or not, they have a platform to speak out on what is happening in Ukraine, but I believe there has only been one player who has, and that is not acceptable.  Is it because they are all Putin supporters, or is it because they fear retribution for themselves or their families?  Either way, that tells you something about their leader and why they should speak out.  So, as long as lives are being lost in Ukraine because of the war, they shouldn’t be allowed to play in international events, and if the NHL had any balls, they’d ban them from playing as well.  It’s time Gary Bettman and the owners made a stand, so 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: 23rd at 18.00% (net 21st at 16.50%)
• PK: 19th at 78.80% (net 17th at 81.90%)
• FO: 13th at 50.80%

12. Jets:  Goaltending:

• Connor Hellebuyck:  17-19-11 … 2.85 GAA … .897 SV%
• Eric Comrie:  12-9-1 … 2.85 GAA … .897 SV%

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

• Good:  The play of the Morgan Barron line. 
• Bad:  Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor had a rough week.
• Ugly:  The Jets have a terrible habit of puck-watching, and even when their man is marked, it’s always a split second too late, and it results in a great scoring chance or a goal, and it always happens when the puck is behind the net.  Every team does it, but I think the Jets do it more than any other NHL team.

14. Jets: Tidbits and FYIs:

• The Jets played their last 3 road games in 65 hours.
• Adam Lowry scored his first goal in 26 games on Sunday vs NYR.
• Dylan DeMelo got benched after just two shifts on Saturday in Pittsburgh.
• The Jets’ #2 PP has a much better look since the trade deadline.
• Eric Comrie has won his last 6 starts and has a new career high of 12 wins.

15. WHT on X:  All of these were from Saturday during and after a frustrating shootout loss vs the Pens.

Somebody should have told DeMelo and Hellebuyck that the game started at 1 p.m. Eastern FFS

— Winnipeg Hockey Talk (@WpgHockTalk) March 21, 2026

If you’re going to play a hunch in the shootout Scotty, maybe try having a hunch like Lambert or Vilardi … FFS

— Winnipeg Hockey Talk (@WpgHockTalk) March 21, 2026

I know it’s sacrilege to criticize a star player in this market, but I’m no cheerleader, I don’t wear rose-coloured glasses, & I’m not afraid to be honest. The truth is Josh Morrissey has been 💩 since returning from injury. Did he come back too soon, or is DeMelo affecting him?

— Winnipeg Hockey Talk (@WpgHockTalk) March 21, 2026

Helle looked underwhelming in regulation time … he was unbelievable in overtime, and as usual, he couldn’t stop a beachball in the shootout. Very frustrating.

— Winnipeg Hockey Talk (@WpgHockTalk) March 21, 2026

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.  

Click ICON to follow WHT  on X. 👉👉👉 Follow @WpgHockTalk

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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  LIVE every Monday at 7:00 pm.  

This week’s YouTube show

Join Harley and Mitch on YouTube for the Mar. 16 Random Thoughts on the Winnipeg Jets

1. Jets:  The Winnipeg Jets went  2-2-0 this past week and have earned points in eight of their games since the Olympic break.  Their record is still at the bogus “Count Chocula” .500 at 28-28-10, five points out of the playoffs with 16 games remaining in the regular season and are still kicking at the cat.   They are 5-2-0 on their 8-game homestand.   

 2. Jets:  It figures that Gus Nyquist would start playing inspired hockey now!  The old case of too little too late.  Where was this all season?

3. Things that make me go hmmm: #1🤔  I started wondering about this tweet and why lately the Jets have looked a little more like last year’s team, and I believe it’s because the roster is much faster after adding Rosen, Lambert, Fleury, and Bryson.  Now they are far from perfect, even though they are faster, but when their speed matches last year’s attention to detail more consistently, they will definitely win more hockey games.  Consistency, adaptability, and understanding your role doesn’t take any special skill, just mental toughness.  A lot of times, hockey is just a battle of wills.   

Somebody call the R.C.M.P. The 2025-2026 Winnipeg Jets are missing and were replaced today with the President’s Trophy 2024-2025 Winnipeg Jets. Hellebuyck was Hart Trophy worthy today. Well done Jets.

— 🇨🇦Wpg Jets & NYI Fan in NY (@rider505) March 14, 2026

4. Jets:  I’m quite hard on Dylan DeMelo, so I’m going to say something positive about his game. For a defenceman his size, he is very strong, he hits hard, and there is never any questioning about his compete level.
Alright, where is Mitch and what have you done to him?

5. Jets:  Pet Peeve: The Jets forwards and sometimes their defencemen jump the gun and blow the zone before the puck is out, and they do it far too often for my liking.

6. Jets:  It’s only been 4-5 games for new acquisition Jacob Bryson (UFA), but I have seen enough to say I have no interest in seeing the Jets offering him a contract.  He is a nice skater who handles the puck pretty well but gets eaten alive without it.  Being a SMURF, he gets absolutely swallowed up in front of the net and along the boards.  We don’t need any more shrubs.  I would rather see Isaak Phillips playing with the big club now if they’re auditioning defencemen for next year.

7. Manitoba Moose:  The Manitoba Moose went 2-2-0-0 this past week and are holding steady at 28-21-5-1 after a 4-2 win in Calgary Sunday afternoon.   Thomas Milic made a career-high 44 stops in the Moose net.

8. Jets:  Question for Scott Arniel:  Your team’s power play has dropped quite a bit statistically week after week, and I wonder why you haven’t changed the positioning or personnel to give it a different look?

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9. Things that make me go hmmm: #2 🤔 Morgan Barron, Cole Koepke, and Brad Lambert are definitely the Jets’ speediest line, and I wonder if it’s time to give them a little bump up in icetime and if not, the whole line, how about flip-flopping Barron and Adam Lowry?

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

I’m not sure if Tyrel Bauer is a potential NHL defenceman or not, but one thing I do know is that he is tough and will throw down with anybody.  Can the Jets afford to carry a guy on their roster just because he can fight?  The only way to find out is to play him.  He would give this team some much-needed toughness, especially on the road in some tough barns like Minny, Dallas, and St. Louis.  I know fighting is a hot button subject, but it is important whether you like it or not.  All you have to do is ask the players in the dressing room, and to a man, they’d all say yes, and that’s coming from the guys that matter, not you or me, so 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: 23rd at 17.70% (net 23rd at 16.00%)
• PK: 16th at 79.00% (net 16th at 81.70%)
• FO: 13th at 50.80%

12. Jets:  Goaltending:

• Connor Hellebuyck:  17-18-9 … 2.75 GAA … .901 SV%
• Eric Comrie:  11-9-1 … 2.96 GAA … .895 SV%

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

• Good:  Mark Scheifele continues to be the best skater on the ice most nights.
• Bad:  The Jets’ defencemen backing in on their goalies happens far too often.  
• Ugly:  The Jets must give up the most goals in the league on tip-ins.  Most of the time, they may have marked their man, but they don’t tie up their sticks.  

14. Jets: Tidbits and FYIs:

• Isak Rosen scored his first goal as a Winnipeg Jet on Thursday vs the NYR.
• Josh Morrissey sets a new Jets 2.0 record for most games played by a defenceman (719 Enstrom),
• Dylan DeMelo played in his 700th NHL game on Thursday night.
• Mark Scheifele has reached 80 points for the second consecutive season.
• Hayden Fleury scored his 1st goal as a Winnipeg Jet on Sunday and his 1st since the 2022-23 season.
• Eric Comrie has won his last 5 starts.
• My man Thomas Milic had back-to-back shutouts for the Moose.
• 2028 World Cup was announced with 8 teams.  The round-robin play will be in Prague & Calgary, and the Semifinals & Final will be in Edmonton.

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.  

Click ICON to follow WHT  on X. 👉👉👉 Follow @WpgHockTalk

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