Jacob Billington: Winnipeg Jets Stars Continue to Shine, Battling for Division Spots Already

The sky’s the limit for this team this year. The defence group is significantly better than last year. Forward group is as deep as ever. Even Eric Comrie is showing to be a more than capable back up. The team should only get better as the season goes on.

Another big difference this year is the underlying possession numbers (corsi/fenwick) which in previous years the jets were always amongst the worst in the league. This year it’s completely flipped where they are amongst the best teams for those advanced stats.

Go jets go!!!

Kyle Connor is a beast. It’s crazy that some on this board were calling for him to be traded over Jimmy Carson oh sorry I meant Laine. That trade for PLD is looking better everyday.

Kyle Connor can score in so many ways. It’s incredible. I love that guy!

Maurice mixing the lines as much as he does seems to disrupt any chemistry the players have developed. The second period was evident that this strategy wasn't working. The Jets superior talent and great goaltending overcomes and masks a lot of questionable coaching decisions.

Roslovic - 3 assists in 12 games. Hmmm.

Kyle Connor is a beast. It’s crazy that some on this board were calling for him to be traded over Jimmy Carson oh sorry I meant Laine. That trade for PLD is looking better everyday.

Kyle Connor can score in so many ways. It’s incredible. I love that guy!
- TheUltimateJet

Yea heard a member of the media mention the other day that Kyle Connor is now being considered for the U.S. Olympic hockey squad. Considered!!! Duh?

If there are three members of the Jets that should be cinches to go to the Olympics it should be: Denmatk - Nik Ehlers; U.S. Kyle Connor and Connor Hellebuyck.

Yea heard a member of the media mention the other day that Kyle Connor is now being considered for the U.S. Olympic hockey squad. Considered!!! Duh?

If there are three members of the Jets that should be cinches to go to the Olympics it should be: Denmatk - Nik Ehlers; U.S. Kyle Connor and Connor Hellebuyck.
- grahamzky

Totally agree. I would probably even pencil in Scheifele for team Canada. Certainly talented enough, just a matter of what kind of bottom-6 they want to go with. Likely Bergeron and O'Reilly in there. Can't count him out though

Yea heard a member of the media mention the other day that Kyle Connor is now being considered for the U.S. Olympic hockey squad. Considered!!! Duh?

If there are three members of the Jets that should be cinches to go to the Olympics it should be: Denmatk - Nik Ehlers; U.S. Kyle Connor and Connor Hellebuyck.
- grahamzky

100%! Some of these media folk just don't do their research. If anyone that covers the sport with a half a brain, common sense would prevail that all 3 should be on the US team.

Roslovic - 3 assists in 12 games. Hmmm.
- bennythehat

Trade sure looks good for the Jets now.

Kyle Connor is a beast. It’s crazy that some on this board were calling for him to be traded over Jimmy Carson oh sorry I meant Laine. That trade for PLD is looking better everyday.

Kyle Connor can score in so many ways. It’s incredible. I love that guy!
- TheUltimateJet

Watching all the Canadian teams as much as I do, I truly like the Jets balance and how they can roll 4 lines plus play any style of game their opponent wants to play. Everyone is so fast to say the Avs and Knights will fight out to make the Cup Final. Umm how about the Jets??

Watching all the Canadian teams as much as I do, I truly like the Jets balance and how they can roll 4 lines plus play any style of game their opponent wants to play. Everyone is so fast to say the Avs and Knights will fight out to make the Cup Final. Umm how about the Jets??
- PuckPix

Jets certainly have what it takes to go on a run this year. I bit tighter defending (which comes naturally in playoffs) and some stability on the lines and I have no doubt seeing this team as a top-5 pick for the cup. The biggest thing right now is for Paul Maurice to leave the lines alone, especially mid-game. So much switching around nobody knows what they are doing!

Ehlers-Scheifele-Copp
Connor-Dubois-Svech
Stastny-Lowry-Wheeler
Harkins-Nash-Vesalainen

If this lineup plays the way they start a game, they will grow so much more together. I would like to see Ves get some more ice time...but where? Extremely deep group of forwards, not including Perfetti and Gus who are both doing great in Manitoba

Watching all the Canadian teams as much as I do, I truly like the Jets balance and how they can roll 4 lines plus play any style of game their opponent wants to play. Everyone is so fast to say the Avs and Knights will fight out to make the Cup Final. Umm how about the Jets??
- PuckPix

That's the thing though. We can "play any style of game the opponent wants to." I agree that's a great thing, as you say.

However, why don' t WE dictate, for a change, what type of game is going to be played, not let the opponents choose?

That's the thing though. We can "play any style of game the opponent wants to." I agree that's a great thing, as you say.

However, why don' t WE dictate, for a change, what type of game is going to be played, not let the opponents choose?
- grahamzky

This I agree with!

That's the thing though. We can "play any style of game the opponent wants to." I agree that's a great thing, as you say.

However, why don' t WE dictate, for a change, what type of game is going to be played, not let the opponents choose?
- grahamzky

A great point. Have all of the tools to dictate the pace of a game. The adaptability to be able to play anyone elses game is great, but why not just take over?

Kyle Connor is a beast. It’s crazy that some on this board were calling for him to be traded over Jimmy Carson oh sorry I meant Laine. That trade for PLD is looking better everyday.

Kyle Connor can score in so many ways. It’s incredible. I love that guy!
- TheUltimateJet

Why would you do that. Laine has been excellent for Columbus this year, pre-injury

A great point. Have all of the tools to dictate the pace of a game. The adaptability to be able to play anyone elses game is great, but why not just take over?
- Jacob Billington

Maurice doesn’t do that. He caters to the capabilities of his worst players.
He is, thank god, starting to open up the throttle a bit with the pace the Jets are playing now, but it’s still far too reliant on individual efforts by the Dubois line and Ehlers.

It’s also unfortunately resulted in immediate struggles for the guys who just can’t make decisions under that kind of speed and pressure. That’s why Dillon and Pionk haven’t gelled yet, why Wheeler’s lack of wheels is suddenly so apparent, and why Stanley can’t seem to keep up.

Also, dropping Svechnikov off that line just to keep Wheeler in the top 6 is a mistake. He can’t play at the pace that line has been. It’s going to drag Connor and Dubois down.

A great point. Have all of the tools to dictate the pace of a game. The adaptability to be able to play anyone elses game is great, but why not just take over?
- Jacob Billington

This team doesn't have an identity, imo that's why they don't take over games.

That's the thing though. We can "play any style of game the opponent wants to." I agree that's a great thing, as you say.

However, why don' t WE dictate, for a change, what type of game is going to be played, not let the opponents choose?
- grahamzky

Can the Jets play a physical and/or grindy style game? Not sure if they can.

Maurice doesn’t do that. He caters to the capabilities of his worst players.
He is, thank god, starting to open up the throttle a bit with the pace the Jets are playing now, but it’s still far too reliant on individual efforts by the Dubois line and Ehlers.

It’s also unfortunately resulted in immediate struggles for the guys who just can’t make decisions under that kind of speed and pressure. That’s why Dillon and Pionk haven’t gelled yet, why Wheeler’s lack of wheels is suddenly so apparent, and why Stanley can’t seem to keep up.

Also, dropping Svechnikov off that line just to keep Wheeler in the top 6 is a mistake. He can’t play at the pace that line has been. It’s going to drag Connor and Dubois down.
- Rexypoo

This I agree with. Svech wasn't spectacular, he just fit in with those guys, did his job, good on puck retrieval, responsible defensively and positionally.

This I agree with. Svech wasn't spectacular, he just fit in with those guys, did his job, good on puck retrieval, responsible defensively and positionally.
- Pastor_Matt

Totally agree you Rexy and you on this. The one consistent line gets broken up to kick start Wheeler, he should be working out the kinks on the 3rd line, or staying there for good.

A great point. Have all of the tools to dictate the pace of a game. The adaptability to be able to play anyone elses game is great, but why not just take over?
- Jacob Billington

Let's not forget we play the Oilers next, a team we swept in 4 games straight post-season. There is no doubt they come with a lot of speed and two of the NHL's top players. I think some of the line combos in practice are in part to match up what worked best in the sweep as well as try some different combos so the players can get some more familiarity with each other for when it might be needed. Mixing the lines a bit also makes it harder for the Oilers to pre-scout ahead of this upcoming game. I won't argue with the logic for now until I see it work or fail in the next game or two.

I also might add that I was a big proponent last year of getting more of a mid to high cycle going in the O-zone as opposed to the traditional Jets down low cycle. This year we are really seeing the high cycle start to work very well on PLD's line as well as whatever line Ehlers is on. It leads to a lot more possession time in the O-zone, something which Maurice has also touched on. It uses a lot less energy from the players and often messes with the opponent's line changes. It also helps to have very mobile Dmen lke Morrissey , Pionk, and Schmidt . Yes, this year the Jets have gone from a rushing team to a possession team. Big difference. Take note that the only line that wasn't really working was the Lowry-Schief- Wheeler trio....which tends to cycle the puck down low.

Strangely enough, the best team at cycling the luck from mid boards to high ( near blueline) is none other than the Oilers when McDavid and Draisatl are on the ice. Very hard to stop. You don't see them cycle the puck low very often except when first gaining possession in the O-zone. Something to watch tomorrow night.

That's the thing though. We can "play any style of game the opponent wants to." I agree that's a great thing, as you say.

However, why don' t WE dictate, for a change, what type of game is going to be played, not let the opponents choose?
- grahamzky

If you all don't mind me saying my 2 cents. I beyond agree with you on this! When the Sens were dominant during the Alfie/Spezza/Heatley days, they did what you are asking for!

Initiate....then dictate! It got them to a Cup Final! You imposed your will, by initiating, you dictated the pace and style of the game, making your opponent adjust.

Anyone else agree?

If you all don't mind me saying my 2 cents. I beyond agree with you on this! When the Sens were dominant during the Alfie/Spezza/Heatley days, they did what you are asking for!

Initiate....then dictate! It got them to a Cup Final! You imposed your will, by initiating, you dictated the pace and style of the game, making your opponent adjust.

Anyone else agree?
- Kevin Francis

I agree with this!

If you all don't mind me saying my 2 cents. I beyond agree with you on this! When the Sens were dominant during the Alfie/Spezza/Heatley days, they did what you are asking for!

Initiate....then dictate! It got them to a Cup Final! You imposed your will, by initiating, you dictated the pace and style of the game, making your opponent adjust.

Anyone else agree?
- Kevin Francis

I do agree with this.

What I don't agree with is breaking up the Connor-PLD-Svechnikov line. They were basically the only line clicking - so we break them up? Doesn't make sense to me! Connor and PLD were headed for career years.

I guess just to get the C some points?

Also, what I don't agree with is having Riley Nash on the PP, as I've stated before. The Jets would be better with Vesalainen, Svechnikov, Harkins - hell even Eric Comrie - out there on the PP.

When the Jets play Nash on the PP they deserve to lose!

I do agree with this.

What I don't agree with is breaking up the Connor-PLD-Svechnikov line. They were basically the only line clicking - so we break them up? Doesn't make sense to me! Connor and PLD were headed for career years.

I guess just to get the C some points?

Also, what I don't agree with is having Riley Nash on the PP, as I've stated before. The Jets would be better with Vesalainen, Svechnikov, Harkins - hell even Eric Comrie - out there on the PP.

When the Jets play Nash on the PP they deserve to lose!
- grahamzky

Ouch! But so true...