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Stewing over Trouba and more...

August 9, 2016, 1:25 PM ET [12 Comments]
Peter Tessier
Winnipeg Jets Blogger •Winnipeg Jets Writer • RSSArchiveCONTACT
It's not easy being a Winnipeg Jets fan, or perhaps just from Winnipeg. The basic psychology of the fan base here is that of an inferiority complex (not necessary IMO) if there is a question of anyone not wanting to be in Winnipeg. That is the rumour going around with Trouba and when Gary Lawless came out nationally on TSN That's Hockey to say what he has been saying on his daily radio show Hustler and Lawless it fuelled the insecurity.

What he (Lawless) said was Trouba wants term, minutes and top line time along with defines partner as part of his next deal with the Jets. Some take that as confirmation that he wants the world from the team because he doesn't want to be in Winnipeg. Others took it for what it is, a talented player who wants to take the next step but to do so needs his situation within the team and on the ice to change.

One thing for sure is Trouba has abided to the Maurice way. Consider his first season when Claude Noel was the coach, he was head hunting anyone who dared rush into the Jets zone with a reckless abandon that was reminiscent of rookie year Ed Jovanovski. He was scoring and rushing and playing everywhere and was sooooo much fun to watch but that changed under Maurice and at the beginning of the 2014 season you could see it.

Former Jets 1.0 player from the WHA Scott Campbell commented on how Trouba looked like a player who was having his reigns pulled in. It was true and too Maurice and Trouba's credit it helped the team and Trouba did it with no complaints, or at least any we know about. Now though, with a huge payday on the line and perhaps as much as 8 years of his career, Trouba wants some guarantees and that's fine and smart.

As much as the Jets, or any team for that matter will make a huge financial and resource comittment to a player Trouba also bets on them too. While it's easy to say 'do a bridge deal and let Trouba bet on himself' it's not about that all the time. He wants to be in a position to succeed to. Would a player as touted and respected as Trouba sign an 7 or 8 year deal knowng that you might be saddled with Mark Stuart for two more of those years?

It's a fair position to take and if you heard anything else Lawless had to say and still says he believes a deal gets done and that Trouba is a Jet.

Speaking of new Jets the team has hired a new assistant coach, Todd Woodcraft. He comes with a diverse resume of NHL and international hockey and was with the Wild as video coach during their heyday of cultish systems hockey under Jacque Lemaire. It's an interesting hire as he also has a scouting background too with the Calgary Flames. With all these prospects the Jets have understanding them as much as coaching them seems to be a need the Jets just filled.

Think about it this way... the Jets have long been rumoured to have some sort of analytics program, most likely event based data, and now they have hired two people with video experience in Woodcraft and Leganchuk. It's believe Leganchuk head's up the analytics piece of the puzzle with his BA in business admin and his wealth of junior coaching experience. Whatever the case may be the Jets have loaded up on talent development staff and Woodcraft only reinforces the direction they want to apply resources.

As for Trouba, there is no fire on this issue. He will be playing hockey and I except a deal to be announced any time before training camp. It's all part of the game and it's in Trouba's and the Jets best interests to proceed efficiently not any other way.
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