As critical as I am of Maurice and certain players, the reality is that this is Chevy's vision and his masterpiece alone. Chevy has been given a very long leash and he took us here. He has not made 1 single long-term pro-active trade to improve this team; they have all been re-active when his hand has been forced. You could see the situation on defence coming for about 2-3 years now, the 2C spot has not been properly addressed in forever and the contracts he has dished out to our goalies have been terrible. This is a non-playoff team with no real upward trajectory in sight. Chevy makes the decisions on players and coaches, he alone is responsible for this mess. Its time for Chipman to grow a pair and make a change.
- foxbat

Yikes. It's going to be a long season on this board with all this negativity after 8 games or so. Let's take the glass half full view and see a .500 hockey team that has managed to somewhat weather a storm without Buff , Niku, and Little. I'm not throwing in the towel just yet. In the end though I'd like some perspective on how the Jets fare against some top teams such as the likes of Colorado or Carolina . TB , etc to see where we really stand. St. Louis Blues proved last year that a team can get off to a horrid start and somehow bring it all together.

Yikes. It's going to be a long season on this board with all this negativity after 8 games or so. Let's take the glass half full view and see a .500 hockey team that has managed to somewhat weather a storm without Buff , Niku, and Little. I'm not throwing in the towel just yet. In the end though I'd like some perspective on how the Jets fare against some top teams such as the likes of Colorado or Carolina . TB , etc to see where we really stand. St. Louis Blues proved last year that a team can get off to a horrid start and somehow bring it all together.
- jetsnation

But the thing is we were a 500 Hockey club the 2nd half last year with Myers, Tanev, Buff, trouba, chiarot and little. Maurice is not making the changes necessary.
St. Louis turned things around with a new coach and a new goalie who got very hot

But the thing is we were a 500 Hockey club the 2nd half last year with Myers, Tanev, Buff, trouba, chiarot and little. Maurice is not making the changes necessary.
St. Louis turned things around with a new coach and a new goalie who got very hot
- Ross77

The return of Byfuglien paired with a coaching change would be a massive shake up for the Jets.

I’d go with Bob Hartley or Kevin Dinnen

The return of Byfuglien paired with a coaching change would be a massive shake up for the Jets.

I’d go with Bob Hartley or Kevin Dinnen
- Byfuglien Ate Me

If they wait till the summer I’d give Gronborg from Sweden a very long look

And if Buff is coming back the D should be this;

Morrisey / Poolman or pionk
Niku / buff
Kulikov/ Poolman or Pionk
- Ross77

No Heinola, no Belieu?....

No Heinola, no Belieu?....
- liverpoolnhl

I think Heinola will benefit more from a year on the moose or even back in Finland. I worry about an injury over the long haul of an nhl season.

Beaulieu or Kulikov, I could care less but I keep Poolman and Pionk over both

I think Heinola will benefit more from a year on the moose or even back in Finland. I worry about an injury over the long haul of an nhl season.

Beaulieu or Kulikov, I could care less but I keep Poolman and Pionk over both
- Ross77

Maurice was stating - that Gustafsson woud play next game regardless of whether Little did or not, and he liked the Copp-Lowry-Roslovoc combination. So I'm thinking tonight's forwards might be:
Laine-Scheifele-Wheeler
Connor-Little-Ehlers
Copp-Lowry-Roslovic
Perreault-Gustafsson-Appleton

Not sure why the hate on here for Scheifele and Wheeler - we would be completely lost without them. Did they slap someone's kids or kick their dogs? We do need a #2 C though as UJ keeps telling us. But who and from where? Not easy to come by.

Forwards are fairly decent now, would be A-OK with #2 C. The D?

Agree - Heinola is capable but another year of maturity, physically wise, would be best thing for our team. The Wild game was kind of telling - teams are going to go after him. Back to Finland.

Maurice was stating - that Gustafsson woud play next game regardless of whether Little did or not, and he liked the Copp-Lowry-Roslovoc combination. So I'm thinking tonight's forwards might be:
Laine-Scheifele-Wheeler
Connor-Little-Ehlers
Copp-Lowry-Roslovic
Perreault-Gustafsson-Appleton

Not sure why the hate on here for Scheifele and Wheeler - we would be completely lost without them. Did they slap someone's kids or kick their dogs? We do need a #2 C though as UJ keeps telling us. But who and from where? Not easy to come by.

Forwards are fairly decent now, would be A-OK with #2 C. The D?

Agree - Heinola is capable but another year of maturity, physically wise, would be best thing for our team. The Wild game was kind of telling - teams are going to go after him. Back to Finland.
- grahamzky

its not hate!! I'm trying to show some of you another side.

Laine gets hated on in here, or all of 27, 81 and 29 get hated on when away from 55 and 26 but lets see how good Wheeler would be away from 55 cause I suspect not very.

wheeler turns the puck over more than anyone on PP1 but never loses his spot, why?

Ultimate constantly talks about how we can only score with 55 on the ice but never mentions how many goals teams are scoring against us also while he's on the ice.

I see Lowry hate cause he's not producing but Lowry has not be on the ice for an even strength goal against yet.

basically I'm tired of the free pass 55 & 26 are getting, sure they are padding their stats which helps a player get paid but how much are they actually helping us win playing together?

its not hate!! I'm trying to show some of you another side.

Laine gets hated on in here, or all of 27, 81 and 29 get hated on when away from 55 and 26 but lets see how good Wheeler would be away from 55 cause I suspect not very.

wheeler turns the puck over more than anyone on PP1 but never loses his spot, why?

Ultimate constantly talks about how we can only score with 55 on the ice but never mentions how many goals teams are scoring against us also while he's on the ice.

I see Lowry hate cause he's not producing but Lowry has not be on the ice for an even strength goal against yet.

basically I'm tired of the free pass 55 & 26 are getting, sure they are padding their stats which helps a player get paid but how much are they actually helping us win playing together?
- Ross77

I constantly marvel at Wheeler's passing ability as well as his tenacity. Definitely one of the best passers in the game. I don't lose sleep if he loses the puck every so often...it happens.

That all being said, if Maurice were to separate them then this might work. Put Wheeler at center. This way he can still use his tenacity to play a full ice game and use his passing skills from both sides of the ice to set up Laine and Ehlers. He's been there before a played pretty well as a center.

Ehlers - Wheeler - Laine
Connor- Schief - Roslovic
Copp - Lowry - Little (once he is back)
Perreault - Gustafsson - Appleton

You could interchange Little as second-line RW with Roslovic.

I constantly marvel at Wheeler's passing ability as well as his tenacity. Definitely one of the best passers in the game. I don't lose sleep if he loses the puck every so often...it happens.

That all being said, if Maurice were to separate them then this might work. Put Wheeler at center. This way he can still use his tenacity to play a full ice game and use his passing skills from both sides of the ice to set up Laine and Ehlers. He's been there before a played pretty well as a center.

Ehlers - Wheeler - Laine
Connor- Schief - Roslovic
Copp - Lowry - Little (once he is back)
Perreault - Gustafsson - Appleton

You could interchange Little as second-line RW with Roslovic.
- jetsnation

At this stage in Wheelers career, I don’t see him becoming a dominant #1 Center or a Center at all. Especially if it’s between Ehlers and Laine!

As for the comment about Scheifele and Wheeler being on the ice when goals are being scored against. Look at Maurice for that. He overplays those guys and it’s not surprising that they get scored on against. They are also going up against other teams top lines. Lowry goes up against other teams third and forth lines and looks great. Maurice has done an excellent job protecting Lowry by playing him against lines that are incapable of scoring.

His QOC confirms that. Against elite lines his Corsi is constantly below 50 and against regular joe blow lines it spikes above 50.

At this stage in Wheelers career, I don’t see him becoming a dominant #1 Center or a Center at all. Especially if it’s between Ehlers and Laine!

As for the comment about Scheifele and Wheeler being on the ice when goals are being scored against. Look at Maurice for that. He overplays those guys and it’s not surprising that they get scored on against. They are also going up against other teams top lines. Lowry goes up against other teams third and forth lines and looks great. Maurice has done an excellent job protecting Lowry by playing him against lines that are incapable of scoring.

His QOC confirms that. Against elite lines his Corsi is constantly below 50 and against regular joe blow lines it spikes above 50.
- TheUltimateJet

[quote=grahamzky]


The above quote is not my quote. Problems on the site I guess.

At this stage in Wheelers career, I don’t see him becoming a dominant #1 Center or a Center at all. Especially if it’s between Ehlers and Laine!

As for the comment about Scheifele and Wheeler being on the ice when goals are being scored against. Look at Maurice for that. He overplays those guys and it’s not surprising that they get scored on against. They are also going up against other teams top lines. Lowry goes up against other teams third and forth lines and looks great. Maurice has done an excellent job protecting Lowry by playing him against lines that are incapable of scoring.

His QOC confirms that. Against elite lines his Corsi is constantly below 50 and against regular joe blow lines it spikes above 50.
- TheUltimateJet

UJ, don't worry about the Corsi. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that Wheeler is far more important to the team than Lowry. Yes, Blake might have the odd "bobble" but who touches the puck more on the PP than the PP QB Wheeler? More touches, maybe more mistakes?

Don't get me wrong, I absolutely want Lowry on the team. Great defensive guy, who can shut down with game on the line.

Is it not Patrik who has more bobbles per touch probably than anyone first line PP in the NHL? And we keep him out there. Speaking of Patrik, did he request to play with Lowry or Wheeler, you know, the best players, the man who drives the PP.

Maurice overplays Scheifele and Wheeler? When you are down a goal, and little time on the clock, you play your best scorers more. Is that a surprise? Who would you want out there more, Bourque and Appleton? All successful and long-lasting coaches do that. That 's hockey. Down a goal or two? Play your best scorers!

If Jets can get a lead, believe you will see Scheifele and Wheeler's minutes down, 3rd and 4th lines up. Will the Isles go after Heinola tonight? I hope not - we don't have much toughness.
Will this be Ville's last game this season, or is he a keeper? Tonight may tell the tale.

Reporting live from Bell MTS place - after 2 periods, how is it that our generational goal scorer has not had a shot on goal yet ?

26 and 55 not on the ice for our goal and on the ice both islanders

Let’s hope our top two guys can show up and stop getting dominated by islanders top line

I actually feel bad for Sheif this year having to carry the drastically declining wheeler

26 and 55 not on the ice for our goal and on the ice both islanders

Let’s hope our top two guys can show up and stop getting dominated by islanders top line
- Ross77

At least be consistent in your argument. The first goal was on the PK.

And the second goal you really going to blame 55 and 26 for Morrissey first hitting Scheifele in the dump in and then giving it away.

At least be consistent in your argument. The first goal was on the PK.

And the second goal you really going to blame 55 and 26 for Morrissey first hitting Scheifele in the dump in and then giving it away.
- BWJumper

Consistent?
Am I wrong? Were they not on the ice?

Barzal, the Islanders best player was better than ours, 55 & 26
And we lost
End of story

Consistent?
Am I wrong? Were they not on the ice?
- Ross77

Well you kept talking about how Lowry wasn't on the ice for a goal this season, I assume you were talking about 5v5. But if you weren't, before today Scheifele was on for 1 PK goal the same as Lowry 1

Plus your whole argument falls apart if we are talking goals in all strengths.
Scheifele had a plus 37 in goal differential last year and Lowry was a minus 11

Barzal, the Islanders best player was better than ours, 55 & 26
And we lost
End of story
- Ross77

Yeah it had nothing to do with the other 3 lines not scoring in a game they were down 1 goal for 59 minutes.

Yeah it had nothing to do with the other 3 lines not scoring in a game they were down 1 goal for 59 minutes.
- BWJumper

Nope all on 55 & 26

Just like when it’s all on Laine right?

Nope all on 55 & 26

Just like when it’s all on Laine right?
- Ross77

I doubt there exists a post where I blamed Laine for a loss, so be better in defending your position Ross.

At least be consistent in your argument. The first goal was on the PK.

And the second goal you really going to blame 55 and 26 for Morrissey first hitting Scheifele in the dump in and then giving it away.
- BWJumper

Can we at least realize when we are nit picking to justify our favorite players lapses? Of course Wheeler and Scheifele are more important than Lowry, but don't you think Wheeler would admit it's not acceptable to him to be on the ice for more goals against than for. And I do believe Lowry is out against the top lines almost as much as 55 and 26. E.g. he started every period tonight, when the islanders had out there 1b line....

I liked a lot of the Jets game last night. They were the better team most of the night but Varlomov played well and kept rebounds to a minimum and the Isles got a lucky break on the second goal. Jets have really lacked puck luck of late.

Im taking the 20 game view. If the Jets can stay at .500 over the first 20 games I think that we will be in good shape to make the playoffs. I think things can only improve as the season progresses. I expect Buff will be back by the end of November, I would expect Niku back in two weeks and Beaulieu back in three weeks. Little back in a game or two.

So in a month or possibly after 20 games the Jets defence might look like this with various combinations on the third pairing. It would appear that even though Heinola is a keeper , Chevy may just see the upcoming logjam in the third pairing and send him back to Europe or to the AHL. Bitteto will be long gone.

Morrissey - Pionk
Niku - Buff
Beaulieu/Dahlstrom/Heinola . . Kulikov / Poolman

I also think some of you are focusing on Schief and Wheeler of which I see no real problem. I see the problems as Copp and Perreault. Neither of these guys seems to be able to put the puck in the net or have even decent shots for an NHL player. I also think Lowry falls into that category. Copp has no on-ice vision beyond cycling the puck. Lowry doesn't either. They just take low chance shots at the net when I almost always see better alternative plays or men open. At least Perreault does have some idea of when his teammates are open in the slot, etc . My point here is that none of them should be playing on the top two lines. They are going to be career third and fourth line grinders and work best together as defensive forwards.

Roslovic is starting to really show his stuff. He is like a mini-Connor. He reminds me of being at the same stage as Schief a year before he broke out . Scheif was snake-bitten that year, lots of close chances and iron but the puck just wasn't going in for him . Roslovic is a half to full season away from being an extremely valuable asset . I could see him as a permanent second-line player in another 40-60 games.

How many times this year has Laine lost the puck along the boards. Last year it was about 80% of the time. Over the summer he obviously worked hard on this flaw in his game. This year I bet its more like 20% or less. Lots of better decisions in his game as well. As the top line gets more chemistry its going to be a marvel to watch. Once again , we will see where the Jets stand at around 20 games. That's where I think this Jets team will come together.