Jacob Billington: Jets fall 4-2 to Sabres, look to bounce back against Caps

Hi Jacob,

Thank you for the write-up! I would really like you to compare Adam Lowry to every other 3rd line center in the league and tell us where he stacks up. I have always felt that Lowry would be an excellent 4th line center. To me he’s a below average third liner, that for some reason under Uncle Paul’s coaching is guaranteed that third line spot.

Thanks,

UltimateJet

You can have Chris Tierney for a bag of pucks at this moment if you want. Slot hmi in as your 4th line center. He's useless here in Ottawa and a UFA end of the season, he can follow DeMelo to the Jets from their days in SJ and OTT together.

Hi Jacob,

Thank you for the write-up! I would really like you to compare Adam Lowry to every other 3rd line center in the league and tell us where he stacks up. I have always felt that Lowry would be an excellent 4th line center. To me he’s a below average third liner, that for some reason under Uncle Paul’s coaching is guaranteed that third line spot.

Thanks,

UltimateJet
- TheUltimateJet

I really like this. I will release something like that in the next few days after I figure out a good format. Great idea!!

You can have Chris Tierney for a bag of pucks at this moment if you want. Slot hmi in as your 4th line center. He's useless here in Ottawa and a UFA end of the season, he can follow DeMelo to the Jets from their days in SJ and OTT together.
- Kevin Francis

Hard to picture the Jets taking on that 3.5m cap hit, and wouldn't be much of an upgrade in their bottom six. Some young talented players are what's needed there. Internally the already have Perfetti, Gustafsson, etc. so I am interested in seeing where the team goes

Hard to picture the Jets taking on that 3.5m cap hit, and wouldn't be much of an upgrade in their bottom six. Some young talented players are what's needed there. Internally the already have Perfetti, Gustafsson, etc. so I am interested in seeing where the team goes
- Jacob Billington

There is no way in God's green earth that the Jets are interested in Chris Tierney. If they are, they are in worse trouble than I thought!

Jets recall David Gustafsson - finally! But if the other Jets don't have more "get-up-and-go they could recall Wayne Gretzky and it wouldn't matter. You've got to want to win!

See the Jets have Connor-PLD-Svechnikov back together. The question remains why they were split up in the first place.

So apparently lines are:
Stastny-Scheifele-Ehlers
Connor-PLD-Svechnikov
Copp-Lowry-Toninato
Harkins-Gustafsson-Vesalainen

Can live with that. Would rather have Copp and Lowry switching places (as I love Copp at C)), and would switch Vesalainen and Toninato - but willing so see how this works out.

However if they don't get the PP and PK figured out - there is no, or little, hope regardless of what lines! Put Connors on the right side, and Scheifele on the left side on first power play, damn it!!!

Thanks Jacob. This Jets team needs a big shakeup. Gustafsson being in the lineup is a start but after the worlds Perfetti has to be called up to play. Henola and Samberg need a chance to show what they can do as this defense is porous, or is it their defensive system? Making trades for 4/5th line players like Toninato just to make the coach happy has to stop. Trade pending UFA Copp while his value is at its highest. The best move the Jets should do is to make a coaching change..

There is no point in making any moves call-ups until there is a change behind the bench. it doesn't matter who the players are we will continue to see the same results. as for call up as Sandburg and Perfetti what is the point so they can sit in the press box? Maurice is choosing to play Beaulieu as the last forward when it could be someone with some actual talent and play them one the top line with 55 & 81 instead of Stastny being a weight dragging them down and rendering them pretty much useless as they have to weight for him to catch up.

I am confused as all get out about calling for Samberg for a call up. I don't understand the reasoning for this besides him being a shutdown D.

Has anyone bothered to look at the Moose stats lately? Heinola, Gawanke and Chisholm would be way out in front for a call up before Samberg. Gawanke is leading the team with 16 points. Kovacevic is a beast and only 3 pts (11pts) behind Heinola. Chisholm has 13 pts.

I don't know but Samberg might be trade bait at this point.

Kane might be available for a scoring winger. I say that tongue in cheek.

Thanks Jacob. This Jets team needs a big shakeup. Gustafsson being in the lineup is a start but after the worlds Perfetti has to be called up to play. Henola and Samberg need a chance to show what they can do as this defense is porous, or is it their defensive system? Making trades for 4/5th line players like Toninato just to make the coach happy has to stop. Trade pending UFA Copp while his value is at its highest. The best move the Jets should do is to make a coaching change..
- islansjet

What are you going on about, Toninato is getting promoted to the 3rd line to get "the best 3C in the league" going.. 😆 🤣

Hi Jacob,

Thank you for the write-up! I would really like you to compare Adam Lowry to every other 3rd line center in the league and tell us where he stacks up. I have always felt that Lowry would be an excellent 4th line center. To me he’s a below average third liner, that for some reason under Uncle Paul’s coaching is guaranteed that third line spot.



Thanks,

UltimateJet
- TheUltimateJet

Did you see Murats article on Shiefele?
Shiefele ranks 56 in centers goal differential at even strength but 3rd in ice time.
He ranks 256th in defensive metrics as a Center.
We might actually win more games, low scoring of course if lowry and Shief swap places. Shief is not helping us win right now with how poor his defensive game is.

Time to trade shief is upon us.

Hi Jacob,

Thank you for the write-up! I would really like you to compare Adam Lowry to every other 3rd line center in the league and tell us where he stacks up. I have always felt that Lowry would be an excellent 4th line center. To me he’s a below average third liner, that for some reason under Uncle Paul’s coaching is guaranteed that third line spot.


Thanks,

UltimateJet
- TheUltimateJet

For the record I’m ok with lowry being a “4th” line Center, but we over exaggerate for no reason the rankings of 1-2-3-4 centers. Our biggest problem has always been ice time. Pomo plays 55&26 to much and who ever is on our 4th line to little.

Let’s trade 55 and run these four centers but more balanced.
PLD
Copp/Stastny
Gus
Lowry

The Jets have finished in the middle of the league for what? 10 years now? Enough already!!

-We need a new coaching staff
-We need a new leadership group
-End the 55&26 era, thank them for their time but move on. We will not win with Maurice 55 and 26!!! If you think we can, sorry you are just wrong.

For the record I’m ok with lowry being a “4th” line Center, but we over exaggerate for no reason the rankings of 1-2-3-4 centers. Our biggest problem has always been ice time. Pomo plays 55&26 to much and who ever is on our 4th line to little.

Let’s trade 55 and run these four centers but more balanced.
PLD
Copp/Stastny
Gus
Lowry
- Ross77

Not disagreeing with you on Scheifele’s ice time. I do not think trading him is a good idea. I still believe that he is a number one center, however he is no longer the best center on the Jets and as such him and PLD should be getting equal ice time or whoever is hot should get the bulk of ice time in the particular game they are hot in.

Maurice has created complacency amongst Lowry, Scheifele and Wheeler whereas they could all crap the bed and keep getting guaranteed ice time. This in my opinion creates toxicity in the locker room whereas guys that are genuinely playing good do not the ice time they should.

Just some Ultimate Thoughts…..

I really like this. I will release something like that in the next few days after I figure out a good format. Great idea!!
- Jacob Billington

Thank you Jacob, that would be great!

For the record I’m ok with lowry being a “4th” line Center, but we over exaggerate for no reason the rankings of 1-2-3-4 centers. Our biggest problem has always been ice time. Pomo plays 55&26 to much and who ever is on our 4th line to little.

Let’s trade 55 and run these four centers but more balanced.
PLD
Copp/Stastny
Gus
Lowry
- Ross77

Not defending Scheifele but part of the reason for him getting so many more minutes is that they're often chasing games trying to score, if they actually got some offense from Lowrys line they wouldn't be chasing games as often as they are, Lowry being an offensive black hole is a liability.

Not defending Scheifele but part of the reason for him getting so many more minutes is that they're often chasing games trying to score, if they actually got some offense from Lowrys line they wouldn't be chasing games as often as they are, Lowry being an offensive black hole is a liability.
- JetFuel

Yes, I agree with this assessment. I'm pretty sure all NHL teams ride their best players, or should I say players most likely to score, when trailing in the 3rd period. Like do we want Toninato/Lowry out there at that time or Scheifele/PLD?

But trailing we seem to be. Is it my imagination or what, but haven't the Jets given up either a goal or quality scoring chance(s) in the first minute in almost every game? I don't get it!

See Montreal-Boston game on Saturday is now cancelled.

Wonder what the odds are that the whole league is shut down after this weekend?

I think the Olympics are a "no go" for sure!

Maurice packs it in. Was that to avoid being fired?

Maurice packs it in. Was that to avoid being fired?
- Pastor_Matt

Wow! thanks for breaking the news here this morning Matt.

Heat from fans? disagreement with management over player usage? doesn’t want to do another ‘bubble’ season and gets to spend Christmas at home? personal issues? Along with most on this board I agree that it was time for a change.

Thanks to Maurice for taking the team as far as he could in service to Jets, Winnipeg and Manitoba. I see him as one of the good guys who will do well wherever he chooses to be. All the best to Maurice and family.

Wow! thanks for breaking the news here this morning Matt.

Heat from fans? disagreement with management over player usage? doesn’t want to do another ‘bubble’ season and gets to spend Christmas at home? personal issues? Along with most on this board I agree that it was time for a change.

Thanks to Maurice for taking the team as far as he could in service to Jets, Winnipeg and Manitoba. I see him as one of the good guys who will do well wherever he chooses to be. All the best to Maurice and family.
- 2.0

Let me echo your thoughts! Maurice had lived and died with the Jets, for what, almost nine years? Maybe the players had tuned Maurice out. Who knows, but we'll find out soon whether it was the players or coach. Paul won't be out of work long.

I would guess Paul resigned because he knew fans were clamouring for change after recent games - and he knew that Mark Chipman honors loyalty and didn't want to fire him - but he knew changes were a necessity. Class act to resign!

Now on we go. Not sure who's out there to come in as long as it's NOT John Tortorella. Alain Vigneault?

Whatever, it is still "Go Jets Go!"

Let me echo your thoughts! Maurice had lived and died with the Jets, for what, almost nine years? Maybe the players had tuned Maurice out. Who knows, but we'll find out soon whether it was the players or coach. Paul won't be out of work long.

I would guess Paul resigned because he knew fans were clamouring for change after recent games - and he knew that Mark Chipman honors loyalty and didn't want to fire him - but he knew changes were a necessity. Class act to resign!

Now on we go. Not sure who's out there to come in as long as it's NOT John Tortorella. Alain Vigneault?

Whatever, it is still "Go Jets Go!"
- grahamzky

Say what you will, but he is a class act. Agree with him wholeheartedly, time for a new voice. Maybe we will see him back here in management in a year or two?

Maurice packs it in. Was that to avoid being fired?
- Pastor_Matt

The Jets organization most likely told him it was over and in order to save face, they most likely would have allowed him to resign. Maurice was speaking about how the team needed a “new voice” in the locker room. I am really unsure about how new the voices are going to be when they include all of the former assistant coaches. I don’t really think there will be much in shift of a philosophy. Also of note, this will be the third Jets coach that Huddy will be serving under.

I actually liked Maurice on TSN before he took the job for the Jets. Perhaps he can replace Sawyer between the benches?