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Control, we have a problem.

February 17, 2019, 2:25 PM ET [37 Comments]
Peter Tessier
Winnipeg Jets Blogger •Winnipeg Jets Writer • RSSArchiveCONTACT
If the standings are your benchmark for success then you probably relish the President's Trophy and care little about the Stanley Cup. Perhaps there should be more emphasis across the league on winning that trophy but right now it's all but a formality before the real season begins.

For Jets fans the current standings are good but do they support what the ultimate goal is? Who is the last President's Trophy winner to win a cup? In the last 10 seasons only the 2013 Blackhawks(lockout year) and the 2008 Red Wings won both. Before the 2004-5 lockout and salary cap this double win was much more common. What has transpired since then is that teams have to be far more efficient with their rosters, resources and more to attain good results and some beneficial events with identification of problems needs to happen too.

This is why there is a sense of negativity with the Winnipeg Jets and last night agains the Ottawa Senators, the worst team in the league, did nothing to help alleviate fears.

Yes negativity exists and there is a reason for it, the Jets are frequently getting out shot, out played, and out chanced by inferior teams and you don't need underlying stats to see the problem. The Jets have 8 short-handed goals on the year and two of them came last night. That's good fortune and effort but that's not the ideal way to win games.

The engine is not running right.
The navigation is off.
They are in a tailspin.
They've hit a headwind.

Use whatever aeronautical metaphor you want but it does not change reality- the Jets are not playing very good hockey and to compound that it appears the guy in charge doesn't see a problem other than 'being outplayed'.

Again, the team is being beaten by far less talented teams and they are showing no signs of change in any way shape or form other than some PP adjustments. Passes are off, positioning is chaotic and there is a lot of watching and waiting by far too many players. But they lead the Central!!!

Take a look at the Central Division and there's one team playing well- the Blues. It's not a ringing endorsement.

Sure the Jets are in on Mark Stone and if you think the scenarios I put out yesterday are foolish, after watching two games in person do you think Pierre Dorian is going to give him away to the Jets? Factor in Pierre Lebrun saying Nashville and others are inquiring too and the Jets need gets even more obvious and expect a bidding war as that's what a GM should do.

There are issues and wouldn't it be nice if this team could find that 'other gear' after the dog days of the season and the lift of stress after the trade deadline. Where has it been all season? It simply might not exist.

Did anyone notice how the dynamic duo of Scheifele and Wheeler had almost no give with their legs when it mattered last night? Scheifele is 4th in TOI/game for forwards at 22:30 and Wheeler 11th at 21:20 and there is not other forward in the top 15 who's team in in playoff position. These two need a major service not an expectation to find another gear.

There's not a doubt that the Jets are in a position, that with injuries creating a rather inconsistent roster, it's hard to get cohesive but these guys also know each other and Maurice's adherence to lines gives them plenty of time. Yet here we are...a mess.

There are options to fix this internally and that is what is confounding to many because Paul Maurice refuses to make any meaningful adjustments to roster, lines and approach. This does not mean he should do all three but start trying something different because he and his players can learn from change.

The Jets now embark on a 3 game road trip to Colorado, Vegas and Arizona and given their recent play is anyone betting on this being easy? They come home and play Minnesota and Nashville before another road trip to Columbus,Tampa, Carolina, and Washington. Then San Jose, Boston and Calgary at home. This isn't just a run of games it's a gauntlet of death if recent play is the way they are going to approach those games.

Yes the pessimist is here and in full force and sadly he's looking for reasons to be optimistic about this team but the signs are few, and far between.
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