I could go on a rant or story about mental health awareness and how it has affected me and the great essays I saw yesterday from two Winnipeg writers. Go check out Scott Billeck and this hilarious guy TJ Maughan as they both wrote some very meaningful and powerful pieces on personal struggles with mental health.
I'll add a quick one. I don't suffer from issues but I know (two more now) a few people who do and have seen where it leads if left unchecked. My extended family and I have tried to reach out, connect, guide, listen, talk, hear...etc with one member to no success. The problem has taken this person and our family to some dark troublesome places, places no one needs to go or should have to.
No one seeks out cancer, or any other disease and no one wants to be mentally ill in whatever capacity that may be. It's not a choice, it's not a lifestyle, it's not career, it is an intangible though. You can only see the results without knowing exactly why they happen. Just know that a little empathy goes a long way and don't treat your interpersonal relations like 140 characters, listening and talking is more than simple social media. Get real, get connected and give up some time- it can make a huge difference.
I've been away for a bit due to my son's hockey so I've had little to say about the last two games for the Jets and what could be an interesting third tonight at the MTS Centre. What we've seen is certainly no master blueprint for success and the last two periods of the Leafs game combined with he first two of the Blackhawks game should show the Jets have a ways to go. Good teams don't settle into lulls like that for long. It's why the showing tonight against the Preds is important- what do we see coming out of the gate?
Here's the difference on the 'eye-test' only, I have not done a stats look yet but I'll get there soon enough. In this 6-1 streak for Paul Maurice his team has had some luck but overall it 'appears' more pieces are executing at a higher level at the same time than before.
In the past, under Claude Noel, it seemed that whey the team got great goaltending it couldn't score. Or when they were scoring goals the defense would play poorly and if one adverse event happened the inevitable building collapse would happen. It's not anymore, or better said, in seven games that identifiable trait of inconsistency hasn't reared it's ugly head.
The Jets aren't complete but they are improved and by my observations only it appears more parts or cogs in the wheel are aligned and executing as desired and while fans and media gush about the last seven games- the next seven games are even more important. Aside from the Blues, the Jets next 7 opponents are all within 10 points of the Jets as the totals stand today.
Preds- 54 Canucks- 63 Habs- 59 Hurricanes- 57 Caps- 54 Blues- 75 Coyotes- 58
Jets- 55
The real challenge is not rising up to compete and beat the best but being able to consistently beat your peers 6 of the next seven are against point total peers.
The idea of a complete team is a lofty goal and today the talk about trading Andrew Ladd reared it's head into the Winnipeg media circuit after Sportsnet brought the idea to the forefront. Of course a team would want an Andrew Ladd, a two-time cup winner who can score 25 goals a year and play solid second line or first line minutes. I'm sure the line up would be long should Chevy float his name out. But why would he do this?
What good does it do the team to trade Ladd?
1- he's not the leader they thought they had? Oops, the organization had two years to figure that out in their evaluation process
2- he would bring the best return? Perhaps but what is that, it likely won't be immediate help for this season and what message does that send? Sign the player, name him captain and trade him half way through his deal because you can get better later? I'm not sure that helps this team come the offseason when soliciting other talent.
3-the team needs a shake up? It very well may need one despite the hand of God that comes with Paul Maurice but see the above answers. This reason could be a valid one but not at the trade deadline as that's only a time for jettisoning the current and adding to the future.
4-culture change must happen? I suggested after the firing of Noel that if a culture change was needed trading Ladd would be the single most meaningful move to achieve that change. That opinion has not changed but it comes during the off season as part of a plan with direction and goals, something more than just the captain. It's not a small move and it can't be knee-jerk, that's what coaches are for so don't do it at the deadline.
Slater is back skating and Kane is out until after the Olympic break.
I know few even remember Jim Slater is a member of the Jets but he was back out on the ice beginning to skate withe the team after recovering from sports hernia surgery. Good to have Slater back but he won't see a game until after Sochi just like Evander Kane now.
Herein lies the peril of fighting as Kane has been lost to an infection on his cut hand sustained from Eric Brewer's helmet. In a 5-2 loss there was nothing worth fighting for if you are 30 goal scorer, particularly at the end of the game. Now Kane is gone during what should be an important 7 game stretch of teams the Jets can and should compete with- not good.
If the goal is to stand up and not take grief from the opposition that's fine but risking injury for a fight that had no chance of effecting the outcome was a poor choice. All players make them at one point and hopefully Kane understood that if you want to be '#thenatural' you have guys like Peluso who will naturally take care of the Brewers.
The roll continues tonight as Pavelec takes on Hutton and the Jets win 4-2.