Jacob Billington: An In-Depth Look at the Jets Start to the Season - Part 3: Goalies/Coaches

You bring up 2 interesting points Jacob:

1. The Jets are allowing more shots. This has been a consistent theme over Maurice’s tenure. The Jets have finished in the bottom third of the league in penalty kill and high danger shots allowed for 7 of his 8 years as coach. If not for Hellebyuck, this coach would have been exposed for employing poor systems.

2. The lines are biased. If a young player plays a bad game or shift for that matter, they are automatically on the 4th line. If a veteran does the same like Cousin Blake has, he gets promoted to the top line.

I think Uncle Paul and his band of merry men all need to be let go. I am in favour of doing a complete overhaul behind the bench.

Also, keep up the great work on Jets articles. We all appreciate the tremendous work and insight you bring!

Them sweeping the oilers in 4 last playoffs was the worst thing that could've happened to them for this year. It bought Maurice at least this season for another wallowing performance. The last 1/4 of last season was a disaster for them and the calls for Maurice's job then were being shouted then the sweep the Oilers and for most all was forgotten.
Then we come to this year with every position taken care of in the needs we had and as stated this is probably the strongest roster we have had since they've come back and they look as lost as they have every year under Maurice.
There is no structure or drive in most players and almost seam lost out there at times. When watching game i am literally asking WTH was that?
Maurice was what we needed after Noel but his system get a talented team so far and have seen this with any of the teams he has coached previous and his goalie has kept him employed Irbe in Car and Helle in WPG. He had a horrible goalie in TO and he was gone. It is utterly frustrating watching games at times because I've stated here previous. This team is so talented it wins despite our coach not because of him. We need a fundamentals coach now to bring us too the next level. Him being a players coach brought us to a great place but he is now hurting the team and destroying our your players careers and hat is going to come back to haunt us if it hasn't already. draft and develop only works if you give your youth a chance to play..

Thanks for perspective from a non-Winnipeger - much appreciated.

I am for a coaching change since the end of last season. The team didn't perform close to potential as they were better than 3rd place in the Canadian division team due to prolonged losing streak, a nailbiter sweep vs Oil, followed by a sweep vs Montreal when they looked completely defeated in every way - the games were not close. No effective adjustments were made either in game or between games. Montre(frank)ingal.

PP has been middling for most of his entire tenure in spite of high end personel.
PK has been near the bottom of the league most years
Locker room cohesion has been an issue. I expect more from a vet coach.

I’m excited for my grandkids’ grandkids to see Charlie Huddy still coaching the D

I’m excited for my grandkids’ grandkids to see Charlie Huddy still coaching the D
- jjonah

Some great observations about how the coach is holding this team back. I believe this team will be hard pressed to make the playoffs let alone challenge for the cup as long as Maurice is the coach. If they are just hanging on to a playoff birth by Xmas Maurice should be replaced.

Some great observations about how the coach is holding this team back. I believe this team will be hard pressed to make the playoffs let alone challenge for the cup as long as Maurice is the coach. If they are just hanging on to a playoff birth by Xmas Maurice should be replaced.
- islansjet

Don't agree with the re-uniting of Connor-Scheif-Wheeler - but can understand it. The Jets have had success scoring in the past going this route.

Actually like the Copp-PLD-Svechnikov line - they looked good the last game. Two goals for Svech tonight?

Thought Jansen Harkins was really flying last game in very limited minutes. If Harkins keeps the effort up he may be moved up (with an injury) or possibly used as trade bait.

Kristian Vesalainen, as others have stated before, is another who deserves to be moved up. Sitting Bealieu and Nash is the right way to go IMO. Actually waive Nash and recall Gustafsson.

Our d has got far more points this season than in previous ones. Still I would like Maurice to take the reigns off more often - and activate the d even more. JoMo would be that guy.

So Jets back on Sportsnet's "Home Town Hockey" again! How do we get away from that? Last time was a disaster! Z-z-z-z! Where in the hell is Dennis Beyak?

Time for Scheif and Wheeler to put some points on the board - Ehlers will be flying!

Expecting it to be all Jets tonight! What, 5-1 Jets?

Don't agree with the re-uniting of Connor-Scheif-Wheeler - but can understand it. The Jets have had success scoring in the past going this route.

Actually like the Copp-PLD-Svechnikov line - they looked good the last game. Two goals for Svech tonight?

Thought Jansen Harkins was really flying last game in very limited minutes. If Harkins keeps the effort up he may be moved up (with an injury) or possibly used as trade bait.

Kristian Vesalainen, as others have stated before, is another who deserves to be moved up. Sitting Bealieu and Nash is the right way to go IMO. Actually waive Nash and recall Gustafsson.

Our d has got far more points this season than in previous ones. Still I would like Maurice to take the reigns off more often - and activate the d even more. JoMo would be that guy.

So Jets back on Sportsnet's "Home Town Hockey" again! How do we get away from that? Last time was a disaster! Z-z-z-z! Where in the hell is Dennis Beyak?

Time for Scheif and Wheeler to put some points on the board - Ehlers will be flying!

Expecting it to be all Jets tonight! What, 5-1 Jets?
- grahamzky

Ya, well so much for the 6-1 prediction!!!

Jets are a funny team - expect them to lose (last Saturday) and they win. Expect them to win - and you never know!

I refuse to watch any more Jets broadcasts if they insist on letting this amateur hour woman call the game. It's nothing against equal opportunity, if she were any good I'd acknowledge it. The bottom line is it's just plain terrible broadcasting which makes the game boring as hell.

I couldn't listen to her anymore after two periods tonight and turned it off. I think a good alternative is to listen to the radio broadcast and turn the sound off on the TV.

I refuse to watch any more Jets broadcasts if they insist on letting this amateur hour woman call the game. It's nothing against equal opportunity, if she were any good I'd acknowledge it. The bottom line is it's just plain terrible broadcasting which makes the game boring as hell.

I couldn't listen to her anymore after two periods tonight and turned it off. I think a good alternative is to listen to the radio broadcast and turn the sound off on the TV.
- jetsnation

Agreed. I listened to a lot of game on radio. They've got to get away from SportsNet. Mind you an announcer like Rick Ball can make the game exciting. But, alas, no Rick Ball tonight! Paul Edmunds good on radio.

Problem with listening to game on radio and watching the game on TV at the same time is that they are not time co-ordinated.

Hextall has yet to call a single Jets goal. Two donuts vs pens and now the yotes.

To be fair Millen is equally poor when doing colour. Creates odd narratives and tries too hard to sell them (Phil kessel) and misses opportunities for providing actual colour work such as explaining how the face off ended up at center ice mid-game. Not nearly enough research on players… last week he said he once told don Whitman about the one player he planned to tell a story about, Whitman shared the story first and Millen had nothing else. Poor prep.

As for the Jets my wife made me stop booing at the tv when the pp couldn’t gain the zone. I was equally frustrated with the utter lack of traffic. We have no-one going to the net, was there a single screened shot tonight? Yotes didn’t have to block many either. Poor efforts and lack of commitment to put the puck in. No bruises to show for the night, lousy entertainment all around.

Hextall has yet to call a single Jets goal. Two donuts vs pens and now the yotes.

To be fair Millen is equally poor when doing colour. Creates odd narratives and tries too hard to sell them (Phil kessel) and misses opportunities for providing actual colour work such as explaining how the face off ended up at center ice mid-game. Not nearly enough research on players… last week he said he once told don Whitman about the one player he planned to tell a story about, Whitman shared the story first and Millen had nothing else. Poor prep.

As for the Jets my wife made me stop booing at the tv when the pp couldn’t gain the zone. I was equally frustrated with the utter lack of traffic. We have no-one going to the net, was there a single screened shot tonight? Yotes didn’t have to block many either. Poor efforts and lack of commitment to put the puck in. No bruises to show for the night, lousy entertainment all around.
- 2.0

Millen was right on with about every comment he made tonight.

Too much b!tching here about Sportsnet and not enough about this team and yet another no show effort against the worst team in the league, two easy points missed. So glad I only watched it on TV and didn't spend any money on tickets, what a not entertaining style of hockey this team plays, they have no identity.

The Jets shut out by Arizona, Maurice will be unemployed by Thursday.

I refuse to watch any more Jets broadcasts if they insist on letting this amateur hour woman call the game. It's nothing against equal opportunity, if she were any good I'd acknowledge it. The bottom line is it's just plain terrible broadcasting which makes the game boring as hell.

I couldn't listen to her anymore after two periods tonight and turned it off. I think a good alternative is to listen to the radio broadcast and turn the sound off on the TV.
- jetsnation

She's absolutely awful, no flow to the game when she calls it. Now, the female who did the Canada/USA women's hockey games last week, she was solid. But this Hextall gal, sorry, she is downright awful.

The Jets shut out by Arizona, Maurice will be unemployed by Thursday.
- Shady1962

Looking at the boxscore the Yotes goalie stood on his head stopping 46 shots. AZ had a whopping 15 SOG.

In the last 6 - 7 games, it appears that if your goalie is playing well, your team has a good chance to beat the Jets.

Each of the last 6, 7, 8 games seems like the opposing goalie is standing on their head but in reality, just like last night, there is not enough goal front traffic or chaos in front of their goalie.

If they are claiming being a victim of another hot goalie, it shows that there needs to be more net crashing, scrums, chaos etc in front of their net to get some greasy goals. Too bad Apples got picked up, at least he would drive to the net. I luv PLD's style of going to the net but we need chaos, scrums, traffic, etc.

Can the coaching staff come up with a game plan on that missing element?

Millen was right on with about every comment he made tonight.

Too much b!tching here about Sportsnet and not enough about this team and yet another no show effort against the worst team in the league, two easy points missed. So glad I only watched it on TV and didn't spend any money on tickets, what a not entertaining style of hockey this team plays, they have no identity.
- JetFuel

This is a great point! The commentator can only make the game as exciting as it is.

Chevelallseasonoff has to do something and fast. He’s been on his regular hiatus since the season began. He needs to start look for a replacement for Uncle Paul.

Leah Hextall calls a hockey game like one would call a baseball game. Lots of pauses.
She may very well be better suited to baseball. Having said that, everyone needs to start somewhere, so maybe she will get better as she calls more games.

Powder Play thoughts - I am not sure that Pionk's shot scares too many penalty killers. Put 55 into the spot that Laine had. Schiefele has a great one-timer. Ehlers to the 2nd unit, just for the sake of balance.
Unit 1 - Pionk, Schiefele, Stastny. Connor, Wheeler
Unit 2 - Morrissey, Schmidt, Copp, Dubois, Ehlers

Promote Gustafsson !

Leah Hextall calls a hockey game like one would call a baseball game. Lots of pauses.
She may very well be better suited to baseball. Having said that, everyone needs to start somewhere, so maybe she will get better as she calls more games.

Powder Play thoughts - I am not sure that Pionk's shot scares too many penalty killers. Put 55 into the spot that Laine had. Schiefele has a great one-timer. Ehlers to the 2nd unit, just for the sake of balance.
Unit 1 - Pionk, Schiefele, Stastny. Connor, Wheeler
Unit 2 - Morrissey, Schmidt, Copp, Dubois, Ehlers

Promote Gustafsson !
- bennythehat

Leah can start somewhere else until she is ready . We should not all have to suffer.

As for the PP , it all starts with zone entry and the Jets refuse to use the proven method of dropping the puck back and freezing the opponents PK unit. It works !
I agree with these point shots. They could be a lot better . PP is stale.

Leah Hextall calls a hockey game like one would call a baseball game. Lots of pauses.
She may very well be better suited to baseball. Having said that, everyone needs to start somewhere, so maybe she will get better as she calls more games.

Powder Play thoughts - I am not sure that Pionk's shot scares too many penalty killers. Put 55 into the spot that Laine had. Schiefele has a great one-timer. Ehlers to the 2nd unit, just for the sake of balance.
Unit 1 - Pionk, Schiefele, Stastny. Connor, Wheeler
Unit 2 - Morrissey, Schmidt, Copp, Dubois, Ehlers

Promote Gustafsson !
- bennythehat

Wheeler needs to be taken off the 1st PP and I'm not sure he should even be on the 2nd one.

Why not try Connor for one timers on the opposite side of the OV/Laine spot?
PLD should be net front on the 1st PP and Schmidt on the point.

Wheeler needs to be taken off the 1st PP and I'm not sure he should even be on the 2nd one.

Why not try Connor for one timers on the opposite side of the OV/Laine spot?
PLD should be net front on the 1st PP and Schmidt on the point.
- JetFuel

Wheeler should not be burning up 90 seconds on a PP, either on the 1st or 2nd PP.

45 seconds and get the frank off the ice. That 1st PP is a time waster, I am sure other teams are happy to see Wheeler eating up 90 seconds of PP.

Leah can start somewhere else until she is ready . We should not all have to suffer.

As for the PP , it all starts with zone entry and the Jets refuse to use the proven method of dropping the puck back and freezing the opponents PK unit. It works !
I agree with these point shots. They could be a lot better . PP is stale.
- jetsnation

I will be the outlier and say she needs some work but I am not turning the tube off with her at the mic. Mind you, 2 game calls, 2 loses.... jinx?

PoMo must have read your previous post about the PP not using this play because they did actually use this play on the last game and gained zone. You might have missed this due to turning off the TV when you heard Leah was calling the game.

I will be the outlier and say she needs some work but I am not turning the tube off with her at the mic. Mind you, 2 game calls, 2 loses.... jinx?

PoMo must have read your previous post about the PP not using this play because they did actually use this play on the last game and gained zone. You might have missed this due to turning off the TV when you heard Leah was calling the game.
- Old Flopper

I will take her over Beyak or Sawyer any day of the week, and twice on Sundays

https://thehockeywriters....h-potential-paul-maurice/

This article essentially sums up what a great number of us have been saying for a while!