As the Winnipeg Jets get ready to lace up against the Minnesota Wild, there are two stories many will focus on headed into tonight. While the Jets are looking for their first win of the season, they will be without their captain, Blake Wheeler, as he has been put on the NHL COVID-19 Protocol list. While the captain has one assist in his first two games played, he is not expected to join them tonight in Minnesota. The status of Blake Wheeler is unknown, if he has tested positive, a close contact, could be anything, but will be taking the proper procedure by isolating away from the team.
Update at 1:29pm ET: Blake Wheeler has tested positive for "symptomatic" COVID-19, and will isolate for the next 10 days. Nobody else on the Jets has tested positive at this time.
Source/ @HockeyHoundShow
With the Jets still winless, they will be making some line changes. Some forced by Wheeler’s absence, some not.
October 19th/Game 3 Projected Lineup - Not Confirmed
Connor-Scheifele-Copp Stasny-Dubois-Ehlers Harkins-Lowry-Vesalainen Svechnikov-Nash-Perfetti
Morrissey-Schmidt Dillon-Pionk Stanley-DeMelo
Hellebuyck
This lineup might bring some worries to many based on the comments of the last few articles. Andrew Copp being on the first line is something many were hoping would be a spot for Perfetti, Vesalainen, or even Harkins. The team feels very comfortable in using Copp in the Top-6, which they were rewarded for in the last game against the Sharks. Stasny on the second line is also a spot many may have hoped for one of the previously listed players getting a shot. Stasny has shown his ability to play anywhere in this lineup, and be servicable, and although he may be showing his age on the ice, Stasny has a lot left in the tank at 35. The Bottom-6 is where I look and see a lot of positives. Despite having Perfetti on the fourth line, this lineup can certainly show their depth, with Evgeny Svechnikov having a strong pre-season and start to the year, Harkins burying his first of the season. Lowry is a steady third-liner on this team, playing strong defensive hockey. Overall, I think this team could use the shakeup, maybe not the way the Jets wanted to do it, but moving around a few pieces in this lineup could show to help.
I will ask this again, for those who missed last time. Having Perfetti in the NHL is exciting, and he is showing lots of talent towards his bright future as a Winnipeg Jet, but is having him play fourth-line munites in the NHL more effective than playing top-line minutes for Manitoba in the AHL?
On defense, there aren't expected to be any changes. This back-end seems to be getting more used to each other, though some miscommunication and being out of position really showed last game. I think a lot of this are growing pains, as on paper this is a very deep and sound blue line, we will just look for them to bring it all together, and hopefully sooner than later.
Minnesota is the first team they will play against that aren't expected to be at the bottom of the standings this year. This may play a part in the mental factor headed into tonight, because although from the time you tie your first pair of skates you are told not to take any team lightly, it happens all of the time in the NHL, where teams just don't come out of the gate flying. We will be looking for that win-hungry mode to flip on tonight.
A couple other changes to the special teams, Riley Nash will be taking the spot of Blake Wheeler, and Nate Schmidt will be taking the spot of Josh Morrissey on PP1. I think, again, the change-up will help, though I am not as sure about these changes. I think Pionk should get a look on that top unit, and see how that goes.
In other news around the league, former Winnipeg Jet, Evander Kane, has been suspended by the NHL for 21 games, without pay for violating the NHL COVID-19 Protocols by providing his team a fake COVID-19 Vaccination Card. During this 21 game suspension, Evander Kane will forfeit approximately $1.68M of salary. That is a heavy hit for someone, especially who has been in the news for all of the wrong reasons lately.
Thank you for taking the time to read, let me know your thoughts on the lineup changes, and the teams hunt for their first win. I may not get a chance to watch the game tonight, but will provide a recap tomorrow based on what I can see.
By Jacob Billington