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....
- liverpoolnhl

Speaking of favorites. Joel Armia has 5 points in 7 games so far, with 4 of them being goals.

He's playing in Montreal's top 6. I always said that if given an opportunity he would shine. I also think he can be a legitimate 50-60 point winger in the right situation. I cannot say the same about his former centerman, Lowry.

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.
- jetsnation

The Jets only have one, that's right one 5v5 goal on this current homestand.

I am really questioning where all our offense is going to come from.

As much I am not a Little fan. He is an upgrade over Copp and Lowry.

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.
- jetsnation

the jets hard and sudden fall from almost contenders to lottery team has you quite flustered.

this was entirely predicable.

the jets hard and sudden fall from almost contenders to lottery team has you quite flustered.

this was entirely predicable.
- Tumbleweed

predicable? not sure what that means.

What is it like to be a fan of the 3rd best team in your conference while standing on the train tracks in a tunnel with the 2020/21 salary cap train bearing down on you?

predicable? not sure what that means.

What is it like to be a fan of the 3rd best team in your conference while standing on the train tracks in a tunnel with the 2020/21 salary cap train bearing down on you?
- 2.0

last year was supposed to be celery cap jail. and then this year was supposed to be celery cap hell. and now next year a celery cap train wreck will happen.

jest are proving the worst case scenario with incompetent management: we lose 3 of our top 4 dmen and become complete poop.

competent management can prevent it. we'll see what dubas is next year.

It was entertaining hockey to watch last night.

Laine was good Laine and played with effort.

Hellebuyck, Roslovic, Perreault, Lowry played strong games.

Ehlers had an outstanding first period then disappeared, Morrissey struggled all night, Heinola showed creativity, skill, vision and inexperience.

Think it was jetsnation who first said that we are missing that ability to hold the blue line when in the attacking zone. Myers, Buff and Trouba did this well - the current group is more reluctant to pinch. It may have been due to the Islanders really stretching the zone with forwards down ice.

Varlomov may be a Vezina candidate by the end of the year. There is something about coaches like Trotz that lets goalies shine. (Burns, Hitchcock, Lemaire, Lamoriello, Bowman etc.)

last year was supposed to be celery cap jail. and then this year was supposed to be celery cap hell. and now next year a celery cap train wreck will happen.

jest are proving the worst case scenario with incompetent management: we lose 3 of our top 4 dmen and become complete poop.

competent management can prevent it. we'll see what dubas is next year.
- Tumbleweed

I like what Dubas has done in Toronto. He's addressed many of his issues and he's going for the cup every year. I am a fan of Tavares, Marner and Mathews. I think Toronto has some good forwards. I really like Babcock as well.

I am just confused why you have to come on this board to tell us that daily.

Players departed accounted for 357 of 759 penalty minutes last year or about 50%. Its early but the guys replacing them don't seem to take as many stupid penalties. Jets can't afford too with their PK having completely new staff . The only real black mark left in the group is Kulikov and all the stupid penalties he continues to take. Last night, his dumb penalty essentially cost us the game. The only other guy who tend to take stupid penalties is Wheeler and so far he's dialed that back this season.

This team will NOT make the playoff's

Speaking of favorites. Joel Armia has 5 points in 7 games so far, with 4 of them being goals.

He's playing in Montreal's top 6. I always said that if given an opportunity he would shine. I also think he can be a legitimate 50-60 point winger in the right situation. I cannot say the same about his former centerman, Lowry.
- TheUltimateJet

Joel Armia was such an enigma.

He always seemed to start slowly, get better and better - and just when you thought "star in the making", injury.
And this seemed to go round and round.
I really believe if he could have stayed healthier, he would still be a Jet. Good player!

[quote=2.0]It was entertaining hockey to watch last night.

Laine was good Laine and played with effort

Maybe I need to watch the game film, because I was at the game and saw nothing from Laine. Floated around, lost every puck battle, and had ONE shot on goal, and that wasn’t until we had pulled our goalie.

a shout-out to Erickson-Ek for blocking 3 Weber shots on the same PK.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1184987472788447234

[quote=2.0]It was entertaining hockey to watch last night.

Laine was good Laine and played with effort

Maybe I need to watch the game film, because I was at the game and saw nothing from Laine. Floated around, lost every puck battle, and had ONE shot on goal, and that wasn’t until we had pulled our goalie.
- bennythehat

I thought he played a physical game (his second best attribute) and was mostly engaged. I deliberately said good Laine, not great Laine. I wish he would have taken the shot on the 2-on-1 with Sheifele rather than the pass. Use MS as a decoy and pull the trigger.

[quote=2.0]It was entertaining hockey to watch last night.

Laine was good Laine and played with effort

Maybe I need to watch the game film, because I was at the game and saw nothing from Laine. Floated around, lost every puck battle, and had ONE shot on goal, and that wasn’t until we had pulled our goalie.
- bennythehat

When Laine plays half-decent we get excited because he was not doing that before, even though he should have been. He's starting to play basic hockey and we are like "yeah Laine is awesome".

Joel Armia was such an enigma.

He always seemed to start slowly, get better and better - and just when you thought "star in the making", injury.
And this seemed to go round and round.
I really believe if he could have stayed healthier, he would still be a Jet. Good player!
- grahamzky

agreed. I saw it more as a personality characteristic that just needs a little time to become confident in new situations/teams/lines etc. He would start coming into his own then either be injured, or lines juggled due to another injury, or the season ends. He is not a guy who seemed able to enter into a new situation and be 100%.

It was entertaining hockey to watch last night.

Laine was good Laine and played with effort.

Hellebuyck, Roslovic, Perreault, Lowry played strong games.

Ehlers had an outstanding first period then disappeared, Morrissey struggled all night, Heinola showed creativity, skill, vision and inexperience.

Think it was jetsnation who first said that we are missing that ability to hold the blue line when in the attacking zone. Myers, Buff and Trouba did this well - the current group is more reluctant to pinch. It may have been due to the Islanders really stretching the zone with forwards down ice.

Varlomov may be a Vezina candidate by the end of the year. There is something about coaches like Trotz that lets goalies shine. (Burns, Hitchcock, Lemaire, Lamoriello, Bowman etc.)
- 2.0

Was Laine good last night??? I admit he was OK, but all I saw from him (and most of the team) were unscreened perimeter shots most of the night. And not that it would have meant much but Laine's effort to a) try to keep the puck in the isles zone on the empty net goal and b) try to regain control of it just outside of the zone was weak at best

I have said this before, but it's nice to see that a few people on here are finally starting to pick-up on the scoring issues with this team. The book on us was out after the Vegas series, the Central teams caught on last year & now the rest of the league has. Our 'dynamic' offense is perimeter based, with no net front presence what-so-ever on our top 6 or #1 PP. If we can't score clean goals then we will rarely score; guys will be hot & cold all year again. Yes, we have possession numbers because all of our players are along the wall, but teams are letting us spin our wheels and take low percentage shots from the perimeter with no screens, no chance at a deflection or no chance at a re-bound. I don't know if this is by design or if it's a general unwillingness of our top 6 to do it, but you won't win enough games with this mentality and it has gone on for way too long. The 'hot' goalie excuse seems to be this teams mantra, but its our SOFT play that allows the 'hot' goalie to happen, that's why so many back-ups seem to play their best hockey against us.

I wish the media would actually ask Mo some tough questions about scoring dirty, instead of the 'we played great, had control, felt good, but couldn't get that bounce'.

I have said this before, but it's nice to see that a few people on here are finally starting to pick-up on the scoring issues with this team. The book on us was out after the Vegas series, the Central teams caught on last year & now the rest of the league has. Our 'dynamic' offense is perimeter based, with no net front presence what-so-ever on our top 6 or #1 PP. If we can't score clean goals then we will rarely score; guys will be hot & cold all year again. Yes, we have possession numbers because all of our players are along the wall, but teams are letting us spin our wheels and take low percentage shots from the perimeter with no screens, no chance at a deflection or no chance at a re-bound. I don't know if this is by design or if it's a general unwillingness of our top 6 to do it, but you won't win enough games with this mentality and it has gone on for way too long. The 'hot' goalie excuse seems to be this teams mantra, but its our SOFT play that allows the 'hot' goalie to happen, that's why so many back-ups seem to play their best hockey against us.

I wish the media would actually ask Mo some tough questions about scoring dirty, instead of the 'we played great, had control, felt good, but couldn't get that bounce'.
- foxbat

Isn't that Maurice's answer for his whole career.

Isn't that Maurice's answer for his whole career.
- BWJumper

Yup, pretty much!

I like what Dubas has done in Toronto. He's addressed many of his issues and he's going for the cup every year. I am a fan of Tavares, Marner and Mathews. I think Toronto has some good forwards. I really like Babcock as well.

I am just confused why you have to come on this board to tell us that daily.
- TheUltimateJet

i like spending time with you, my new bff

i like spending time with you, my new bff
- Tumbleweed

I am hoping that Ross, too, calls me his BFF one day

Players departed accounted for 357 of 759 penalty minutes last year or about 50%. Its early but the guys replacing them don't seem to take as many stupid penalties. Jets can't afford too with their PK having completely new staff . The only real black mark left in the group is Kulikov and all the stupid penalties he continues to take. Last night, his dumb penalty essentially cost us the game. The only other guy who tend to take stupid penalties is Wheeler and so far he's dialed that back this season.
- jetsnation

What about Paul Maurice's penalty killing system? We have been in the bottom third every season except one since he's been the coach. This passive box which allows teams to shoot at our goalie is ridiculous.

Thought that Jack Roslovic had a very good game, probably the best Jet, although thought Helle played decent to keep the score close.
Actually Roslovic-Scheifele-Wheeler looked very good in their short time together.
- grahamzky

Ras is looking more and more like Ehlers only he's a righty. I love what this kid is doing, but do you think it would be better if he was playing C? I really don't see a high end talent at 2C that is desperately needed. Lowry is a bottom 6, as is copp. But Ras has the skating and vision to keep developing into a true 2C.

Also, Perrault is terrible. Why is he getting so much TOI. He is a turnover machine with a shot weaker than Enstrom.

Joel Armia was such an enigma.

He always seemed to start slowly, get better and better - and just when you thought "star in the making", injury.
And this seemed to go round and round.
I really believe if he could have stayed healthier, he would still be a Jet. Good player!
- grahamzky

His talent is unreal, but he skates like joe thorton.

I am hoping that Ross, too, calls me his BFF one day
- TheUltimateJet

Does it count that you and Ross will always be my BFF for showing up at the pub last January, and sat next to each other for a civil impassioned discussion? 🤝 🌈 If I return to Winnipeg in February should I invite a professional mediator? 😜.....