It’s Christmas and time for Jets Gifts
Yes there is a game tonight, yes there was one on Sunday and one on Friday too and there’s been nothing from me about them. Holiday season, that’s all I’m going to say. Even hard working bloggers need some respite.
Tonight the surging Blackhawks are going to recall that 1-0 loss to the Jets. The one where Michael Hutchinson saw more rubber than a dead skunk on the Trans Canada highway. The Blackhawks are going to try and feast on the patchwork quilt defense of the Jets and surely push play to a pace and fury the Jets have not seen. At least that’s what I would do.
Think of the Jets this way- treading water. Maybe the current takes them downstream a bit and maybe it brings them back up later but all they need to do is keep their head above water. Without getting into fancy stats, deeper meanings and analysis the Jets have to play better hockey than they did on Sunday night in that third period and brief overtime. That’s the hot take away from the OT loss to Philadelphia. Is it worth getting more complex with the analysis? Consider this, any team can beat anyone on any given night with the right variables happen. Look at the game between LA and Calgary last night, where two bounces changed a 3-1 lead into a 3-3 tie. It happens, just like Harrison sliding a puck into the slot to an unchecked Flyer. It wasn’t what he wanted to do but it happened. Things happen in hockey games, there are a lot of variables that affect the outcomes. Before analytics went mainstream we called it ‘puck luck’ and the best teams were the ones who did things to capitalize on that luck. Watch for it tonight… it happens.
But away from ripping Pavelec, praising Kane and questioning 4th line player usage the Jets are due for some Christmas presents so if I was Santa with magic powers and all here is what I would give each Jet.
Andrew Ladd: a goal scoring streak in the second half. While not always my flavour Ladd does some things fearlessly like stand in front of the net.
Bryan Little: respect across the NHL. No he’s not the giant size centre that everyone expects a #1 to be but he does everything a #1 C is supposed to, he just doesn’t get league wide respect.
Blake Wheeler: more chances to streak down the wing and drive the net. That’s his bread and butter and under Maurice’s system that aspect of Wheeler’s game is diminished but it’s something the Jets can use now and then.
Mark Scheifele: leg and core strength. FeFe has all the tools and shows flashes of brilliance on a regular basis but for fans it always seems to end with, ‘if he was only stronger on his skates’.
Mathieu Perreault: First unit PP time. If Perreault keeps playing the way he is now he’s going to get paid huge on his next deal. But Jets fans don’t have to worry about that for some time.
Michael Frolik: a new contract signed around January 3rd. Pay that man his money already! Give him the same deal Little received and lock him up for 5 years.
Evander Kane: more time with Perreault, a run and gun offense or a trade. Kane gets three gifts so he has options for his next controversial Instagram post.
Adam Lowry: soft hands. He has hands but ones that let him control the puck with more ease. The rookie does a lot right but could sure use a bit of help with puck control at times.
Matt Halischuk: more shots from the slot. Kid can fire the puck so hopefully he gets some bounces and rips shots with a bit more frequency.
Anthony Peluso: more minutes. Well not really but what else could the guy want?
Jim Slater: a few more goals. No Jet has embraced being a Winnipeggers more than Slater he deserves some love back from the hockey gods.
Chris Thorburn: more minutes. Well not really but what else could the… wait a second- just get him a nose job for when his career ends after this contract finishes.
TJ Galiardi: more games. Sounds redundant to the other guys but when he plays he plays nearly double what Peluso and Thorburn play, why sit him so often?
Zach Bogosian: good health and end to rumours. There’s not a day that goes by without some one telling me a ‘Bogo story’ and frankly I don’t believe them anymore.
Jacob Trouba: speedy recovery and return to form. The sophomore was just hitting his stride when he was pulled out of line up with a unexpected wrist injury. He’s a key cog on this team and it would be a shame to see him not get back to where he was upon return in February.
Toby Enstrom: health and better PP decisions. Enstrom has been a durable guy but this year has been unfortunate, what also has been troubling is his decisions on the PP this year.
Dustin Byfuglien: Recognition as the face of the Jets. No player brings as much to the team as Buff and probably no one does as much either. He is the face of the franchise but he’s a unique entity that challenges the normal view- accept him he rocks.
Paul Postma: that extra gear. The guy does a lot of things well but never seems to find that extra gear. He’s reliable and plays with heart but needs to get that ‘something extra’ to get his game to the next level.
Adam Pardy: a goal from one of his dangles. Eventually it will happen and hopefully in the MTS Centre where the crowd can go bananas for him.
Grant Clitsome: a mean streak. Give him some edge with a side order of nasty and Clitsome could be better than a bottom pairing but until that happens, he’s always going to be looked at as over paid.
Mark Stuart: a seat warmer. That’s mean because Stuart does things a lot of guys care not to do. I think this time away from the ice can help him see the game a bit better so he can make better decisions.
Ondrej Pavelec: an average save percentage. Pav takes a lot of heat here and around the city but he isn’t a bad guy just not a great goalie so let’s not try to make him great and settle for average.
Michael Hutchinson: the #1 goalie job by playing well for 5 straight games. Let him try it, let’s find out what we have with Hutch for 5 straight starts and if he earns the role as clear #1 give it to him and let him run.
Paul Maurice: a healthy team. Even last year when he was still interim as a head coach he was faced with injury trouble, now he has every coach’s worst nightmare. Let him have the chance to have a healthy team from February on.
Kevin Cheveldayoff: a trade with a drunk GM. I hope Chevy gets the chance to make a deal where he wins it clear and hands down. If it’s going to take this long to make a true player for player deal let it be one that allows fans to praise him.
Mark Chipman: a few home playoff games. All pundits across the league want to see it, they know what that building will be like and no one deserves it more than the owner who has been very patient with a lot of challenges.