every option should be on the table but the Sheifle Wheeler combo is working and the team is winning games. My preferred change is to move Laine up to the first line to see if he can be 'jump-started' and dangerous there again. If not 1st then maybe 4th line is the place for him.

I am not a fan of having 4 equally talented lines, the best players see reduced ice time and performance is watered down. A stacked line somewhere will take advantage of opportunity. Rolling lines with a lead is important, and also on back-to-backs and some stretches of schedule (like jets are in now). If they chase the game though the bench needs to be shortened, 4th line used opportunistically.
- 2.0

Respectfully disagree. Laine is a black hole. A chemistry-cancer if you will.... Once he receives the puck, he scores, or it is the easiest breakout in the NHL for the opposition. I say give him all the looks you can on the PP, and keep him bottom 6 until he develops his game accordingly. I can't fathom having guys like Connor/Perrault/Ehlers sitting on the bench watching him butcher the jets possession every time he get the biscuit. It is up to Laine to grow his game. S**t or get off the pot you sniper.

I do not understand all of this "demote Laine" talk... The goal of the regular season is to first and foremost secure a playoff spot, and to prepare for the playoffs.

The Jets are sitting comfortably near the top of their division and conference, with games in hand. The team has the luxury right now to use games to help prepare them for the playoffs. The coaching staff can afford to ice a non-optimal lineup to help prepare the team for the playoffs (ie. keep the struggling Laine on the second line).

We are all, including Laine, are well aware that Laine has been ice cold as of late and has been playing very poorly. Come playoff time, we would all prefer it if Laine was confident, a more complete player and once again a threat 5 on 5. This will not happen if he is suppressed to forth line + power play minutes. It should just take a goal or two for him to get his confidence back and catch fire once again.

Come playoff time, or god forbid the team slips and risks not making the playoffs, I guarantee adjustments will be made to ice the best lineup possible, and poor performers will be demoted.

Lets all just relax and enjoy the process...

Laine’s Game away from the puck has improved in the last number of games. He seems to be skating harder getting in on pucks and backchecking.

I guess after 2.5 years, we can see he is not a complete player yet, but it looks like there is some response to play harder away from the puck as of late.

Someone mentioned here a month or so ago that Laine’s stick is so long that his left arm sticks up like a chicken wing so when another player touches or get against his chicken wing, he easily loses the puck. Watch for this tonite as I have been watching as well and in traffic, watch that left arm.

He is a work in progress.

Pete,
What's your status for the Saturday get together at The Pint?......
- liverpoolnhl

What time are we looking at again?

It all depends on my kid's basketball tournament.

We get handnded the greatest goal scorer of this generation by a combination of blind luck and organizational ineptitude, and the only way these “fans” can express themselves is to talk sh!t about him when he has a cold streak.

Let’s remember a few things:
-His ceiling is higher than anyone else in the entire organization
-He has been better than Connor all season long
-He has not once had a centre this season
-He is the best in the world at the hardest thing to do in hockey: score goals. The difference in shot quality between Auston Matthews and the average player is the same as the gap between Laine and Matthews.

In closing, anyone who genuinely thinks trading or 4th lining Laine is a good idea, or a solution to literally any of our many problems, can go ahead and Alt+F4 from the fan base.
I award you no points, and may god have mercy on your soul

Respectfully disagree. Laine is a black hole. A chemistry-cancer if you will.... Once he receives the puck, he scores, or it is the easiest breakout in the NHL for the opposition. I say give him all the looks you can on the PP, and keep him bottom 6 until he develops his game accordingly. I can't fathom having guys like Connor/Perrault/Ehlers sitting on the bench watching him butcher the jets possession every time he get the biscuit. It is up to Laine to grow his game. S**t or get off the pot you sniper.
- bikeguy99

When will Maurice realize that Laine needs a center to play with and he and Little have zero chemistry playing together. I would like to see him play with Roslovic and Petan/Appleton as the they are all pass first players that can score off the rush and feed Laine the puck. Too many people are panicking/criticizing him every time he doesn't score in a few games. Laine a 20 year old player that has way too much pressure on him and its great that he plays with players like Scheifele and Wheeler who take the pressure of of him.

Hey, how will we know what table???

We will be downstairs at The Pint. Probably to the right as you come in the door. We should have the whole dugout area. I don't think you'll miss me. I'll be the only Thrashers sweater in the joint😎.....

What time are we looking at again?

It all depends on my kid's basketball tournament.
- Peter.Tessier

3:00-5:30.....

We get handnded the greatest goal scorer of this generation by a combination of blind luck and organizational ineptitude, and the only way these “fans” can express themselves is to talk sh!t about him when he has a cold streak.

Let’s remember a few things:
-His ceiling is higher than anyone else in the entire organization
-He has been better than Connor all season long
-He has not once had a centre this season
-He is the best in the world at the hardest thing to do in hockey: score goals. The difference in shot quality between Auston Matthews and the average player is the same as the gap between Laine and Matthews.

In closing, anyone who genuinely thinks trading or 4th lining Laine is a good idea, or a solution to literally any of our many problems, can go ahead and Alt+F4 from the fan base.
I award you no points, and may god have mercy on your soul
- Rexypoo

Rexy - Laine has not been better than Connor all season - not a f_cking chance ... so that one I disagree

I do agree, however, that we gotta stop talkin sh_t about Laine ... I will admit that I have been very disappointed in him certain games (I'll comment - 'doesn't move feet' or 'looks lost', etc) but in the long run we will be fortunate to keep him

I have a son older than Laine so I know that he has time to develop further ... I also named one of our dogs "Patrick Laine" ... he goes by "Patti" most of the time

I'm going to try my best to meet at The Pint ... have to wrangle the 'pick me up on the way to your party, sweetie' type a deal

An asset the Jets have available to sweeten trades to a team in need is Broissoit. He has performed better than expected, Chevy can sell high, find another backup willing to battle hard. Broissoit is UFA and may walk at season's end. There are a few teams looking for young goalies (ie.Ottawa)

A couple of takeaways from recent interviews with either Maurice or various players:

1) Maurice is more confident give the fourth line more ice time with Copp at center and Brendan Lemieux playing so well.

2) Matthiew Perreault loves playing on the third line with Lowry and Tanev. He agrees it fits his style of game extremely well.

So sounds like those two lines might stick for a while which in turn means little to no change in the top two lines. So only injuries might upset this. The biggest problem might be if the Jets were to get another injury on defense. Another defensive call-up might mean we finally trade or waive Petan. He's worth a 4th to 5th in a trade at most.

Maurice also mentioned today that Hendrick's mentorship and ways of motivating still has influence with the Jets this season even though he's not here anymore. What a great pickup he was last season . Its good to have those type of glue-guys roll through an organization every once in a while. Staal is one of them.

An asset the Jets have available to sweeten trades to a team in need is Broissoit. He has performed better than expected, Chevy can sell high, find another backup willing to battle hard. Broissoit is UFA and may walk at season's end. There are a few teams looking for young goalies (ie.Ottawa)
- 2.0

Apparently. I was looking at my nhl trade rumours and Broissot's name is listed as a possible trade bait along with Tanev. Chevy would definitely sell high but that's a scary proposition shipping out your successful backup mid season and finding another backup.

I was also surprised to see Tanev's name there. I like what Tanev brings day in and day out but if it means losing him to FA later on, then I guess there is an opportunity to sell high with him as well. There is no way Tanev is signing for 1.15 next year, he will get more, wherever he lands.

The site also said that there have been calls on Roslovic but the Jets apparently are not interested in any Rosie discussions.

Apparently. I was looking at my nhl trade rumours and Broissot's name is listed as a possible trade bait along with Tanev. Chevy would definitely sell high but that's a scary proposition shipping out your successful backup mid season and finding another backup.

I was also surprised to see Tanev's name there. I like what Tanev brings day in and day out but if it means losing him to FA later on, then I guess there is an opportunity to sell high with him as well. There is no way Tanev is signing for 1.15 next year, he will get more, wherever he lands.

The site also said that there have been calls on Roslovic but the Jets apparently are not interested in any Rosie discussions.
- CharlieDog

This is strictly anecdotal, but I do not believe Tanev's external value would merit a trade before the deadline. He has been playing lights out and is a key bottom six forward on the team. The team needs this guy for the playoffs, even if it means losing him to FA for nothing in the summer. His contributions to team far out weigh what management could get for him on the trade market.

I'd argue the same for Brossoit. Trading him now could have an adverse affect home-ice advantage in the playoffs. The team needs a reliable backup as a contingency plan and to give Helly some rest down the stretch.

An asset the Jets have available to sweeten trades to a team in need is Broissoit. He has performed better than expected, Chevy can sell high, find another backup willing to battle hard. Broissoit is UFA and may walk at season's end. There are a few teams looking for young goalies (ie.Ottawa)
- 2.0

He’s an RFA so we actually control him after this year.

He’s an RFA so we actually control him after this year.
- Ross77

Yes, you are correct, Brossoit is RFA. Tanev is UFA.

He’s an RFA so we actually control him after this year.
- Ross77

Thanks Ross. He will be offered a qualifying offer - can't be much more than that. Jets won't commit much more money to the backup position - or - like anyone on the team someone makes a good offer on, he can be moved.

This is strictly anecdotal, but I do not believe Tanev's external value would merit a trade before the deadline. He has been playing lights out and is a key bottom six forward on the team. The team needs this guy for the playoffs, even if it means losing him to FA for nothing in the summer. His contributions to team far out weigh what management could get for him on the trade market.

I'd argue the same for Brossoit. Trading him now could have an adverse affect home-ice advantage in the playoffs. The team needs a reliable backup as a contingency plan and to give Helly some rest down the stretch.
- Fuelled By Whiskey

Agreed Whiskey. Jets could have real problems come playoff time without Tanev on that checking line. It would be a big mistake to ever trade him. I really hope Chevy extends him ASAP at least one more year and possibly two. His brother In VCR is a UFA after next season. I wonder if they want to try and be on the same team.

Thanks Ross. He will be offered a qualifying offer - can't be much more than that. Jets won't commit much more money to the backup position - or - like anyone on the team someone makes a good offer on, he can be moved.
- 2.0

I can see him possibly moved in the summer, but I doubt we’d give him up before hand. He could be moved in summer if the jets think Comrie is ready for nhl back up spot and want Berdin playing majority of games for Moose.

A couple of takeaways from recent interviews with either Maurice or various players:

1) Maurice is more confident give the fourth line more ice time with Copp at center and Brendan Lemieux playing so well.

2) Matthiew Perreault loves playing on the third line with Lowry and Tanev. He agrees it fits his style of game extremely well.

So sounds like those two lines might stick for a while which in turn means little to no change in the top two lines. So only injuries might upset this. The biggest problem might be if the Jets were to get another injury on defense. Another defensive call-up might mean we finally trade or waive Petan. He's worth a 4th to 5th in a trade at most.

Maurice also mentioned today that Hendrick's mentorship and ways of motivating still has influence with the Jets this season even though he's not here anymore. What a great pickup he was last season . Its good to have those type of glue-guys roll through an organization every once in a while. Staal is one of them.
- jetsnation

Hoping Minny tanks and Staal becomes available

Has Rick Nash officially retired and is he an upgrade? I am thinking that would be a mistake now, but in his prime...

Rexy - Laine has not been better than Connor all season - not a f_cking chance ... so that one I disagree

I do agree, however, that we gotta stop talkin sh_t about Laine ... I will admit that I have been very disappointed in him certain games (I'll comment - 'doesn't move feet' or 'looks lost', etc) but in the long run we will be fortunate to keep him

I have a son older than Laine so I know that he has time to develop further ... I also named one of our dogs "Patrick Laine" ... he goes by "Patti" most of the time
- CorydonKeith

I should point out that I am VERY high on Connor. He’s my newest jersey add, and I’m still surprised at myself for how annoyed I find myself feeling whenever Jimmy Vesey is mentioned.

Having said that, Connor has had a rough go of it this year. It’s not his fault, mostly, as a lot of young players struggle away from the puck. He’s too damn talented to not LOOK like he’s playing well, but he’s been a passenger almost all season. That’s all on deployment, though. The Connor-Scheifele-Wheeler line hasn’t been good at all, by their standards, and the 81-18-29 line was dead in the water before it even formed.

Not saying he’s the only problem right now, but I am saying we’re definitely absolutely witnessing the Scheifele burnout Ultimate has been warning us about. You know the forward lineup is bad when Mark f**king Scheifele looks tired and weak on the puck

I'm going to try my best to meet at The Pint ... have to wrangle the 'pick me up on the way to your party, sweetie' type a deal
- CorydonKeith

Great!.....

This is strictly anecdotal, but I do not believe Tanev's external value would merit a trade before the deadline. He has been playing lights out and is a key bottom six forward on the team. The team needs this guy for the playoffs, even if it means losing him to FA for nothing in the summer. His contributions to team far out weigh what management could get for him on the trade market.

I'd argue the same for Brossoit. Trading him now could have an adverse affect home-ice advantage in the playoffs. The team needs a reliable backup as a contingency plan and to give Helly some rest down the stretch.
- Fuelled By Whiskey

Agreed....