It wasn't pretty. I wasn't pretty at all and everyone knows it. There's no lipstick, mascara, eyeliner or plastic surgery that can make this pig pretty. That's how bad it was and is for the Jets this season.
What's worse is that everyone is starting to notice. Not just the die-hard fans, not just the active social media crew, the bloggers, the local media, no, it's everyone now. And frankly that's a dangerous situation to be in for coach, and hopefully the GM.
I'm not suggesting that either needs to go or should have their jobs on the line but of the two there's only one who's feeling any pressure and that's Paul Maurice.
There's not one innocent party tonight on the Jets roster, even Mark Scheifele who scored two goals. Even that doesn't deserve praise because when you wear an A on your chest you're part of the solution as the team and when it fails you fail, no matter how well you play your own game.
Here's Maurice's press conference:
"I didn't like the way we were playing. I didn't like the way we played the whole entire night."
— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) January 12, 2017
Paul Maurice on the 7-4 loss to MTL. pic.twitter.com/3JZh7VdrxQ
Some would suggest that he's sounding a lot like Claude Noel did before his firing and if you look at the game the Jets are playing a lot like they did under Noel. Coincidentally Noel was fired almost 3 years ago this month.
Twitter was a fire storm of thoughts, emotions and frankly a lot of fair comments regardless of how charged they were. This is the sixth season and there is no noticeable change from year one for this franchise. None. Who is responsible for that, who is wearing that rather dubious honour of working hard for six year to build something and seeing no change?
That's what fans are starting to ask and that's a dangerous situation most importantly for the owner. The very one in Winnipeg who has turned most of his time away from his other business ventures to focus on this one, his $200 million plus investment. Chump change for some owners in the league and certainly for partner David Thomson, the First Baron of Fleet, but not for anyone in this town.
So before we get to what I promised on Twitter, let me ask this, who is protecting Mark Chipman? Who is the person(s) in the organization who are there to manage his investment and dream?
It's not Chevy, he answers directly to the owner, and that's probably a big mistake. Chevy is President and GM of the hockey club and after it goes to Chipman. Fire the President you fire the GM too and the same goes if you fire the GM.
Loyalty has always been the most prominent cornerstone in the foundation of True North Sports and Entertainment and that loyalty goes deep, very deep. It also may be blind and it's time every one took the blinders off and saw this team and franchise for what it is a poorly planned attempt to build a championship team.
I wish this were my own thought but it isn't other have pointed out that it appears the roster and direction of the team are thrown together each year, with no thought to the long game, or short one, that is required to build a team. Was what we have seen this season any indication of progress? A justification for the 'process'?
Sure it stings for everyone when the team gets thumped like it did tonight. Tempers flare, emotions come out of nowhere but when it's all over and cooler heads have prevailed the picture is no different. It's the same as it ever was as the Talking Heads wrote and back then and now, that's simply not good enough.
Here's the best I saw on Twitter
@Teddier man to man defence. Doesn't work for the jets.
— Le Maître (@RollsRoyce1980) January 12, 2017
@Teddier where's this FUELLED BY PASSION! Have yet to see it since Jets came back. all excuses.
— A Cloutier (@andrclou) January 12, 2017
@Teddier No hot taeks needed. The team is less than the sum of its parts. Poor roster decisions, structure, systems, all of it. Sad.
— Ryan Blight (@arby_18) January 12, 2017
@Teddier no hot take just change is needed. If the jets don't know what needs to change hire someone that does.
— #IsPoMoStillAThing (@fat_tonybones) January 12, 2017
@Teddier Jets are the 1st ever NHL team to be penalized for delay of game.. when all skaters are skating
— Golfnut (@sparkywpg) January 12, 2017
@Teddier Jets umbrellas for the media...so they don't get small bits of PoMo on their clothes when he explodes. #boom
— Andy Rolfe (@paddybearxyz) January 12, 2017
Oh there's more, plenty more and not just directed at me.
The problem is that so many are seeing the same thing, have seen the same thing and are now tired of seeing the same thing. One great person on Twitter presented privately that they are losing interest in the team because nothing changes and it's frustrating. They don't enjoy watching them play hockey.
I tweeted this:
The problem I have is if you aren't going to play high event hockey then you better be damn good in your own end- and nope not happening
— Peter Tessier (@Teddier) January 12, 2017
Right or wrong there is something that is starting to change with the faithful. They simply aren't feeling like they are getting much back for the effort and money they are asked to put in.
To quote another song and artist near and dear to my heart I give you Phish and the song Lifeboy
"God never listens To what I say And you don't get a refund If you over pray"
In a town where the players are the saints, the owner revered as god and the fans looked at as disciples there sure seems to be a one-sided value proposition going on. Almost like televangislists from the 80s where it was a you give-we take relationship, and who can blame fans for feeling that way after six years of no return. Tonight was just the cherry on top.