Paul Maurice is icing what he feels he must regardless of whether Connor McDavid makes an appearance in Winnipeg tonight- he's not.
Wheeler- Scheifele- Stafford Perreault- Lowry-Ehlers Petan- De Leo-Thorburn Lemieux-Copp-Lipon
Enstrom Chairot Stuart Trouba Morrissey Harrison
What Jets fans will see is the continuation of the second line trio as it finished the season last year and then an interesting change taking Burmistrov out and inserting Lowry between Perreault and Ehlers. Petan slides to left wing and rides along with De Leo and Thorburn while Lipon joins Lemieux and Copp on the 4th line.
TSN's Darrin Bauming had this to say about the lines:
Moving Nic Petan to wing because there's a better chance to make the #NHLJets = heavy indication Andrew Copp will make opening night roster.
— Darrin Bauming (@DarrinBauming) September 25, 2015Bauming is right as Maurice mentioned today that there is opportunity for smaller players to make the team- see Petan. What is interesting is that Petan is still saddled with Thorburn and long shot prospect De Leo. If the Jets brain trust wants him to have the best shot at making the team why not put him with more offensively minded players?
Again it appears Andrew Copp only has to play himself out of a spot not into one as he again will be given the chance to anchor the 4th line. The players to the side of him seem to be getting a bit more of a look with some surprised it's Brendan Lemieux who seemed to only feel confident when he was hitting some one in his last game.
The addition of Lowry over Brumistrov on the second line present some intriguing ideas about how that line could work. One aspect to the trio from the first pre-season game against the Wild was it was difficult for Perreault Ehlers and Burmistrov to get much presence in front of Backstrom. Lowry could change this and if Perreault and Ehlers can control and move the puck around the big forward could take up shop in front of he Oilers net and make life difficult. He could also score should the puck get there which was something that did not happen agains the Wild.
The defense pairings are nothing too interesting and with Buff being a big banged up and Maurice not wanting to strain any veterans with the usual aches and pains, Ben Chairot takes his place. The pairing of interest is that of Morrissey and Harrison, at least from a prospect development view. Harrison had some comments after the game in Edmonton and it seemed like he was talking to the younger players without saying names. one of those players was likely his linemate tonight, Josh Morrissey.
Morrissey is a gifted offensive defensemen and tried to use some of his skill in the last game but with little result. Harrison is the opposite but he could be the perfect pairing for Morrissey as he is the 'old sage' on the team, something Morrissey might benefit from. What Morrissey needs is context and guidance as he begins his professional hockey journey and although one game with Harrison is not a cure-all for Morrissey's weaknesses, Harrison's presence could be beneficial. At least as a guide and perhaps confidant on the bench about what the young player is trying to do and learn.
It's a solid lineup for the Jets tonight but without McDavid it appears that most Jets fans lost a bit of interest in the game. That's a bit of a shame as there's some interesting within the lineup as it appear the coach is determined to find the best fit for the youth he expects to have in the lineup. With a draft and develop model that's something Jets fans should take interest in as these lines are intriguing if you want to finally see the prospects make the team.