It’s tough to be critical when a team is having some success, keeping them in the playoff hunt, and generally playing to expectations. For the Jets, today’s afternoon game marks another opportunity for measurement and progression from pretender to legitimate playoff team. It won’t be conclusive but it is the type of game that has ‘opportunity’ written all over it.
The Jets defense is still a messy patchwork quilt although the Swiss Army Knife of forward, Dustin Byfuglien, played 26 minutes at defense potting an empty net goal. Big Buff generally played with efficiency and effectiveness being anything but a liability he’s so frequently made out to be.
Think about this scenario for a bit. Byfuglien was all but pushed to forward by various narratives and his former coach, kept there by his current coach and then used as the point defense/forward on the PP and then logs 26 minutes giving up nothing whilst on the ice. Cue the trade value rumours/comments.
The trouble with this scenario going forward is what happens if Buff plays too well at defense? Would it makes sense to move him back to forward? The play of the team and Buff this December will make an interesting storyline should players return on expected time lines as I metioned in the last column
What about that other trade asset that has Winnipeggers in a kerfuffle lately Evander Kane? As the Jets scored 6 goals on Friday, their highest total since opening night in Phoenix, the enigmatic forward was nowhere near the score sheet. There were more than a few twitter comments about that, again sadly. There were none to be found about his centre, a young Mark Scheifele, who was also nowhere to be found on the score sheet.
The funny thing is that Kane’s stock value amongst fans is low and therefore the reaction is to ‘get something for him’ before his value is too low. For Buff his value could soar but there is no pressure or desire from fans to move him. Why, because he plays well at two positions and doesn’t post Instagram photos?
The logic around Winnipeg after Kane’s Instagram photo, one he chose to show his followers, you know the people who want to see his sense of humour and other aspects of his life, is that players should not do that when they ‘allegedly’ (my emphasis) aren’t earning their salaries. Was Buff earning his 5.25 million at forward?
Kane no longer has the two centres who providing him most of his opportunities to score those 30 goals in 2011-12. He gets half the offensive zone starts he did in 11-12 and his shooting percentage is way down- so he’s not earning his salary.
I’d argue that putting a 5.25 million/year player on your third line might lean a tad towards the same situation Kane takes heat for on a daily basis. The point still remains though that Kane at 6.25 million/year now, the highest paid player on the team, is not delivering value.
The results speak for themselves as this is a team game not a solo effort with supporting cast- at least that’s what Maurice has built and it seems to be working. The two players who have received the most scrutiny since the Jets returned to Winnipeg are both buying in and doing what the coach wants team needs. Oh the horror of it all!
That’s where Jets fans need to look, the bigger picture, not the granular level. The granular level changes all the time, it’s a evolving series of moves, adjustments and processes and singling out two players who have had to undergo the biggest role changes since the team’s inaugural season seems rather selective. Jets fans launch criticism, and in some cases hatred, towards moves and results that may not be all the player’s responsibility, yet discard the overall results as being influenced by those same players accepting new roles. You can’t have it both ways.
What’s the story going to be after today’s game? More of the same I suspect that’s rather unfortunate. The two players accepted change and the need to grow evolve, the fans and some media should probably do the same.