The Winnipeg Jets Should Retool Now

February 3, 2022 by

The Winnipeg Jets need to start the retool now and not in the off-season-

In a year that has gone off the rails, it makes sense to me to start the retooling right now. 

Retool ~ Verb

1.  equip with new or adapted tools.
2.  adapt or alter to make them more useful or suitable.

The good guys are currently sitting at 18-17-7 going in the NHL’s All-Star break which puts them 6th in the Central Division and the news gets worse.  The Jets sit 9 points out of the last wildcard position and need to jump over five teams with only fourty games left in the season.  Even the most diehard fan knows there is no way in hell with the way this team is playing from the goaltender out that we will see a Whiteout this season.  Let’s call it what it is, another lost season and move on.  I know, I know the truth hurts but I’m not here to wave pom-poms or blow smoke you know where.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Featured, Press Box Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Random Thoughts On The Winnipeg Jets: Jan. 24

January 24, 2022 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.

Today’s thoughts are sponsored by the word ENOUGH!

1. Jets:  The Winnipeg Jets went winless on this road trip, bookending two losses with an overtime loss and a shootout loss.  It’s hard to be overly critical with the effort in most of the games but this team just lacks any type of killer instinct.  They have had multiple chances to extend leads but they let teams hang around and eventually lose.  The Jets record sits at 17-14-7 and they are 3 points out of the last wildcard position.    [Read more…]

Filed Under: Featured, Random Thoughts Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Random Thoughts On The Winnipeg Jets: Dec. 6

December 6, 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 had a decent week and rediscovered their goal-scoring as they went 2-1-0.   Their record currently sits at 12-8-4 on the season.  The Jets now play Carolina at home on Tuesday night and then head out west for back-to-backs versus Seattle and Vancouver on Thursday and Friday.   

2. Jets:  If you know me you’ll know that I’m kind of twisted.  I’m not a Paul Maurice supporter but I’m not a hater either.  Don’t get me wrong, he drives me crazy at times but not as crazy as his haters on Twitter.  For some reason, I get great amusement from their angst, to the point where I can’t wait for Mark Chipman to announce PoMo’s 5-year extension.  What an a-hole eh?    

3. Jets:  Congratulations to Winnipeg Jets captain, Blake Wheeler on playing in his 1000th NHL game on Sunday night.  It would have been nice to see him pot his first goal of the season on his special day but I’m sure he’ll be happy with two assists and a win.  

4. Jets:  I’ve mentioned this a few times in the previous weeks but Kristian Vesalainen is slowly and I mean glacier speed slowly coming out of his shell.  He is giving us small glimpses of offensive chops in his game.  I would love to see him get to the point where Paul Maurice or whoever is responsible for our powerplay tries him in the right half-wall one-timer spot.  Vesy had great success there in the Finish League and he was actually called “the left-handed Laine”. 

5. Team Canada:  Hockey Canada has invited Cole Perfetti to the U20 World Junior Selection Camp later this month.  Perfetti will be the only returning forward from last year’s silver medal-winning team and should have a huge role with this year’s team.       

6. Jets:  I’ve decided that #6 is going to be the permanent home dedicated to my weekly bitch-fest about NHL officiating.  I’ll never have to worry about having a lack of content, hell I could probably fill all 20 thoughts here on NHL officiating.  Here’s one from Friday night.  Check out this subtle little slew foot or should I say slew knee by PK Subban.  PK is one of my favourite NHL players but he is getting a bit of a reputation for the slew foot.  I believe he has been flagged for 2 or 3 of these lately.  Maybe his nickname should be PK Slewban.  This infraction went uncalled and Nikolaj Ehlers was rightfully not pleased. 

Next, on Sunday night after Rasmus Sandin collided knee on knee with Neal Pionk, the next shift Jason Spezza knees Neal Pionk in the head while he is sliding on the ice.  In my opinion, this was premeditated as retaliation to Sandin being injured and should be suspendable but I wonder if the DOPS will even look at it.

UPDATE: 

UPDATE:

Neal Pionk is suspended for 2 games.  Jason Spezza was suspended for 6 games.


7. Jets:  Riley Nash has now been healthy scratched for 5 straight games.  Wow, how the mighty have fallen, from the 1st unit powerplay to the first unit in the popcorn brigade.  Put him on waivers and put this chapter behind us and do it now before the Christmas roster freeze.      

UPDATE:

UPDATE:  This is huge news and looks like finally an opening for David Gustafsson.

8. Jets:  Say what you want about Paul Maurice reuniting Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele, and Blake Wheeler but this threesome does have unspoken chemistry that is eerie at times.  They’ve never had a problem scoring, it’s been their play in their own zone that’s been an issue the past 2-3 years.  I’m curious to see if they can hold their own this time around at even strength.  Time will tell I guess.  

9. Jets:  I’ve never been keen on Andrew Copp playing as a top-6 forward but he surprises me every now and then.  I’m not saying I’m completely off the fence but I’m slowly slipping.  I actually like the new line of Andrew Copp, Pierre-Luc Dubois, and Nikolaj Ehlers.  I have a feeling though, that Paul Maurice will have the blender on overdrive all season long.  

10. NHL:  Does anybody realize the New York Islanders have now lost 11 straight games?  This has to be the least talked about slump around the league this season.  I guess Barry Trotz has forgotten how to coach.  I wonder if their fan base is calling for his head?

11. Jets:  After scoring 14 goals in their last two games this week that 1-0 loss last Monday to Arizona seems like ages ago.     

12. Ice:  The Winnipeg ICE split their two home games with Saskatoon last week and now have an overall record of  22-2-1 on the season.  After week 9 the ICE are still the top-ranked team in the CHL.  It will be interesting to see if their one loss this week will change their CHL ranking in Week 10.    

See the source image

ICE forward Matthew Savoie after he was named the McSweeney’s WHL Player of the Month for November.  Savoie recorded 22 points (7G-15A) in 10 games in November and he begins the month of December as the WHL’s leading scorer with 39 points (13G-26A).

Kia CHL Top-10 Rankings – Week 9

1. Winnipeg ICE
2. Kamloops Blazers
3. Everett Silvertips
4. Edmonton Oil Kings
5. London Knights
6. Charlottetown Islanders
7. Gatineau Olympiques
8. North Bay Battalion
9. Sherbrooke Phoenix
10. Hamilton Bulldogs

13. Moose:  The Manitoba Moose swept their two-game series in Belleville this week and improved their overall record to 13-6-1-0 and remain in 4th place in the Western Conference.  Arvid Holm stopped all 22 shots he faced on Sunday afternoon to get the 2-0  shutout, the first in his short AHL career.  Cole Perfetti continues to lead the Moose in scoring with 15 points in 17 games.  

14. NHL:  Since there is no such thing as Maple Leafs. I think Toronto should change its name to Maple Leaves.  I bet they win a Stanley Cup soon after.  Of course, they won’t.  BAZINGA.   

15. Jets:  My weekly question for Kevin Cheveldayoff and/or Paul Maurice.
Why not send Nate Beaulieu down to the Moose or are you afraid he can’t crack their blueline either?  

16. Jets:  Attendance:  Winnipeg Jets attendance has never been an issue or a talking point but after a year with no fans, with people still a little hesitant on attending games because of covid, and maybe some fan backlash toward TNSE and Kevin Cheveldayoff, the attendance is down and I’m a little concerned.  I’ve gone through the pain of losing an NHL team and once in a lifetime is enough for me.  Yes, we have rich owners but the club still needs to be viable on its own merits.

Vs Arizona Coyotes – 14,129

Vs New Jersey Devils – 13,844

Vs Toronto Maple Leafs – 14,461

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

  • Good:  Pierre-Luc Dubois.  It doesn’t matter who his linemates are, he just keeps chugging along.  I can’t get enough of PLD.  
  • Bad:  The officiating in the 3rd period of the TOR/WPG game.  They totally lost control and everybody in the building could see it coming but the two clowns in stripes.             
  • Ugly:  Helle’s puck handling.  All he does is screw up his defencemen.        

18. Jets:  Special Teams: Rule of thumb. Have the two red numbers (PK and PP) total at least 100% when added (as your minimum). 

  • PP:  13th at … 20.30% up from 16th at … 18.60last week. 
  • PK:  31st at … 67.70% down from 30th … 68.30 last week.
  • FO:  15th at … 50.20% up from 21st … 49.20last week.

19. Goaltending:

  • Conner Hellebuyck:  9-6-4 … 2.70 GAA … .916 SV% 
  • Eric Comrie:  3-2-0 … 2.49 GAA … .913 SV%

20. CFL:  We’re going to the Grey Cup.  Andrew Harris is an absolute BEAST.  That’s all I got but this says it all.

*

PS:  Winnipeg Hockey Talk needs someone interested in writing about the Winnipeg Ice.  If you are interested contact me (Mitch) at winnipeghockeytalk@gmail.com

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:

winnipeghockeytalk@gmail.com

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

*

 

Filed Under: Featured, Random Thoughts Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Winnipeg Jets First Quarter Grades: Forwards

December 1, 2021 by

Winnipeg Jets grades for the forwards:

As usual in any hockey season, any given NHL roster is going to have its surprises and its disappointments.  The Winnipeg Jets are no exception.  The Winnipeg Jets forward group in the first quarter of the season has been very inconsistent with the exception of Kyle Connor and Pierre-Luc Dubois.  [Read more…]

Filed Under: Featured, Report Cards, Winnipeg Jets Tagged With: , , , , ,

Random Thoughts On The Winnipeg Jets: Nov. 22

November 22, 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 went 1-1-1 last week and improved their overall record to 9-4-4 on the season.  The Jets play at home Monday night versus the Penguins then head back on the road for 3 games this week (Columbus, Minny, and Calgary) with a back to backs on Friday/Saturday.  

2. Jets:  The highlight of last week’s games was the Jets’ 5-2 win over the Edmonton McWhiners and that win helped them finish their 7-game homestand with an impressive 5-1-1 record.  Any day we beat the Oilers is a good day in my books. 

3. Jets:  Are you kidding me?  FYI, these rankings came out on Tuesday so whatever happened after Tuesday’s 5-2 win over Edmonton is irrelevant.  As far as I’m concerned ESPN’s rankings are a joke and they have no credibility.  


4.  Jets:  I’m getting a little concerned about the number of two on ones the Jets are giving up because of Josh Morrissey’s ill-advised pinches.  Being aggressive in the offensive zone is part of the game now and every defenceman is going to get burned every once in a while but it’s becoming a regular thing with Josh. 

5. Jets:  It doesn’t matter what line Nikolaj “don’t call me Nik” Ehlers plays on, they automatically become a threat.  Ehlers is a line driver and isn’t linemate dependant like a lot of wingers in the NHL.  He is an outstanding puck handler and one of the NHL’s leaders in zone entries every season.         

6. Jets:  Regulars that visit here know how much I hate the NHL’s officiating and on Friday night in Vancouver they didn’t disappoint.  Winnipeg Jets never had one powerplay opportunity in a game where the Jets forwards were interfered with countless times in front of Thatcher Demko.  This league is such a joke.

7. Jets:  The Winnipeg Jets played 125 minutes of hockey in their home and home series with the Edmonton Oilers last week and only gave up THREE goals and only ONE at even strength.  Again, ONE at even strength.  Let that marinate for a bit.  The Jets came away with three points and probably should have taken four and looked very good doing so.  The scary thing is this team is not clicking on all cylinders and is still a work in progress.      

8. Jets:  If you want a good chuckle watch this. 

9. Jets:  Going into camp most Winnipeg Jets fans think this is the biggest talking point.  The concern seems to be waning in light of Eric Comrie’s play so far this season although I still need to see more and against some tougher competition BUT so far, so good.  We will probably run this poll for a couple more weeks before retiring it but the angst meter has started going a little more in Comrie’s favour.  His numbers are actually pretty good and he has played very well overall but I just don’t like small goalies.  He still scares me to death every start but that’s me.

Will Eric Comrie last the seaon as Jets back-up goalie?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

10. Jets:  I see the hate for Blake Wheeler has amped up again from the same vocal minority that has been on him for years.  Yes, the captain is off to a slow start but keep in mind he missed a handful of games due to Covid.  He probably isn’t a top-line right-winger anymore but he certainly isn’t ready for the rocking chair yet either.  One of his biggest strengths was running the #1 unit’s powerplay from the right half-wall but for some strange reason, Paul Maurice has him in the left goal-line bumper spot which is a complete waste of his passing ability.  I’ve also heard his detractors say he is too slow which is complete bullshit.  He is faster than Andrew Copp and nobody has ever accused Anze Kopitar of being slow although I’ve seen glaciers move faster.  The captain hasn’t been putting up points at his usual rate but it’s not from lack of chances.  I’m not ready to write him off yet.

11. Jets:  I really like the current configuration of the Jets’ third line right now.  Jansen Harkin, Adam Lowry, and Evgeny Svechnikov have a nice mix of skill and grind in their game and they spend a lot of time in the offensive end of the ice.  It seems like Lowry has to adapt to breaking in new linemates every season but he continues to be a beast and one of the Jets’ most reliable players.  We are lucky to have him.

Embed from Getty Images

    

12. Ice:  The Winnipeg ICE won both of their road games last week and improved their overall record to 19-1-0 on the season.  Matt Savoie, Mike Milne, and Connor McClennon are one, two, three in the WHL’s scoring race.  The ICE are still the top-ranked team in the CHL.  It’s a great time to be a Winnipeg sports fan.   

CHL Top 10 for Week #7:

    • 1. Winnipeg ICE
    • 2. Everett Silvertips
    • 3. London Knights
    • 4. Kamloops Blazers
    • 5. Edmonton Oil Kings
    • 6. Sherbrooke Phoenix
    • 7. Charlottetown Islanders
    • 8. Ottawa 67’s
    • 9. Rimouski Oceanic
    • 10. Kingston Frontenacs

13. Moose:  The Manitoba Moose had a good week going 2-1-0-0 in their three-game series with the Milwaukee Admirals and now have an overall record of 9-6-1-0 and sit 5th in the Western Conference.  A fun fact about this team is that there are four defencemen in their top eight scorers.

14. Jets:  I hate the Winnipeg Jets penalty killing and I have for years. It is passive and basically relies on Connor Hellebuyck to stand on his head. This team’s PK has been hovering around the basement all season but yet the Jets AHL affiliate, the Manitoba Moose has the #1 PK in the AHL.  I don’t know who the Jets’ PK coach is but enough is enough.  It’s time for a different vision.

15. Jets:  My weekly question for Kevin Cheveldayoff and Paul Maurice.
Does Riley Nash or Dominic Toninato bring more to the table than David Gustafsson would?

16. Jets:  Attendance:  Winnipeg Jets attendance has never been an issue or a talking point but after a year with no fans, with people still a little hesitant on attending games because of covid, and maybe some fan backlash toward TNSE and Kevin Cheveldayoff, the attendance is down and I’m a little concerned.  I’ve gone through the pain of losing an NHL team and once in a lifetime is enough for me.  Yes, we have rich owners but the club still needs to be viable on its own merits.

Vs Edmonton Oilers – 13,473

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

  • Good:  The home-ice win versus the Oilers.  
  • Bad:  The penalty killing is a joke.  It’s like groundhog day.  Nuff said.            
  • Ugly:  The Jets’ powerplay was 4th at 28.10% two weeks ago.  It’s been awful lately and in my opinion, it cost them the Oilers game on Thursday night.        

18. Jets:  Special Teams: Rule of thumb. Have the two red numbers (PK and PP) total at least 100% when added (as your minimum). 

  • PP:  12th at … 21.30% down from 8th at … 23.70 last week. 
  • PK:  31st at … 63.80% down from 30th … 65.80 last week.
  • FO:  21st at … 48.70% down from … 50.30 last week.

19. Goaltending:

  • Conner Hellebuyck:  6-2-4 … 2.62 GAA … .918 SV% 
  • Eric Comrie:  3-2-0 … 2.19 GAA … .920 SV%

20. CFL:  The Winnipeg Blue Bombers finished their regular season with a 13-12 loss in Calgary on Saturday night and now it’s on to the Western Final at home in two weeks.  We are now waiting to see if we go into that game with a full complement of healthy players.   

*

PS:  Winnipeg Hockey Talk needs someone interested in writing about the Winnipeg Ice.  If you are interested contact me (Mitch) at winnipeghockeytalk@gmail.com

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:

winnipeghockeytalk@gmail.com

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

Filed Under: Featured, Random Thoughts Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Blog Stats

  • 193,023 hits