Jets End Road Trip With Tribute To Selanne
You can summarize the Jets road trip in one simple word: calamity. While getting 3 of 6 points against two power house teams like Anaheim and LA seems commendable, in each game the Jets had a 2(twice) or 3 goal lead they could not sustain. Let’s not talk about the game against Arizona, but essentially the same thing happened as in the other two games, penalties cost the Jets and they could not recover.
The bigger picture for the Jets is not the underlying numbers, it’s not the play of Dustin Byfuglien, nor is it the fact that neither goalie seemed to be able to move away from the number 4. The picture shows that the adherence to strong systems play that revolved around sound defensive strategy is being cast aside and with it a discipline towards minimizing penalties.
The Jets need to get back to what made them successful and what we have seen is not that type/style of game strategically or tactically. It appears the lure of running and gunning is almost too much for some Jets now. Ironically, on the day that is the one-year anniversary of the firing of Claude Noel, the Jets come off three games where they did what got Noel fired.
To dissect the Jets play would be somewhat cumbersome right now, there are many areas of concern but probably the easiest one to fix is deployment. While they may not be the sole earners of ‘minuses’ the Jets 4th line of Peluso Slater and Thorburn is all but useless when it matters most. They cannot be trusted and can send their goalies into panic attacks. Look at a game sheet and see how little ice time they get, regularly less than 10 minutes a game. So the other lines have to absorb those minutes and manage against better-rested opposition.
Take the last game against Anaheim, one where the Ducks had been resting since Wednesday and the Jets had played the night before. Paul Maurice could not put his 4th line out for any meaningful measure of time to help the lines that actually carry the water. If the Jets are to be taken seriously as possible playoff contenders should this issue not be addressed soon if not now?
What about the defense? Is the Jay Harrison era ready to end? If not the Stuart- Harrison epoch can fizzle out like the dinosaurs anytime, send in the meteor! Once again, even with Enstrom and Bogosian back in action, the same problem exists within the defense core. The bottom pairing is not doing enough preventative maintenance to help the others weather the storm. It’s a depth issue and it’s a systems issue all at the same time.
The systems help overcome depth issues but when you slowly abandon those systems, all that’s left is the challenges of having less than desirable roster depth. The key now for Maurice and Chevy is which method to solve the problems, return to systems play or adjust the roster. There’s not a reason to think that each option is exclusive and cannot be used concurrently. In fact if there is a problem with players adhering to the systems then perhaps the message again has to be sent and this time the coach is going nowhere. If the ship is not righted by the all-star break something should change.
Teemu Selanne
It was the final farewell to Selanne last night in Anaheim. It was a fine gesture to include the Jets, as for Selanne that’s where it all began. What some want though is another honoring, but this time in Winnipeg. I’m not sure I can go there but I’m also not sure it’s necessary or appropriate. Selanne left his mark with the Ducks, he may have set a record with Winnipeg but his career was defined as a Duck.
The citizens of Winnipeg have to accept that and while he may be beloved by many here who saw him as a beacon of hope as the NHL was moving beyond Winnipeg, he should not be what defined the Jets 1.0. Selanne was a bright point, an exceptional talent and a franchise player that he never got to become because he was traded. Even still the franchise was leaving and there was nothing that was going to change that simple harsh reality.
However when you hear Winnipeggers talk about Selanne it’s not always the hockey they reference. It’s him, the person he was at such a young age. In fact it may not be so far to suggest that’s who they wish Evander Kane would be, or could be. Put another way: it’s what they may want Kane to be, the second coming of Selanne. In fact Jets fans may have waited 15 years for another chance at the NHL but they are still waiting for a ‘Selanne’ to return. Would he have ever left if the franchise was not going to move? For many they hold onto Selanne like they held onto the Jets 1.0 for 15 years, just like another shot at the NHL they want that franchise player too. I think they’ll keep waiting and holding on until that player arrives.
Selanne can be celebrated but keep it away from the legacy of the Winnipeg Jets. Let him come to Winnipeg; let him be honoured as great citizen for what he did as a person away from the rink. Those are the remarkable memories Winnipeggers have of him and that’s how he should be honoured. His hockey legacy will always include Winnipeg but it will never belong to Winnipeg, and there’s nothing that can change that.