Jetsnation wrote "This should put the Hendricks debate to rest."
I was listening to Illegalcurve yesterday and they were discussing the Jets record with Hendricks in the lineup vs out of the lineup. I can't remember the exact stats, but the Jets were lopsided winners with Hendricks in vs out. Correct me please but the stat was something like 8 wins, 3 losses and a tie. These are not the exact stats as I was drivng at the time so you stats guys feel free to correct me, but the Jets were winning by a far margin with him in the lineup. So, I guess that is one of the intangibles. Another point they made was a reference to Edmonton now that he is gone from their lineup. The point being is that the Oilers were struggling. Coincedence? Irony? I don't know but those are the facts.
When I see the fourth line with Perrault, what a transformation. Do you move Perrault off the fourth line after a number of games now that he has transformed it into scoring line? I think Perrault on the 4th line just added a dynamic that no one could have ever predicted or dreamt of. If he still gets PP time, his minutes should be close to what they should be but I like Matty on that line because he plays the way that line should play. Hard on the puck all the time, plays with an edge, makes plays, creative, doesn't quit and makes Hendricks and Armia better. I don't know but I might be reluctant to liberate Matty from the fourth line anytime soon, imop.
- CharlieDog
Winnipeg is 4-3 with Hendricks out of the lineup including 3 blowouts. The Jets are 8-1-3 with Hendricks in the lineup. In the three OT losses he never touched the ice in OT. Yes the Oilers suck without him. You can include last year playoff performance in that as well. He has only allowed one PK goal in 12 games and it was not his fault. I think it was a Trouba or Kulikov blunder. Whatever line he is on has also been near flawless in the last 12 games . I think it might be 1 or 2 goals against vs 4 or 5 goals for. Add his face-off prowess and there can really be no case made at this point that Hendricks hasn't been a near perfect acquisition. His only downside might be that he probably isn't capable of playing an 80 games season. Maybe 60 at most.
I defended Perreault all last year and will continue to defend him and his salary. He is a total workhorse and one of the under-appreciated engines that makes the Jets run,,,and with offensive upside. Every team in the league wants guys like Perreault. Put four forward lines of Matt Perreaults on the ice and you will not lose a game.
I think the Jets weakness is actually the second line. The test will come soon because they are on the road where the line matching will work against them. At this point no teams top line wants to get matched up against the Jets third and 4th lines. Quite a change vs the first 7 games where it was the opposite. You will see Nashville line up the #1 line most likely against Ehlers-Little- Laine and possibly even our top line rather than against our bottom two. They may possibly even line-up their top PP against our #2 PK unit. Those are the home ice advantages and you can be sure our opponents will use them.
