Mitch Kasprick is now the “Westdale Curmudgeon.“

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, 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 >>> https://youtu.be/gsFpDc79Kxw

1. Jets:  The Winnipeg Jets finished their 6-game trip with a 2-4-0 record and fulfilled my prediction of winning 2 of the last 3 games to help salvage the backend of the trip, BUT, BUT, had to go to a shootout versus the lowly Calgary Flames to do it.  The team has an 11-7-0 record and currently sits in 3rd place in the Central Division. 

2. Jets:  Dylan Samberg returned to the lineup last week and made a noticeable difference, but unfortunately, he and Josh can’t make up for the rest of the def corps’ shortcomings, although he does help Neal Pionk look a little better, but not enough in my opinion. 

3. Jets:  I know I’ve been harping on the Jets’ blueline an awful lot this season, and good team defence needs to include the forwards as well, BUT most of the glaring mistakes that are leading to goals against have been when we’ve already had possession of the puck and given away by our dmen.  

4. NHL:  FYI:  In standings, a victory in a shootout counts as one goal for, while a shootout loss counts as one goal against.

5. Jets:  Dylan DeMelo gift-wrapped Seattle’s first goal on Thursday night.  I feel so sorry for Josh.  It’s getting tough to miss the constant mistakes from #2.

6. Jets:  Question for Kevin Cheveldayoff:  I’m sure you’re seeing the same mistakes and poor play defensively from your team, so my question is, what are you going to do about it?  I know top-4 defencemen don’t grow on trees and aren’t readily available in the trade market, but are you looking, or do you need to look within the organisation?

7. Jets:  Just based on the “eye test,” I would have never thought that Jonathon Toews was a team high -8 in the +/- statistic.

8. Moose:  The Manitoba Moose won all three of their games last week and finished their 5-game road trip with 4 wins, improving their record to 7-6-2-0.  The Moose are now in a tie for 3rd in the Central Division and are back home for six games.  Brayden Yager is starting to find the score sheet a little more regularly after a slow start.  The first-year pro now has a very respectable 8 points in 15 games.  Thomas Milic is the leading goaltender with a 4-2 record, 2.28 GAA and .915 SV%.

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9. Jets:  Not only is Josh Morrissey the Jets’ best defenceman, he is one of the team’s best offensive weapons as well.  Josh is 3rd in team scoring, and the team scores many of their goals where he doesn’t get an assist, but it was one of his slick breakout passes that started the rush.  Josh has officially reached stud status in my books.  Josh is an All-Star and a lock for Canada’s Olympic team.

10. Jets:  I had to laugh when the HNIC announcer, Jon Abbott, said there sure have been some egregious turnovers in this game just seconds after Dylan DeMelo served up a pizza with extra cheese.

11. Jets:  WHT Poll

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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: 8th at 24.10% up from 13th at 20.00% last week
• PK: 8th at 84.10% down from 6th 86.90% last week
• FO: 7th at 53.00% up from 8th at 52.70% last week

13. Jets:  Goaltending:

• Connor Hellebuyck:  8-6-0 … 2.51 GAA … .913 SV%
• Eric Comrie:  3-1-0 … 2.75 GAA … .908 SV%

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

• Good:  The return of Dylan Samberg and the stability he has brought to the second defence pairing.   
• Bad:  The Jets blew two 3-goal leads twice in the last two games of the road trip.  It cost them a win in Seattle and forced the Calgary game into overtime, then a shootout, which they won.  
• Ugly:  The schedule.  Six games on the road, then three at home, and back on the road for five more.  Not great when the team is not playing well. 

15. Things that make me go hmmm: Part 1  

There are a lot of fans and people who cover the Jets, scratching their heads, wondering why the Jets can’t protect a lead when they were so good at it last year.  Well, it doesn’t take a genius to figure out this is not the same team.

16. Things that make me go hmmm: Part 2  

Why would you continue to play Gus Nyquist, who has done nothing to justify his icetime and not give David Gustafsson the job he has rightfully earned OR let one of the kids like Nikita Chibrikov or Brad Lambert get some much-needed on-the-job training since they are the future of this team?

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

Right now, as this Jets team is currently built, it looks like they will be in a dog fight all season for a playoff spot, and there is a chance they could not make it.  Do I think they’ll miss the playoffs?  No, because I don’t think Chicago, Anaheim, Seattle, or San Jose will stay in the race, but you never know.  The Jets are a veteran team that knows how to win, but Scott Arniel needs to fix whatever ails them quickly! 

18. CFL:  As a proud Winnipegger, it hurts when you hear people badmouth our hometown, but this week, all we heard is out-of-town visitors here for the Grey Cup compliment the people and hospitality at the events and how terrific they were.  I have to admit it felt nice. Well done, Winnipeg!

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