Peter Tessier: 5 Questions for the Jets this season The Jets open up in St. Louis on Thursday here are 5 questions about the team this season that matter to their success.

Thanks for the early/late blog Pete.

I think you hit the nail on the head with the teams health...that's the ticket for this club...we need to ice our "A" team 90% of games in order to get back to where we finished last season.

I think your 5 questions were more like 5 things that could go wrong, and you could do this for every team but it’s all hypotheticals and a tad negative.

What about,
1. Are our left side D issues being blown way out of proportion
2. Is Niku to the Moose garnering way too much attention
3. Do we spend too much time talking about Dano, Petan, and other bottom 6 guys.
4. What’s your favourite colour?

I think your 5 questions were more like 5 things that could go wrong, and you could do this for every team but it’s all hypotheticals and a tad negative.

What about,
1. Are our left side D issues being blown way out of proportion
2. Is Niku to the Moose garnering way too much attention
3. Do we spend too much time talking about Dano, Petan, and other bottom 6 guys.
4. What’s your favourite colour?
- Ross77

You can apply everything to anyone or anything to everyone. In this case I could have had 10 or more things to discuss but chose 5 simply for time.

The left side D is likely something that needs more attention but I guess in closing I should have focussed on how much went right for the Jets last year despite some adversity.

I didn’t think it was negative more pragmatic

I think your 5 questions were more like 5 things that could go wrong, and you could do this for every team but it’s all hypotheticals and a tad negative.

What about,
1. Are our left side D issues being blown way out of proportion
2. Is Niku to the Moose garnering way too much attention
3. Do we spend too much time talking about Dano, Petan, and other bottom 6 guys.
4. What’s your favourite colour?
- Ross77

1: No. If anything, it’s understated.
2: No. See answer 1.
3: Almost certainly.
4: Blue. Probably “aviator blue”, oddly enough.

I think the two biggest questions are below. I regard all the questions regarding one Jet player or another as relatively unimportant in the bigger picture as the roster remains virtually unchanged and the players on it are one year more mature which would suggest improvment.

1) Can we stay healthy ? Jets came to camp in top-notch shape and injuries for the most part tend to be 70% bad luck and about 30% due to previous injury problems and often a players size. We have a few guys who tend to never play a full season such as Perreault. Enstrom is gone. Hendricks also. Otherwise, it should boil down to bad luck.

2) Did other teams in the division get better ? The answer to that is YES. The Blues, Arizona, and Dallas, in particular, all seem to have improved their rosters. The Avalanche are improving a bit every year. This may be a big factor when competing for top spot in the NHL since we play so many games against division rivals.

The one other factor which is a huge one, in my opinion, is team chemistry. The Blackhawks won so many cups together because they worked so well together as a team. Watching them play in those years was a pleasure. They all knew their systems so well and could anticipate each others every move. It was magic. Both Chevy and Maurice know the value of team chemistry in much the same way. The Jets players are really getting to know the system so well. The TLC line knows each other's tendencies so well that they now anticipate them in advance. Its so important as a team to keep that familiarity going. Coaches are very aware of its importance. I remember when my son tried out for AAA . He was one of the best players on the ice, scored twice in each scrimmage , etc. He didn't make the team,and I suspected he would not , simply because the team won the championship the year before and the coach doesn't like to mess with team chemistry and have new players coming in and having to learn the system. (At that level there is also chemistry amongst the parents due to all the travel.).

Maurice and Chevy are out to do their best to build a dynasty similar to the Blackhawks. The only surprise to this roster is Vesalainen. I guess the coaches must have been so impressed with him that he got the nod, because from a chemistry/systems knowledge standpoint, Dano might have got the nod. BTW...doing the line blender in pre-season is done just use that pre-season chance to get all the players familiar with each other so that when injuries happen they have some previous chemistry.

Jets should have a very good year. The TLC line are even better and will keep the other teams top lines at bay ( lets hope none of them get injured) , and our top two or three lines will add the scoring punch. Helle will be even better IMHO. Jets should win the division.

Let's boil it down to just one issue/question:

GOALTENDER HEALTH

The roster is a beast ... I don't mean to diminish the importance of asset usage (to improve PP, PK, etc) but this line up is f_ckin good

Other teams improving 'more' - we can't control that unless we play the free agent game - which would screw with team chemistry

So - my biggest concern is GOALTENDER HEALTH ... Helle goes down for an extended period of time - bad bad news ... over the last yr and maybe last month of the year before that - we seem to weather key injuries on forward and D pretty well, actually - far better than expected

Sh_tty post on my behalf

I shoulda said 'my #1 success factor' of this season is goaltender health & play

That's #1 and is my 'most critical' to success

I am going to go with the Jets themselves as the potential biggest risk to the Jets season.

If complacency or arrogance creeps in the season can slip away in a hurry. There is enough talent to win on any given night but they still have to do it. It comes down to leadership - Wheeler, Buff and Scheifle look to be the very best in the league in this regard, however, Ehlers, Laine, Connor, Trouba, Roslo and all have to continue to buy in to play the right way and do the little things in both preparation and in-game to be successful.

I believe that signing Little for such a long term may be a mistake in a couple of years. It will be a big cap hit for an aging player that will be push down the lineup by younger, bigger and faster team mates. It could be a lot of $ for a support role player in the near future.

I believe that signing Little for such a long term may be a mistake in a couple of years. It will be a big cap hit for an aging player that will be push down the lineup by younger, bigger and faster team mates. It could be a lot of $ for a support role player in the near future.
- islansjet

When he becomes a liability talent or cap wise we just do a salary dump. Might cost us a mid-prospect though or pick.

Sh_tty post on my behalf

I shoulda said 'my #1 success factor' of this season is goaltender health & play

That's #1 and is my 'most critical' to success
- CorydonKeith

Obviously a long-term injury the Helle would be devastating. However goalies usually aren't more than a month or so. Pulled hamstring, concussion, groin, etc. It really comes down to the timing of the injury. Something near the playoffs would be bad.

I agree with Ross here though. Its a new season and let's focus on the positives.

I believe that signing Little for such a long term may be a mistake in a couple of years. It will be a big cap hit for an aging player that will be push down the lineup by younger, bigger and faster team mates. It could be a lot of $ for a support role player in the near future.
- islansjet

It’s a mistake now. He’s either with Perreault, or struggling to keep his head above water

It’s a mistake now. He’s either with Perreault, or struggling to keep his head above water
- Rexypoo

Sure thing Eeyore. Take another drink from your half empty glass.

Sure thing Eeyore. Take another drink from your half empty glass.
- jetsnation

3 years of steady decline. It is what it is, and what is I’ll only get worse

3 years of steady decline. It is what it is, and what is I’ll only get worse
- Rexypoo

Sums you and all your calls up perfectly.

The positive is:

"This roster is a beast ... the line up is f_ckin good"

Sums you and all your calls up perfectly.
- jetsnation

This is an admittedly excellent zing
*am died*

The positive is:

"This roster is a beast ... the line up is f_ckin good"
- CorydonKeith

It’s got holes all over the damn place...

Rexy - I'VE got holes all over the damn place ... but don't you get near any or them !

Rexy - I'VE got holes all over the damn place ... but don't you get near any or them !
- CorydonKeith

This!!

First period;

Laine looked good,
Shief line looked good,
I liked ros line although not much ice time,
Lowry line struggled,
All D except Trouba Morrisey struggled,
Helle looks good

3 years of steady decline. It is what it is, and what is I’ll only get worse
- Rexypoo

Rexy, exact same was said and was true of Enstrom but because you were a huge Enstrom fan you over looked it. Give Little a Little more slack and a Little more love, see what I did there.

Rexy, exact same was said and was true of Enstrom but because you were a huge Enstrom fan you over looked it. Give Little a Little more slack and a Little more love, see what I did there.
- Ross77

Well, that’s because A: Enstrom’s overall play never declined to that degree. His offence fell off, while his defence continued to improve. He still saw a decline, but it was more from an elite #2 dman to a solid #4.

Little’s entire game has been falling, and he’s gone from lower end 1C to 3C in 3 years.

Rexy - I'VE got holes all over the damn place ... but don't you get near any or them !
- CorydonKeith

NON-SEQUITURS FOR EVERYONE