Jacob Billington: Winnipeg Jets Updates; Morrissey, 6-on-5 Woes, Staying Competitive

Thanks for the write-up Jacob.

Question for the mailbag: Do you think the Jets should go “all-in” this year?

The Western Conference and more specifically the Central Division seem to be very weak this year. This could be a year where the Jets make the finals. As I have posted before, if things do not work out in an “all-in” situation, you can trade all current players away and do an Ottawa style rebuild. Just curious about your thoughts.

I think the Jets play is not a coaching honeymoon rather more towards players needed a new system to play under and learn, and to get enthused about.

You can’t tell me that Sheif is not happy to play under a new coach that is going to push him and keep him accountable. Same for the rest of the team.

Another note, IMOP, Samberg is now ahead of both Stanley and Heinola. Samberg should not be taking any more time in the presser and as far as I am concerned, as much as I like Heinola, Chisholm can replace him.

So, with all the upfront injuries. We we need to restock the forward shelf so the GM needs to get to work.

Thanks for the write-up Jacob.

Question for the mailbag: Do you think the Jets should go “all-in” this year?

The Western Conference and more specifically the Central Division seem to be very weak this year. This could be a year where the Jets make the finals. As I have posted before, if things do not work out in an “all-in” situation, you can trade all current players away and do an Ottawa style rebuild. Just curious about your thoughts.
- TheUltimateJet

Thanks for this. I am going to post a piece for the mailbag shortly. Will add this to my list now

I think the Jets play is not a coaching honeymoon rather more towards players needed a new system to play under and learn, and to get enthused about.

You can’t tell me that Sheif is not happy to play under a new coach that is going to push him and keep him accountable. Same for the rest of the team.

Another note, IMOP, Samberg is now ahead of both Stanley and Heinola. Samberg should not be taking any more time in the presser and as far as I am concerned, as much as I like Heinola, Chisholm can replace him.

So, with all the upfront injuries. We we need to restock the forward shelf so the GM needs to get to work.
- Old Flopper

I agree. I think Bowness' system is genuinely working well, and players should be happy to get out of the stale systems they had.

I also think Samberg is now the #1 young D, and I wouldn't say Chisholm can replace Heinola. Ville has so much untapped potential and his development course has been a disaster. Internally, Chisholm may work out better, but Heinola could really use a change of scenery, somewhere he can develop better. I could see a team like Vancouver or San Jose working well for him

At the risk of being repetitive, Heinola is in the wrong place at the wrong time. I would trade him, if I were Chevy.

At the risk of being repetitive, Heinola is in the wrong place at the wrong time. I would trade him, if I were Chevy.
- bennythehat

I agree. Would hate to see him follow the same footsteps as Sami Niku and Kristian Vesalainen.

When Eyssimont is your best player, it's not a good night.

I agree. Would hate to see him follow the same footsteps as Sami Niku and Kristian Vesalainen.
- TheUltimateJet

multiple comments like this about Heinola. I'm not coming in here to say he has been great but honestly, what is the difference between him and Pionk? Pionk is constantly out of position and making horrible decisions. People listen, Pionk today is Heinola's floor, like even if Heinola does not get better, he is still exactly the same as Pionk is now, except making far, far less money. Where Pionk will not get better, we have no idea how much better Heinola can get with consistent playing time and no more yo yo'ing up and down between the minors.

I think Stanley is not good enough for the NHL and is horrible, but even I will say its time to stop comparing just the young guys against each other. Why do the vets get a pass? Why do so many on here Soley focus on the young guys making mistakes and consistently give the Vets on D free passes, Vets who are making more money than they are worth.

if you want to know a smart move, its not trading a young guy making no money, its taking advantage of the market right now on D and trading Pionk!!! Teams right now would be overpaying for him, and Chevy would have a legitimate chance of getting a good top 6 forward for him in a one for one hockey trade.

we would not miss Pionk. make the smart move Chevy

multiple comments like this about Heinola. I'm not coming in here to say he has been great but honestly, what is the difference between him and Pionk? Pionk is constantly out of position and making horrible decisions. People listen, Pionk today is Heinola's floor, like even if Heinola does not get better, he is still exactly the same as Pionk is now, except making far, far less money. Where Pionk will not get better, we have no idea how much better Heinola can get with consistent playing time and no more yo yo'ing up and down between the minors.

I think Stanley is not good enough for the NHL and is horrible, but even I will say its time to stop comparing just the young guys against each other. Why do the vets get a pass? Why do so many on here Soley focus on the young guys making mistakes and consistently give the Vets on D free passes, Vets who are making more money than they are worth.

if you want to know a smart move, its not trading a young guy making no money, its taking advantage of the market right now on D and trading Pionk!!! Teams right now would be overpaying for him, and Chevy would have a legitimate chance of getting a good top 6 forward for him in a one for one hockey trade.

we would not miss Pionk. make the smart move Chevy
- Ross77

This is a great post as well. Rumours were circulating in Toronto that they were considering trading Nylander for Pionk. I do agree with you that they should consider trading Pionk.

I also know this and that is the Jets window with their current roster closes shut after next season. One option (the one I hope he chooses) is to sell off young prospects and future picks to strengthen this roster. The other option is to stay status quo and hope this team makes noise once they are in the playoffs.

I say this is the year because if this team fails to make any noise in the playoffs, Chevy can essentially sell off all his assets for picks and prospects. Trying to do what I suggested would be risky to do next year as all the major assets become UFA's.

I totally agree with Ross77 comments about the vets getting a free pass and the need to move out some overrated vets.
The object of every team is to win the cup and the way this team plays this isn't a possibility.
I would rather see them play younger players that make mistakes but learn from them rather than older, expensive ones that make the same mistakes over and over again with no repercussions.

I agree Ross makes a great post for which I'm all in on. Secondly, if the Leafs want to give us Nylander for Pionk (I'll add a draft pick or prospect or other player if necessary), draw it up and get that man a Jets jersey ASAP. The guy is obviously an instant 1st liner for us.

This is a great post as well. Rumours were circulating in Toronto that they were considering trading Nylander for Pionk. I do agree with you that they should consider trading Pionk.

I also know this and that is the Jets window with their current roster closes shut after next season. One option (the one I hope he chooses) is to sell off young prospects and future picks to strengthen this roster. The other option is to stay status quo and hope this team makes noise once they are in the playoffs.

I say this is the year because if this team fails to make any noise in the playoffs, Chevy can essentially sell off all his assets for picks and prospects. Trying to do what I suggested would be risky to do next year as all the major assets become UFA's.
- TheUltimateJet

Only problem with trading Pionk is that we are down to Demelo as the only RHD.

Only problem with trading Pionk is that we are down to Demelo as the only RHD.
- bennythehat

I don’t think it’s as big a deal. Scmidt has predominantly played the right side his whole career, Dillon, Heinola and Samberg have also all played games on the right side.
Trading Pionk for a top 6 right winger would be huge IMO. We need scoring help more than we need Pionk

I don’t think it’s as big a deal. Scmidt has predominantly played the right side his whole career, Dillon, Heinola and Samberg have also all played games on the right side.
Trading Pionk for a top 6 right winger would be huge IMO. We need scoring help more than we need Pionk
- Ross77

I'm not defending Pionk by any means, but there is a league shortage of RHD's and with losing Kovacevic to the Habs, we don't have any up and comers on that side.
Schmidt appears to be comfortable there, but he is average at best. Not sure about Dillon there. Samberg and Heinola are rookies, so we don't know what we have there.
I'd move Heinola and/or Stanley if it was up to me, for a forward.

I'm not defending Pionk by any means, but there is a league shortage of RHD's and with losing Kovacevic to the Habs, we don't have any up and comers on that side.
Schmidt appears to be comfortable there, but he is average at best. Not sure about Dillon there. Samberg and Heinola are rookies, so we don't know what we have there.
I'd move Heinola and/or Stanley if it was up to me, for a forward.
- bennythehat

I could go either way on this. Bottom line is that Chevy needs to do something to get another quality frontliner onto the Jets roster. I'm not a Nylander fan, however, there are lots of quality players on losing teams that could fit the bill until Ehlers and Appleton come back from injury..... and then improve our depth for the remainder of the season.

I could go either way on this. Bottom line is that Chevy needs to do something to get another quality frontliner onto the Jets roster. I'm not a Nylander fan, however, there are lots of quality players on losing teams that could fit the bill until Ehlers and Appleton come back from injury..... and then improve our depth for the remainder of the season.
- jetsnation

I would rather the Jets trade their older and more movable d-men and play their younger draft and develop players.
Playing Demelo, Schmidt, Capobianco and Pionk the Jets won't be a real playoff contender with these soft, mistake prone, expensive and yet attractive in the trade world players.
There has never been a better time to make trades as so many desperate for d-men teams will overpay for these type of players.

I would rather the Jets trade their older and more movable d-men and play their younger draft and develop players.
Playing Demelo, Schmidt, Capobianco and Pionk the Jets won't be a real playoff contender with these soft, mistake prone, expensive and yet attractive in the trade world players.
There has never been a better time to make trades as so many desperate for d-men teams will overpay for these type of players.
- islansjet

I think we're in pretty good shape on the left side with Morrissey, Dillon and Samberg.

Now the right side is a different ball game. Could go any way as you sort of suggest above. Will be interesting in how this plays out! Do the present bunch stay, or do they go?

I would rather the Jets trade their older and more movable d-men and play their younger draft and develop players.
Playing Demelo, Schmidt, Capobianco and Pionk the Jets won't be a real playoff contender with these soft, mistake prone, expensive and yet attractive in the trade world players.
There has never been a better time to make trades as so many desperate for d-men teams will overpay for these type of players.
- islansjet

DeMelo we need, as he offers a skillset no one else can. He stabilizes his partners, and he defends at an elite level.
Dillon is a good shutdown man, too, but he can be drowned by Pionk and Stanley. You also aren’t wise to bet on a big man over 30.

Trade Pionk for Puljujarvi and Foegele and call it a day

DeMelo we need, as he offers a skillset no one else can. He stabilizes his partners, and he defends at an elite level.
Dillon is a good shutdown man, too, but he can be drowned by Pionk and Stanley. You also aren’t wise to bet on a big man over 30.

Trade Pionk for Puljujarvi and Foegele and call it a day
- Rexypoo

I would have much rather had Kovacevic over Demelo. I think Demelo is overrated.

I would definitely do the that suggested trade!