One of Vesalainen, Petan, Dano or Lemieux will make the starting linup, one will be in the press box and will see playing time as injuries occur, one will be waived/traded, one sent to Moose and recalled as needed.

Because Lemieux and Vesalainen are waiver exempt I expect one of Dano and Petan to start with the Jets and likely Lemieux in the press box. Likely Petan to get moved out of the organization and Vesalainen to the Moose/Europe - he may play a few games to get a taste for the NHL and learn what skills/habits/systems he needs to work on to thrive.

Pretty well agree with that. If Vesalainen can't crack lineup right away I'm sure he will go to Moose for half-season , learn the same system and be on the big club by February. It's pretty obvious though that Vesalainen is much more talented than Petan, Dano, Copp , Tanev, and Lemieux so it's just a matter of time with this kid.

I think Lemieux might just crack this lineup at the expense of Petan or Dano. Petan appears to be a poor fit for the Jets/Maurice system. Niku is almost there, might be same situation as Vesalainen. Also not counting out Appleton just yet as a dark-horse surprise.

Finally, I'd rank the only untouchables right now in our system or for our bubble players to be Vesalainen and Niku. Stanley's name might soon be in that untouchable mix as well with another year of similar improvement.

I think Lemieux might just crack this lineup at the expense of Petan or Dano. Petan appears to be a poor fit for the Jets/Maurice system. Niku is almost there, might be same situation as Vesalainen. Also not counting out Appleton just yet as a dark-horse surprise.

Finally, I'd rank the only untouchables right now in our system or for our bubble players to be Vesalainen and Niku.
- jetsnation

I liked Lemieux’s game the other nite. I was right on the goal line row 2 in the 200’s and watched him take a hard left turn at the goal line to drag the puck to the net. He brings that element with him and Dano was there to clean up the garbage. But that is his specialty playing wrecking ball hockey and taking the puck to the net. We have an abundance of skill up front and he does bring a different element up front.

Niku does not look to far away and he had a good game. I agree those two are (Nike and Vesalainen) are untouchables.

After listening to Maurice today I can add a few more comments, some are reiterations which I surmised in previous comments.

The key exit meeting message to the players was clearly to improve on their speed. Many have come back lighter and faster. The Vegas series and its franchises success last year obviously set the tone for this message.

Tanev , Lowry , and Copp line is set. None of them is going anywhere.
Scheifele line is set as well.
Niku is heading back to the Moose. . Stanley destined to Moose as well.

So only questions that remain is who is the second line center, but it appears to be Little. The other question is who gets the only spot available since Roslovic is pretty well a lock . Petan has family issues and a two-way contract so, for now, there remain three players....Lemieux, Vesalainen , and Dano. Let the battle continue but the advantage goes to Dano because of the waiver situation. The fact that he got serious and shed 15 lbs won't go unnoticed either.

Your statements are laughable. Every scouting report on Mason Appleton says that he makes the players around him much better. Same was true so far on the Moose. If anything as center on the top line, he carried Petan.

BTW. Roslovic was top PPG player on the Moose.

Yep, McJags is correct.....more fake news form Rexy.
- jetsnation

Jetsnation appeals to authority once again. Even though Petan was steady with everyone, and actually picked up his pace as the season wore on, while Appleton dropped a ton without Petan, Appleton is somehow the play driver.

Also, I considered Roslovic to be more of a Jet than a Moose last season, but he played more games in the A, so fair enough.

Perhaps I have missed it, but I was waiting for his take on Dano losing 15 lbs in the off-season.
- bennythehat

He looks quicker on his feet. More top end. Luckily for my man crush, he continues to look like Marko Dano.

On the subject of Nic Petan, I’m starting to agree that he doesn’t quite mesh with the PoMo system. He couldn’t get a pass to Lemieux clean all night, and basically relied on Dano.

He was still the best C out there for game 1, but he saw the lowest ice time at 5 on 5. That’s Maurice obviously writing him off before he even gets going, so I’d rather he be moved for something now than lost to whoever’s first in the waiver line

He looks quicker on his feet. More top end. Luckily for my man crush, he continues to look like Marko Dano.
- Rexypoo

It will be interesting to see if the weight loss translates to improved play.

2 theories here:
Benny's theory - Dano was overweight and out of shape last year, so he was in Maurice's doghouse.
Rexy's theory - Dano was in good shape to start the year, but gained a lot of weight eating press box food.

On the subject of Nic Petan, I’m starting to agree that he doesn’t quite mesh with the PoMo system. He couldn’t get a pass to Lemieux clean all night, and basically relied on Dano.

He was still the best C out there for game 1, but he saw the lowest ice time at 5 on 5. That’s Maurice obviously writing him off before he even gets going, so I’d rather he be moved for something now than lost to whoever’s first in the waiver line
- Rexypoo

He was better than Roslovic in game 1 ?

He was better than Roslovic in game 1 ?
- bennythehat

I would put him in the top 4.

I would put him in the top 4.
- 2.0

I really like Petan, Dano, Lemieux, and Vesalaninen. The only reason why people on this board seem to dislike Petan and Dano is because their seems to be an underlying resentment about Rexypoo.

More talented players the Jets have the better, don't know what would make people hate players on their own team.

No - the reason why most people on this board question Petan & Dano's ability to crack the line-up is because they haven't shown up yet and played well enough to crack the line-up

Rexy - I like the fact that Rexy contributes here as much as anyone else - if everyone had the same opinions the board would suck / be boring

I've said it before several times - love Petan from his days rep'ing Canada in World Juniors ... I wish so much he'd rise and be a star on the Jets

It ain't happening ... for whatever reason - he's not making the transition to the show

Dano - I have a complete lack of caring ... next !

Gonna add one more here - gotta get back to work ... I'm not back to the Arena again until the season opener but will be watching on the tube:

- Lines 1,2, and 4 are set
- Little will be 2C until he gets injured or someone magically rises to the occasion
- I'm guessing Roslo gets 3C with Perrault on one wing and TBD on the other
- Brossoit will begin season as back-up

Just don't think we're gonna see any major surprises ... I'm far less anxious about the start of this season after last year's performance ... most of the moving parts are proving out now (management, coaching, player development, etc)

My big question is - will we have another rookie who posts 30+ goals this year - for the 3rd year in a row ? ... that would be insane !

I really like Petan, Dano, Lemieux, and Vesalaninen. The only reason why people on this board seem to dislike Petan and Dano is because their seems to be an underlying resentment about Rexypoo.

More talented players the Jets have the better, don't know what would make people hate players on their own team.
- TheUltimateJet

It's not about disliking certain players because Rex likes them. However, those players (Enstrom, Postma, Petan, Dano) get talked about more often because of Rex. Hence,
the opinions come out. Speaking for myself, I base my evaluations purely on the player himself.

It's not about disliking certain players because Rex likes them. However, those players (Enstrom, Postma, Petan, Dano) get talked about more often because of Rex. Hence,
the opinions come out. Speaking for myself, I base my evaluations purely on the player himself.
- bennythehat

agreed - discussions on these players also get distorted because Rexypoo often writes using absolute terms leaving no middle ground where reasonable discussion takes place.

Ovechkin lost 17 lbs last season and Laine lost 15 lbs this off-season. And most importantly, I lost 14 lbs this off-season

I have to say the weight reduction has increased my energy, focus, motivation and it also added that extra oomph in the bedroom

I hope Dano is experiencing the same benefits.

That's REAL news!
- TheUltimateJet

I am sad that no one on this board congratulated me on my weight loss.

I am sad that no one on this board congratulated me on my weight loss.
- TheUltimateJet

Congrats you fat bastard!!

I am sad that no one on this board congratulated me on my weight loss.
- TheUltimateJet

I was going to congratulate you on extra ooomph in the bedroom but that is a little personal.

agreed - discussions on these players also get distorted because Rexypoo often writes using absolute terms leaving no middle ground where reasonable discussion takes place.
- 2.0

I agree with both Benny and 2.0. We don't hate any players. Petan, in particular, I think has some talent. I judge players based on their merits and their play. Petan has shown flashes but comes with flaws, Dano is just an ordinary run of the mill 4th line bubble player. Neither should get nearly the coverage they do on this site.

I am sad that no one on this board congratulated me on my weight loss.
- TheUltimateJet

sorry TUJ, was stunned with a TMI moment. Congrats on the personal success story.

He was better than Roslovic in game 1 ?
- bennythehat

Roslovic wasn’t very good. Slow on reads, botched plays, etc. He’s an excellent winger so far, but I don’t trust him as a full time C anymore. Mind you, that was 1 game.

I am sad that no one on this board congratulated me on my weight loss.
- TheUltimateJet

There is some bait even I have to swim by

It's not about disliking certain players because Rex likes them. However, those players (Enstrom, Postma, Petan, Dano) get talked about more often because of Rex. Hence,
the opinions come out. Speaking for myself, I base my evaluations purely on the player himself.
- bennythehat

I essentially defend all the players the fairweathers hate.

We’re all hardcore fans, but most of us come at the debates from different angles, with Jetsnation and I representing the ends of the spectrum.

My problem is that I’ve seen virtually non-stop hate for Enstrom, and others, for years now. So when a name I love gets brought up here negatively, I’m a lot more defensive than I would be with a detractor of Morrissey or Laine.
Enstrom, Dano, Petan, Postma, Trouba, Perreault, etc. are all players the fairweathers talk sh*t about on Facebook and Twitter and wherever. These are also the same people who blindly love the Tanevs, Hendricks...es, and Chiarot’s of the game, just because Don Cherry and the old boys club tells them to, and because they hit more.
I see so much nonsense spouted off everywhere else that when I come here and see the same basic sentiment, I get a bit pissed off, regardless of whether or not a good point is being made.
I love the debates, I love having my theories and views challenged, and I occasionally enjoy being a smarmy Richard. I also love my smaller, skilled underdog players the average fan wouldn’t have time for, and have an active bias against anything I think Jim Benning, Randy Carlyle, or Don Cherry might like.

All of that rounds up to this: I will happily argue a case for or against any Jet at any time, but if you try and tell me Tanev is better than Dano, and that’s why Dano shouldn’t be a regular, I will burn down your house.

I essentially defend all the players the fairweathers hate.

We’re all hardcore fans, but most of us come at the debates from different angles, with Jetsnation and I representing the ends of the spectrum.

My problem is that I’ve seen virtually non-stop hate for Enstrom, and others, for years now. So when a name I love gets brought up here negatively, I’m a lot more defensive than I would be with a detractor of Morrissey or Laine.
Enstrom, Dano, Petan, Postma, Trouba, Perreault, etc. are all players the fairweathers talk sh*t about on Facebook and Twitter and wherever. These are also the same people who blindly love the Tanevs, Hendricks...es, and Chiarot’s of the game, just because Don Cherry and the old boys club tells them to, and because they hit more.
I see so much nonsense spouted off everywhere else that when I come here and see the same basic sentiment, I get a bit pissed off, regardless of whether or not a good point is being made.
I love the debates, I love having my theories and views challenged, and I occasionally enjoy being a smarmy Richard. I also love my smaller, skilled underdog players the average fan wouldn’t have time for, and have an active bias against anything I think Jim Benning, Randy Carlyle, or Don Cherry might like.

All of that rounds up to this: I will happily argue a case for or against any Jet at any time, but if you try and tell me Tanev is better than Dano, and that’s why Dano shouldn’t be a regular, I will burn down your house.
- Rexypoo

Cute BS story. Please explain why you constantly bash Maurice, Chevy, Myers, Chariot, Tanev, Hendricks, Wheeler on occasion, Little , Lemieux, etc etc. Your much more of a troll than a Jet fan.

We all loved Toby for many years but he became extremely injury prone and as such a liability for the Jets because when he was in the lineup he was constantly playing hurt. We all wish him well but it was time to hang them up. I heard through the grapevine that he got offers from only two teams and they were one -year offers for less than $2MM. His choice to go back to Sweden was made an easy one for him and family.

Fans take what Cherry says with a grain of salt. The one good thing though that most analysts who have played the game do know and convey is all the little intangibles that most fans don't behind the scenes see such as support from a team after a player blocks a shot . Cherry is good at that.

BTW...Tanev is an all-around player that is much better than a one-dimensional Dano.

Cute BS story. Please explain why you constantly bash Maurice, Chevy, Myers, Chariot, Tanev, Hendricks, Wheeler on occasion, Little , Lemieux, etc etc. Your much more of a troll than a Jet fan.

We all loved Toby for many years but he became extremely injury prone and as such a liability for the Jets because when he was in the lineup he was constantly playing hurt. We all wish him well but it was time to hang them up. I heard through the grapevine that he got offers from only two teams and they were one -year offers for less than $2MM. His choice to go back to Sweden was made an easy one for him and family.

Fans take what Cherry says with a grain of salt. The one good thing though that most analysts who have played the game do know and convey is all the little intangibles that most fans don't behind the scenes see such as support from a team after a player blocks a shot . Cherry is good at that.

BTW...Tanev is an all-around player that is much better than a one-dimensional Dano.
- jetsnation

Insult... defer to authority... cite sources of questionable existence... defer to authority again... aaaaand end it with Tanev tire pumping.
Oh, I forgot latching on to a single isolated example as the crux of the argument (Enstrom).

Yeah. I call out players, Maurice, and Chevy for their mistakes. Because I’m not in a position to make necessary changes like they are, all I can do is vent my frustration. Everyone and their dog knows Hendricks can’t keep up, Myers isn’t smart enough to play top 4, and it’s a bad idea to roll your 4th line and 3rd pairing for a defensive zone face off. Just like everyone knows Chiarot isn’t an NHL defenceman, more shots against than anyone else on the PK is bad, and it’s NEVER a good idea to lock up aging players to long term deals BEFORE most of your major RFAs.