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Tough questions for the Jets need answers before change |
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I'm trying to be methodical in how to address the remaining issues with the Jets. It could be a blog a day it could every other day but what I hope happens is that as we gear up towards the draft and UFA period there is some momentum in content and also from the Jets as an organization. Now- where do they start to build that momentum for change, because one thing is certain- change is coming.
Before I get into this I want to make mention of the passing of Jason Botchford of the Athletic and formerly the Province in Vancouver. I got to know him when I covered the Canucks for Hockeybuzz, we also became friends around our mutual favourite band Phish. Back in 2011 when Botch and I finally met, at a Phish concert no less (there is a separate, not to be printed, story) I told him that I was moving on from the Canucks to cover the Jets. His response echoes what so many have said about him since his passing- the guy was beyond supportive. He told me that was a huge loss for the Canucks community and that I had made a difference amidst one of the most heavily covered teams in the blogosphere. That was kind, even it if wasn't true, but I felt he meant it. Anyhow, his vision for how to cover games and interact with fans had no equal and I'm going to miss him. If you never read the Provies or the Athletties go do so now.
Many who cover the Jets have released their findings from fan polls around what should be done to the Jets this off-season. What players to keep, who to trade, who to let go and who to sign, there might have been a few thoughts on the coach mixed in there too. These are fun and that's the aim of them but if one were to take a practical look at the Jets and how to manage the inevitable change this offseason, any of these moves are secondary or further in the change process.
Questions need to be asked and if it comes from the top via owner and chairperson Mark Chapman it should start like this: 'why was the team worse this season compared to last season with so little roster turnover?'
The answers from Kevin Cheveldayoff and Paul Maurice should be the foundation of how change is looked at and managed going forward. There needs to be an agreed upon reason, even if that reason is wrong. How can an organization institute change if it does not identify what needs to eb changed?
If the reason that is agreed upon is wrong- at least it's agreed upon and any subsequent actions that fail can at least be linked back to that point. Why is this important? Should a point come where the coach and GM are no longer here documenting the road map, decisions, and strategy to get to that current point in time will be necessary for the new brain trust to have- don't make the same mistakes. Don't be the Oilers. Imagine figuring out their past decisions and processes to arrive at them.
Asking the right questions should propel the organization to find answers that are useful not ones that confirm what they already know. Let me be clear I don't know what the answer is although I have theories, I will provide some thoughts on how the team can identify elements to answer that questions.
The Jets have a data department, they use it for many parts of analyzing games and player performance. They should be comparing base stats of last season vs this season and in 10 game rolling segments. Take the indicating metrics and figure out where they differed between last year. After that get the video team and scouts in and then review those segments of 10 games:
1-10, 11-20, 21-30 and so on. Let the scouts identify what's different between the two seasons in tactics by the team and the opposition, what players are doing well in one season and repeating or not repeating in the next season. Where were goals scored? Where were goals allowed? Zone exits and entries and on it goes.
Something went horribly awry around Christmas and while it might be linked to the loss of Ehlers, the best Jet for zone controlled entries, there might be other problems- what happened then that continued on?
The Jets need to figure out where the the problems are and how they happened. I've said it before and I will say it again 'who' and 'how' are the same three letters but when used in a discovery process start with 'how' as it will always lead to 'who'. This means players, it means lines, it means coaches and anyone else. Looking to find out 'who' is at fault is simply blame-storming and that will often get you no where as you have identified (hopefully) who is at fault but not necessarily what the actual problem is.
The Jets, coach and management, know there are problems. In fact they know that the centre position between Ehlers and Laine is so not producing that a trade has been made the past two deadlines to acquire a fix. Furthermore, the same player that trades have been made to upgrade from was given a contract extension. How did that happen and what process was used to make those decisions?
As we inch along this offseason and see what develops within the Jets fans need to believe that the right questions are being asked, not the fun ones. We all like to be arm chair GMs, it's fun. However, this is not NHL 19 without lives, mistakes and jobs on the line and a 100 million dollar plus enterprise. Due process needs to be followed and one that asks hard questions about the Jets' results this year and why they fell despite relatively little change in the roster. If information does not come to spur debate and discussion to form agreement on how to change there might be little reason to believe positive change comes.
So far this GM and organization have avoided off season catastrophe but they have also never had to deal like an off season such as this one. More importantly they have never had to enter one with as many issues and concerns that were revealed during this past season. It's time to answer the tough questions and it starts with "why were the Jets not as good as last season?".
Winnipeg Jets Blogger •Winnipeg Jets Writer • 
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