Maybe it would help the offense if the defense joined the rush more? Of course we don't have a Chara back there to defend if things go wrong. But last year both Buff and Morrissey were injured and maybe hurt us more than we thought.
Hoping Sammy Niku put on 20 lbs of muscle this summer so he can be a full-time contributor on the D and help the rush the back end. Hoping for big things from Sammy!
Does anyone else think we might see Dale Hawerchuk or Matt Hendricks an assistant coach with the Jets/Moose soon?
The key to the Jets success was desperation hockey - last year they lacked that - why - that is the big question? Hoping for major moves but probably none coming until after the SC final. Impatient!
- grahamzky

Oh, it absolutely would help if the defence was free to jump up. We’re a team of race horses being asked to plot the fields. The Jets are a team loaded with shooting talent consistently not being allowed to shoot. We should be going shot for shot with every motherf**ker team out there, because we’re better at it, and we have a Laine on top of that. Instead, we smother our offence, and let the other team unload on Hellebuyck.

Dustin Byfuglien is a juggernaut all by himself.
Josh Morrissey is one of the highest hockey IQ players I’ve ever had the pleasure of watching.
Sami Niku is a prodigy with the puck.
Trouba can, and will ruin your night if the opening is good enough.
Myers... is actually a terrifying threat when he attacks from the line. I’ll admit that, even if he’s gone.

Add that in with the speed, skill, and obviously repressed talent and creativity of guys like Connor, Roslovic, and soon Vesalainen and Appleton, the established stars in Scheifele, Ehlers, and Wheeler, the known “ship-righters” in Lowry, Copp, and the godly Perreault... we should be absolutely murdering teams that dare to step up to the plate.
That’s without even figuring in the offensive zone cheat code known as Patrick Laine.

Shoot first and ask questions later. It WILL work. We score more often than the other guys will. More shots across the board is good for us.

Maybe it would help the offense if the defense joined the rush more? Of course we don't have a Chara back there to defend if things go wrong. But last year both Buff and Morrissey were injured and maybe hurt us more than we thought.
Hoping Sammy Niku put on 20 lbs of muscle this summer so he can be a full-time contributor on the D and help the rush the back end. Hoping for big things from Sammy!
Does anyone else think we might see Dale Hawerchuk or Matt Hendricks an assistant coach with the Jets/Moose soon?
The key to the Jets success was desperation hockey - last year they lacked that - why - that is the big question? Hoping for major moves but probably none coming until after the SC final. Impatient!
- grahamzky

I’ve said many times I can see Hawerchuk as the next head coach of the Jets, so coming in first as an assistant is plausible. And when Dale does become the head coach don’t be surprised if he recruits one of his old linemates to be an assistant, Arniel or MacLean

I’ve said many times I can see Hawerchuk as the next head coach of the Jets, so coming in first as an assistant is plausible. And when Dale does become the head coach don’t be surprised if he recruits one of his old linemates to be an assistant, Arniel or MacLean
- Ross77

When they fire Maurice this year they will name Pascal Vincent head coach. That way they can keep Flaherty and Huddy on the coaching staff.

When they fire Maurice this year they will name Pascal Vincent head coach. That way they can keep Flaherty and Huddy on the coaching staff.
- BWJumper

We all speculate in our spare time of trades. Fun, speculation is fun, good or bad.

Now if you want to see some ridiculous proposed Laine trades, go to:
puckprose.com

Hamilton wouldn't get dirty with Ovi in his end for the puck - remember that play ? ... I wouldn't touch him ... blackballed in my book for that one and only reason

Pesce - YES !

But not for Connor ... this goes back to your position that Connor isn't a play driver ? ... or something else ? ... the kid has 30+ goals his first 2 seasons and will only get better ... I'm locking him up for a Scheifs type deal (which, of course, is more than $6.125M per these days)
- CorydonKeith

Agree.

Connor is only getting better and better !
- bennythehat

Agree.

Hasn't got better? Two 30 goal seasons - how good do you expect him to be? Has Patrik gotten any better?
The Connor-Scheifele-Wheeler line is the best line, obviously, the Jets have.
When things go south is when they pull, unfairly, Connor off the line to try and get Patrik going. You know, "the star player."
Massive drop in performance when pulled from line - try taking a #1 winger off most NHL teams, and their performance on 2nd line (especially a Laine-whoever plays centre line) is going to automatically drop in most cases.
Scheifele-Connor-Wheeler line is one of best in league - but don't screw them around.
- grahamzky

Agree

I’ve said many times I can see Hawerchuk as the next head coach of the Jets, so coming in first as an assistant is plausible. And when Dale does become the head coach don’t be surprised if he recruits one of his old linemates to be an assistant, Arniel or MacLean
- Ross77

I am not sure if you are being serious or not but I also think he could be the next coach. Let’s face it, Wpg is / was the second youngest team and and he knows the kids. Coaching kids in the OHL is a lot closer to the reality of Wpg’s team age than PoMo trying to “Old School” the kids Imop.

I don’t buy the “they won’t put a rookie coach in there in the winning window”. Why not? It would not shock me the least bit to see Ducky here at some point, hopefully sooner than later.

Said the Edmonton Oilers
- Rexypoo

Dumb trades and horrible drafting have had no bearing on the Oilers woes. They simply ignored the underlying stats.
Wow !

I am not sure if you are being serious or not but I also think he could be the next coach. Let’s face it, Wpg is / was the second youngest team and and he knows the kids. Coaching kids in the OHL is a lot closer to the reality of Wpg’s team age than PoMo trying to “Old School” the kids Imop.

I don’t buy the “they won’t put a rookie coach in there in the winning window”. Why not? It would not shock me the least bit to see Ducky here at some point, hopefully sooner than later.
- CharlieDog

I was serious and I was also serious about Maclean or Arniel as an assistant. It would be important for Dale (a rookie coach in NHL) to have some guys with nhl coaching experience beside him who he also knows very well.

Oh, it absolutely would help if the defence was free to jump up. We’re a team of race horses being asked to plot the fields. The Jets are a team loaded with shooting talent consistently not being allowed to shoot. We should be going shot for shot with every motherf**ker team out there, because we’re better at it, and we have a Laine on top of that. Instead, we smother our offence, and let the other team unload on Hellebuyck.

Dustin Byfuglien is a juggernaut all by himself.
Josh Morrissey is one of the highest hockey IQ players I’ve ever had the pleasure of watching.
Sami Niku is a prodigy with the puck.
Trouba can, and will ruin your night if the opening is good enough.
Myers... is actually a terrifying threat when he attacks from the line. I’ll admit that, even if he’s gone.

Add that in with the speed, skill, and obviously repressed talent and creativity of guys like Connor, Roslovic, and soon Vesalainen and Appleton, the established stars in Scheifele, Ehlers, and Wheeler, the known “ship-righters” in Lowry, Copp, and the godly Perreault... we should be absolutely murdering teams that dare to step up to the plate.
That’s without even figuring in the offensive zone cheat code known as Patrick Laine.

Shoot first and ask questions later. It WILL work. We score more often than the other guys will. More shots across the board is good for us.
- Rexypoo

Rexy-man let's take a look at this:

** we are a team of race horses, to be sure ... Byf jumps the play lots ... Myers started to at end of season and should've more often
** something tells me, when 'bringing the young guys along', PoMo directed the team to play a controlled game ... in all 3 zones ... sorta like ya gotta learn the basics before ya play the jazz ... if memory serves me, when the Jets started free-wheelin (and at times they would DOMINATE possession) they would cough the puck up at very inopportune times and suffer the consequences ... maybe we're ready to let the horses run wild a bit more ... I have no problem with that thought - as long as we don't hang Helle out to dry
** no player like the Byf ... simply, no other ... I'm a HUGE Byf fan ... when he's good he's outrageous ... when he's bad - boy, is it ugly
** Morrissey and Sheifs were both drafted earlier than expected ... each are proving that our scouting/Chevy are really f_ckin good
** look forward to seeing Niku become a star ... don't think I'll have to wait long but I will have patience with his development
** Troubs is gone and I'm worried Myers might be too
** HUGE Connor fan I say lock him for 7 years ... d_mn the stats
** the only challenge with the Roslo, Vesa, Apple gang is getting them ice time with the right line mates ... having said that - not everyone gets to play with Scheifs & Wheels ... sorry
** I cannot fathom, cannot understand, makes me mad as hell, etc that anyone wants to break up the TLC line ... it's a dream come true that we can have a line like this for ~ 10% of cap, playing against just about any other line, shut-down, consistent - - why oh why do you break it up ? ... don't look at individual stats for that line - play them every night together
** Laine - easy - keep investing but limit your risk with a bridge deal for now
** Perrault may be a victim of cap management ... it is too bad ... would love to keep him but where do I play that gang more ? ... Roslo, Vesa, Apple

So - shoot first ask questions later ? ... maybe it is time

Rexy-man let's take a look at this:

** we are a team of race horses, to be sure ... Byf jumps the play lots ... Myers started to at end of season and should've more often
** something tells me, when 'bringing the young guys along', PoMo directed the team to play a controlled game ... in all 3 zones ... sorta like ya gotta learn the basics before ya play the jazz ... if memory serves me, when the Jets started free-wheelin (and at times they would DOMINATE possession) they would cough the puck up at very inopportune times and suffer the consequences ... maybe we're ready to let the horses run wild a bit more ... I have no problem with that thought - as long as we don't hang Helle out to dry
** no player like the Byf ... simply, no other ... I'm a HUGE Byf fan ... when he's good he's outrageous ... when he's bad - boy, is it ugly
** Morrissey and Sheifs were both drafted earlier than expected ... each are proving that our scouting/Chevy are really f_ckin good
** look forward to seeing Niku become a star ... don't think I'll have to wait long but I will have patience with his development
** Troubs is gone and I'm worried Myers might be too
** HUGE Connor fan I say lock him for 7 years ... d_mn the stats
** the only challenge with the Roslo, Vesa, Apple gang is getting them ice time with the right line mates ... having said that - not everyone gets to play with Scheifs & Wheels ... sorry
** I cannot fathom, cannot understand, makes me mad as hell, etc that anyone wants to break up the TLC line ... it's a dream come true that we can have a line like this for ~ 10% of cap, playing against just about any other line, shut-down, consistent - - why oh why do you break it up ? ... don't look at individual stats for that line - play them every night together
** Laine - easy - keep investing but limit your risk with a bridge deal for now
** Perrault may be a victim of cap management ... it is too bad ... would love to keep him but where do I play that gang more ? ... Roslo, Vesa, Apple

So - shoot first ask questions later ? ... maybe it is time
- CorydonKeith

Agree with almost all points.
- Time to bring the d more into the attack - this should include Niku who I expect to have an expanded role this year
- Surely they've learned when the d rushes, one forward has to cover so limited (or none) 3-on-2's
- Yes Connor - 7 years
- the problem (a good one) of having too many young guys like Roslovic, Vesalainen, Appleton, is like you say, ice time. Maybe one has to go - the jury is still out on Vesalainen. But injuries - or trades - will happen, and some young guns will get their chance sooner or later
- TLC line - 100% - why ever split them up. Tanev needs to be re-signed
- Laine - ???
- Perrault - a victim of the cap, but good problem to have
- Wouldn't you think if the Jets were not attempting to re-sign Myers, Tanev and Chiarot they would be trading their rights for draft choices?

Dumb trades and horrible drafting have had no bearing on the Oilers woes. They simply ignored the underlying stats.
Wow !
- bennythehat

Well, on the drafting front, they’ve really only been bad in the later rounds. Picking the consensus best player available with every first rounder, only to botch the development isn’t something a strong analytics department can necessarily avoid. Although the influence would likely have seen Pool Party already playing top 6 full time, with RNH and Nurse trades happening before people realize they won’t even get close to hitting their projected ceilings.

On the trade front... are you being serious here?
-Hall for Larsson doesn’t happen.
-Eberle traded down to dead cap doesn’t happen.
-Cagguila (McDavid’s bff) doesn’t get traded for Brandon Manning (the guy who told McDavid to his face he injured him on purpose), just so they can realize he’s terrible and bury his stupid cap hit in the AHL.
-Talbot isn’t traded for a goalie who’s name currently escapes me, just so the Oilers can bench him, and send him straight to unrestricted free agency when a handful of games would have seen them retain his RFA rights
-Additionally: Lucic, Russell, Reider, Koskinen, and Brodziak wouldn’t have the contracts they do now, because the stats nerds would’ve warned that all of them are terrible, in decline, or both

Agree with almost all points.
- Time to bring the d more into the attack - this should include Niku who I expect to have an expanded role this year
- Surely they've learned when the d rushes, one forward has to cover so limited (or none) 3-on-2's
- Yes Connor - 7 years
- the problem (a good one) of having too many young guys like Roslovic, Vesalainen, Appleton, is like you say, ice time. Maybe one has to go - the jury is still out on Vesalainen. But injuries - or trades - will happen, and some young guns will get their chance sooner or later
- TLC line - 100% - why ever split them up. Tanev needs to be re-signed
- Laine - ???
- Perrault - a victim of the cap, but good problem to have
- Wouldn't you think if the Jets were not attempting to re-sign Myers, Tanev and Chiarot they would be trading their rights for draft choices?
- grahamzky

A few things:
-It still makes more sense for the Jets to go shot for shot in a bloodbath than to try and play it safe with a defensive presence we don’t actusly have available to us.
-Niku is my boi
-TLC is good at possession and defence, but cannot score. Tanev also cannot play outside of this trio, while the other two tend to improve slightly apart.
-The jury is not out on Vesalainen, and he has easily the highest ceiling of any player not currently in the Jets lineup. It’s not even close.
-Keep Perreault. You can’t replace him for his price tag, and his trade value is way lower than his on ice value.
-Myers’ is probably leaving, but they’ll be asking him to stay on the cheap. Tanev and Chiarot’s rights aren’t worth anything

We all speculate in our spare time of trades. Fun, speculation is fun, good or bad.

Now if you want to see some ridiculous proposed Laine trades, go to:
puckprose.com
- grahamzky

Would you do:

To NYR: Jacob Trouba, Patrik Laine

To WPG: Mika Zibenajad, #2OA and #20OA?

Would you do:

To NYR: Jacob Trouba, Patrik Laine

To WPG: Mika Zibenajad, #2OA and #20OA?
- TheUltimateJet

Nothing in that deal is worth Trouba, let alone Laine. So, no

The question falls where it hurts Winnipegers, as the speculation is that Trouba just doesn't like the city (climate, small city - it aint New York). The right amount of money wasn't going to get it done, it would have to be an overpay.

Some blame his agent Kurt Overhardt for being too aggressive and poisoning the relationship; the Jets have countered those unrealistic demands with low-ball offers. Last year Trouba went to arbitration with a request for 7m (before his 50pt season), Jets countered with 4m, a 1m raise from previous. Arbitrator came back at a fair 5.5m

Trouba has been a pro throughout. He works hard, answers media questions, keeps private negotiations private, used NHLPA-CBA agreement appropriately. When he sat out the start of (2017?) he came back and said something like 'as far as I am concerned all the contract dispute is in the past' and then he played well. He will be an real solid #2 on any team, a #1 on some teams, and a #3 on a few teams.
- 2.0

This is false. I have it on good authority that Trouba's decision to not want to play in Winnipeg or Canada for that matter has nothing to do with Winnipeg or Canada. The reason for him not wanting to play in Canada is very personal to Trouba. Its not something I will discuss further on this board.

Nothing in that deal is worth Trouba, let alone Laine. So, no
- Rexypoo

The cap savings alone for an overhyped Laine would be worth it! Not to mention getting an NHL ready Kappo Kakko.

Connor hasn’t gotten better. His underlying numbers are about the same, and his rate of production has actually gone down a bit.
In fairness to him, every single player on the team not named “Nikolaj” or “Tyler” took a large step back last season.
I am still concerned at how timid he is on the rush. He’s lost any puck carrying ability he had in the AHL, and he’s either constantly skating himself out of room, or he refuses to carry the puck in over the line. He has all the tools Nik Ehlers, an absolute zone entry juggernaut, offers. He should be better. He also can’t defend at all, and often drifts aimlessly. Laine is bad too, but at least he reads and reacts, even if it is just a bit late. I’ll take “there too late” over “never even went there”

Laine showed massive improvement in year 2 over year 1, but then got dropped this season with everyone else. The thing about Laine is that he’s a far better shooter, and creates opportunities for himself a lot more.

As for the Connor-Scheifele-Wheeler line... they were excellent last season, where they managed to outscore their defensive issues via constantly having the puck.
This season? Absolute disaster. They were outshot, outchanced, and outscored entirely too often. Talent kept them alive, but they struggled night after night.
- Rexypoo

Laine's corsi continues to drop and has never only been over 50 once, with it declining substantially last year. I am confused as to when he creates his own offense (assist totals would be higher if this was true). Laine's shot has never been questioned. His skating, hockey IQ, lack of offensive and defensive checking have not improved. He has shown a lack of ability to elevate line mates.

Connor has all the above except for a shot like Laine. He also has a fast stick.

The cap savings alone for an overhyped Laine would be worth it! Not to mention getting an NHL ready Kappo Kakko.
- TheUltimateJet

You said 20th overall

You said 20th overall
- Rexypoo

I said #2OA and #20OA

I said #2OA and #20OA
- TheUltimateJet

I see it now. I’m a little curious, but it’s still too much risk for my tastes

Laine's corsi continues to drop and has never been over 50. I am confused as to when he creates his own offense (assist totals would be higher if this was true). Laine's shot has never been questioned. His skating, hockey IQ, lack of offensive and defensive checking have not improved. He has shown a lack of ability to elevate line mates.

Connor has all the above except for a shot like Laine. He also has a fast stick.
- TheUltimateJet

That first line can apply to literally everyone on the team, particularly Mark Scheifele, who’s Corsi tanked at the 50 game mark and never recovered.

Laine creates his own offence in the sense that while he’s playing with Little, a shoot first non-driver, he is 100% of the threats on his line. And he is a massive threat.

Literally every description you gave for why Laine hasn’t improved applies to Connor even more, if you substitute “skating” for “puck carrying”.

That first line can apply to literally everyone on the team, particularly Mark Scheifele, who’s Corsi tanked at the 50 game mark and never recovered.

Laine creates his own offence in the sense that while he’s playing with Little, a shoot first non-driver, he is 100% of the threats on his line. And he is a massive threat.

Literally every description you gave for why Laine hasn’t improved applies to Connor even more, if you substitute “skating” for “puck carrying”.
- Rexypoo

So Ehlers and Connor have been crap on his lines?

A few things:
-It still makes more sense for the Jets to go shot for shot in a bloodbath than to try and play it safe with a defensive presence we don’t actusly have available to us.
-Niku is my boi
-TLC is good at possession and defence, but cannot score. Tanev also cannot play outside of this trio, while the other two tend to improve slightly apart.
-The jury is not out on Vesalainen, and he has easily the highest ceiling of any player not currently in the Jets lineup. It’s not even close.
-Keep Perreault. You can’t replace him for his price tag, and his trade value is way lower than his on ice value.
-Myers’ is probably leaving, but they’ll be asking him to stay on the cheap. Tanev and Chiarot’s rights aren’t worth anything
- Rexypoo

Yea, would be nice if the Jets could actually out-shoot some team some night. But I exaggerate.
The TLC line may not score a ton of goals, they are a prevent line. But a damn good one. Besides not sure how many goals one expects from a shut-down line? Many nights they create more opportunities than 2nd line, but they do have a problem finishing.
Vesalainen hasn't proven anything yet in the NHL but I agree with you he has the highest ceiling of any future Jet. Potential!
Love Matthieu Perreault, but due to cap reasons, someone has to go - likely Perreault or Little, and Little has one more year of a NMC. IMO Perreault is gone.
Really hoping that they can find a way to keep Tyler, hate to be without him. But if they can't sign him by draft day or preferably before, they should trade his rights. Agree with you that Chiarot's and Tanev's rights are worth little if anything - but maybe Tanev's