I won’t get to in depth here on the nuances of Noel-speak again. You know my glossary exists and it will be added to when new phrases or terms become relevant. However, I have dive into a quote today that came via the @NHLJets twitter account.
Context is a big issue here is it’s a quote being shared via 140 character broadcast platform but I feel I know Noel’s affect and oratory expressions well enough to understand it, or not.
“We have to be ready to play the game… It’s back to back. (sic) We have to use our bench, we have to be smart about this.” –Noel
So who is ‘we’? Who is ‘our’? Who is he telling this too, the fans, the players, his coaches, GM? Frankly I don’t understand Claude Noel’s approach and more importantly do the players? Oops, I’ve covered that before.
If Claude Noel wants his team to be ready to play- talk to the leadership group and figure it out. If he wants to use his bench then talk to the coaches and look in the mirror and if the depth of the bench is unsuitable wave up to the press box and Kevin Chevaldayoff.
Also, what is ‘this’? Is it the game, the opposition or the situation?
If Noel is talking about being smart then let’s look back to last night’s game late in the third period. The Jets took an icing call and the line of Frolik, Scheifele and Kane were on the ice along with Clitsome and Ellerby. Hardly and ideal situation and without the chance to change his lines what was the ‘smart’ thing to do?
Take a time out. Minnesota had just put it’s line out and the Jets had at some point between the last stoppage with 4:06 left and 3:20 remaining with the icing faceoff put 55, 67, 9, 24, and 7 out. They weren’t necessarily tired but would you choose them for an D-zone draw that late? This is against Koivu, Parise, Suter, Brodin and Coyle so was having a plan to understand assignments not important?
We all know what happened. 55 lost the faceoff, 7 could not gain possession on the boards and before Clitsome could see Scheifele not covering Koivu it was in the back of the net. Now what’s interesting about this scenario is what happened after.
Clitsome stayed on to be joined by recent partner Byfuglien along with Little, Ladd and Wheeler. Why not bring on Enstrom at this point? If Jokinen was a better choice than Kane, who did not see the ice after that goal, as the extra attacker is Enstrom not better than Clitsome?
It’s all hindsight now but learning comes when you understand what decisions could be improved upon and with Noel citing use of bench and playing smart it’s fair to point a finger back at the coach in this case.
Speaking of quotes here’s one from Blake Wheeler that Mike Russo tweeted out last night,
“they’re not a fun team to play against, and I mean that’s a compliment. Really structured.”
It’s the kind of thing it sounds like Jets players, at least Wheeler, notice and appreciate. Just thought I’d throw that in for you to consider after Noel’s from today.
Target Practice
Tonight the Jets host the waiting and rested Flames at the MTS Centre. The Flames are starting goalie Reto Berra tonight who comes in with a .882 save percentage and a 3.65 goals against average. Only Edmonton has given up more goals than Calgary who are at 75 and 2nd worst in the league.
How’s that for a situation for the Jets fighters currently missing in action? Guys such as Wheeler, Scheifele and Evander ’40 foot’ Kane all need to load up and fire away. Why that name for Kane? Well it seems he doesn’t like to shoot any closer than 40 feet to the net these days. I took a look and
Greg Sinclair’s shot search and Kane’s average distance is actually 33.6 feet on 75 shots recorded with distance data- he’s listed on NHL.com with 81.
This goalie is ugly and that’s what a slump buster is. The Jets are only at a –4 goal differential and tonight with some hard work and effort they could pull within even should all systems fire without trouble.
Aside from the Flames goaltending woes one player worth noting for fans is Sean Monahan. He has 8 goals and 5 assists in 20 games as a rookie and is surely going to develop into something special. It will be interesting to see if Scheifele sees any head-to-head action against him and how that plays out.
Stuart is skating as is Trouba but don’t expect either to be back soon as per Noel today and Bogosian is week-to-week. One wonders how much longer the head coach can tolerate long stretch passes from his defense that cause turnovers, let alone scoring chances. Depth is being tested and last night may have been a bit of bad news but I don’t think that depth was the issue. Determination and game management were but we’ve heard that latter phrase from Noel before, at what point do we see him take it seriously?
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