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Jets Crash in AZ results in players only meeting |
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Jets Crash in AZ results in player’s only meeting
If you are a reader of this space you would know that the word ‘exorcise’ has been used frequently over the seasons with this franchise. In fact it’s probably been used a few times this season already.
The reason this word is used is fairly simple, the same recurring problems never seem to leave this team, no matter what formation of the roster or coaches, they keep coming back. Last night was another of those returns and what a return it was.
The Jets took a 1-0 lead before giving up four (4) consecutive, unanswered goals in the first period. Connor Hellebuyck was pulled again for the second straight game and it was up to Michael Hutchinson to hold down the fort for the remainder of the game.
Corsi, Fenwick, xGF, PDO, HDSC or any of the other new analytics based information will not tell the story of this team right now. If you can’t see it/them, and many can’t, the numbers or information may point you to an area but the they don’t tell the story, or at least the entire story.
Go back a few years to one unnamed (believed to be former) player who said “there are not enough player who give a f*$#” and you are probably pretty close to the problem.
I’m happy to have all the conversations about what analytics say about the Jets, they are important and relevant conversations but they don’t explain what we saw last night. They don’t explain the longstanding issues this team has had since it’s move from Atlanta. They certainly confirm problem areas but they don’t answer this simple question:
What is wrong with this team and how is it fixed?
The players seemingly addressed that issue last night after the game when the media was kept waiting for close to 15 minutes for the doors to open to the Jets room. Before that time, during the second intermission Jets captain Blake Wheeler was doing an interview with play by play man Dennis Beyak. When asked about the tough period and the game a frustrated Wheeler replied “Well it’s a results based business Dennis,” in a gruff and clearly annoyed attitude.
Wheeler is right but is that understanding felt throughout the roster?
The Jets finished strong in the third period clawing back with 2 goals from Mark Stuart and the captain himself before throwing everything and the kitchen sink at the Coyotes net. Ultimately it was too little too late but for that final period and final five minutes the team looked like a good hockey team. One that executed it’s game plan, positioned well and put the effort into winning puck battles and recovering possession. They were near invincible with the extra attacker towards the end but could not get the puck past Smith.
Look they out-chanced, out-played and out-shot the home team. They did the thing that analytics say work towards a better chance of winning but they could not get the goals. They also did not come together as a true effectiv cohesive group until late in the game, a two period warm-up some would say. Furthermore, they could not keep the goals from coming against them.
For the second game in a row the Connor Hellebuyck was yanked in the first period, this time with 3 goals allowed on 6 shots. Yeesh. It’s fair to question the process with the young goalie, one who the franchise believes is there future star number one goalie. Is he feeling the pressure around this team, is he ready to carry the load, is he getting the support he needs?
In the goalie argument(s) that inevitably happen when problems like this occur the impression is that by making a change it solves the problem. So when people tweet or post or call in to the radio to say “Time to bring up Pavelec” it’s often taken as ‘Pavelec is better than Hellebuyck or Hutchinson’. Some might mean that but consider this concept.
Pavelec is a dead weight contract now set to expire at the end of this season. Why not let him shoulder the load, as he has done before in similar seasons of futility and give Hellebuyck a break? What harm does that do to provide him with a different level of support in that working relationship?
Pavelec may not be a good goalie but him not being good does not mean being near Hellebuyck and working with him will make the any worse or the same. The kid, albeit 23 years old, might not be ready yet. Ignoring that possibility, as many fans and observers seem to be doing, is just as problematic as saying at 5v5 he’s great and forgetting everything else.
I’m not advocating that Pavelec is a solution to the season, I’m suggesting that perhaps easing Hellebuyck in with Pavelec to start the season may have been a better scenario than what the Jets have now. He’s the fall guy, perhaps using him as one would have been a better move than what is happening now. Goalies are voodoo and who knows what is going on in Hellebuyck’s mind right now, especially with the chance that there is something else brewing within the team that has to be addressed in a players only meeting.
There you have it, a big hot mess. One that everyone can see but is so divisive that even the most ardent supporters are finding ways to argue and debate. It’s not pretty and at this point I’d say it’s a 75-25 split being more players than coach but that’s today, my opinion could change tomorrow on that number.
I’ll leave you with this tweet I put out last night. I think it summarizes the Jets play from last night and for much of the season. Whether it happened at the end of the game or for select moments within, everyone can see that there is not much of an consistency to anything this team does imagine getting away with that in your job ever time you showed up.
Winnipeg Jets Blogger •Winnipeg Jets Writer • 
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