One of the things that have become a major theme for the Winnipeg Jets of this pre-season has been player usage. It’s no surprise, as coaches want to see as many players as they can and take stock of what they have for the present and into the future. If an organization is working well with it’s farm club many of the assignments players get from the top club can be performed down below and both clubs will benefit. One can only hope this is the case for the Jets.

However, what is starting to be a topic of concern is the ways players are being used in the preseason, in particular James Wright. He’s getting PP time, PK time and a lot of looks with different line mates thus far. In fact it seems some on the Jets coaching staff see something many others are missing, but what is it?

Wright has no business being used with top 6 forwards or in the position of the top 6 nor does he give much reason to use him on the PK or the PP. If you want tangible proof I implore you to look at some of his more complex or deeper stats- they paint a pretty ugly picture.

So why the second, third, and fourth chances? That would be the question I’d ask Noel tonight after the game especially with super-size centre Adam Lowry making his debut. Up until the second period, one filled with whistles and arms in the air, Lowry had impressed the waiting masses of Jets fans. But once the penalty filled second period began Lowry saw less ice time but James Wright got more. As I write now it’s all based on observation as the stats are not available in preseason games from nhl.com.

What I find interesting is why not give some players, like Lowry, more time if you are evaluating them? Although he is coming off an injury is the roster so deep that a little extra ice-time would hurt him? In the same token of questionable decisions is pairing Jokinen with Kane going to work better than last season? Last season the two had about as much chemistry as oil and water and nothing has changed thus far this pre-season. Once again it’s that question of player usage and that goes to the coach.

Yes it’s preseason and yes there are other things to evaluate than last year’s line combos but what has changed to make failed efforts last year be an option again this year?

That’s what seems to be troubling some fans who try to make sense of this roster- other than some contracts, a few new names, and the potential of a rookie in the line up- what else has changed with the team?

One off-season concern would be coaching tactics and strategies by Noel. (As I type there’s a Kane, Jokinen Wright combo out- not Lowry or O’Dell. Down one goal does it hurt to try fresh blood?) While Noel has worked with youth and teams in need of development are the Jets that kind of team? Yes there are some young players there are also seasoned veterans, quality journeymen and a star or two in the making who need systems and styles built for them. Some would argue the pre-season is a good time for that and I would entertain those arguments at least in the context of how to use the preseason games.

In the end the Jets lost tonight 2-1 and looked a bit too predictable. The PP was easily countered and reliant on Evander Kane to make something happen. The defense made some mistakes that had the puck in the back of the net after and in the end the same questions were being asked on Twitter. If you had to summarize those questions into one all encompassing one- has anything changed other than the roster?

If you want to buy into a difficult pre-season and training camp the past two years for the club as some sort of excuse that does not exist right now. If you believe the club’s cupboards have been far too bare to warrant a true evaluation opportunity for young guys in the past that too as an excuse is no longer valid. What we’re seeing now is how the coach views his pre-season, what he has to work with, and how Noel he displays the level of trust he has in players. Tonight Trouba, Wright, and Jokinen seemed to get the benefit of the doubt and for one of the three that seemed fair. Unfortunately, the two with contracts that make them unlikely to go anywhere were given trust far greater than their play, now and in the past, deserves.

There are two preseason games left and the Jets need to start showing their hand and that means Noel has to make his roster decisions. That means cuts and reassignments and learning again whom Noel trusts. It’s not all bad but there are just as many questions now as when training camp started and it’s time we start season some of the answers happen on the ice.

I still sense a bit of optimism around the Jets, with players and fans but it’s far from what it was a few weeks ago. However, I think most would agree that with jobs available and a diverse roster of options there would be something else to see and talk about. Instead it’s the same old questions and I’m sure the coach is just as tired of them as those asking him but only he can make the changes to force new ones and it’s time that happened.

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