Ladies and gentlemen, the #1 team in the NHL, your Winnipeg Jets.
So many little things that impress me about this team. The work on the boards, the cycle, the rolling of 4 lines, the simple breakouts and smart passes that relieve pressure on their zone. And Broissoit seems to have learned from Hellebuyck with his economical style, minimal movement and flopping, just solid positioning and letting the puck hit him. And different heroes every night. This is a team just feeling it right now.
1. Brady. I'll plagiarize myself from the game day thread. Brady deserves the Andrew Harris treatment of getting the ball in some form 20-30 times a game. We are successful when we run our offense through him. It is the key to opening up everything else. When we go away from him, bad things happen (or at least the absence of good things). Nobody deserved the game winning TD more than he did.
2. Lawler. Guy can disappear for some games but when he's on, he's on. Without looking at the stats, my guess is that he was something like 9 catches on 10 targets. And from my eyes near the end zone that his route cleared out space for Woli's TD. (Looks like he was 9 for 11, but one incompletion Zach skyed the pass)
3. Parker. I think we may be better off with him at the boundary CB than with Rose there. And obviously his game saving TD.
HHs to two oft-criticized players. Jackson for a catch out of the backfield and getting major props from teammates as he came off with a little celebration (caveat -- still a waste of a roster spot). Kramdi for some pass breakups including a key one in the 4th. Plus he got hosed on what shouldn't have been a PI in the first.
Injuries to a couple OL guys, the unjust Robertson suspension, dalke single handedly would have stopped the Bombers O no doubt. Excuses are never in short supply in riderville. Pretty sure they saw oshea slip an unmarked envelope of cash to the refs too.
1) brady….he’s next level good
2)Zach…..unreal
3)the OL/DL….absolutely dominant
HH. The cry babies on the riders fan forum for providing me with so much entertainment. They are a bunch of delusional morons and we could have put up 100 and it still wouldn’t have been enough.
1. Brady -- he's absolutely the Most Outstanding Canadian and perhaps the Most Outstanding Player in the league. 200 yards in 3 quarters and change. Unreal.
2. Zach -- efficient, 5 TDs, using his legs to extend a drive, that shovel pass to Brady. Wow
3. Kenny and Dalton -- Lawler earning his current paycheque and Schoen his future one.
HH. Jackson (of the Jeffcoat not Damian varietal) -- a disruptive force and that strip sack. Wow.
Good luck charm -- My 6 year old who went to her first game today and got to see us hang half a hundred on them. The second most special Bomber game I've attended after the 2019 Cup
Great analysis TrueBlue4ever! Well thought out and definitely not too long. When there is well thought out information and reasoning provided, it is never too long.
The only thing I can add, is I am now on the remove Maurice bandwagon. I wasn't till this debacle of a showing with Montreal. You hit the nail right on the head - he is not able to adjust to a tight checking, block at the blue line, game style and I am surprised he didn't expect that style from Montreal. That is how they won against Toronto when they finally decided to take the games seriously. This is a disturbing trend that needs to be fixed and I think only a new coach can do that.
Long post, so read or don’t read, but I don’t need you telling me either way. You know what you get with me by now.
So negatives first. A sweep at any time is disappointing and maddening, and for the 3rd post season in a row, when facing elimination the Jets have responded with their absolute worst game of the playoffs and looked very outmatched. Their defence has not recovered from the dismantling 2 seasons ago, and their highest paid defender continues to regress. Analytically (if you believe in that advanced stuff) the Jets are perpetually outplayed at 5 on 5 by the numbers. Their top scorers disappeared at various times down the stretch and their depth scoring did not show up. Teams figured out that an aggressive forecheck on the penalty kill could nullify the power play, and the Jets did not adjust. The Jets penalty kill was about shot blocking mainly, and when they decided to pressure the point other teams adjusted better than we did. Systems need to be looked at in my mind given these issues. Percentage points-wise, they did not improve on last year.
The positives. Many experts had the team finishing out of the playoffs, as low as 6th. Just prior to the late season slump they were vying for top spot, so they exceeded expectations. Percentage points-wise, they did not regress from last year. For those of you who do not believe in analytics, the actual results were pretty good. We swept the Oilers and shut down the top 2 offensive players in the league, no small feat and worthy of a “successful” year designation to most outsiders. Offensively still strong and deep, with better bottom 6 scoring this season (contract years will do that). Goaltending still elite.
As for individuals:
GM - Chevy still very good at drafting and getting players who sign to accept good contracts for salary cap purposes. He struggles with the quick fix to fill holes, impact free agents, and keeping some talent here. Not sure how much of the negatives are his fault or the reality of being Winnipeg, but it is his problem to deal with. But he is going nowhere so long as the ownership wants a steady ship rather than flash in the pan go for broke all or nothing style, and it seems like that is what we are going to be here in this market.
Coaching - I know many have been waiting years for Maurice to get turfed, but he showed coming out of the last month slump that he has not yet lost the room or can’t keep the team motivated, and he showed in the first round that he can still devise a game plan to thwart high powered opposition. On the downside he did not get the team to adapt well to adversity or forecheck pressure against a big heavy check team (same problem last year with Calgary and the year before with St. Louis). I am not on the fire PoMo bandwagon mainly because it is a knee jerk reaction to the losses and a change for change’s sake rarely works if the team has not bottomed out. Plus I see this as a personnel issue as much as anything. But I know all coaches have a shelf life and if he does not re-structure things or show tangible steps towards rectifying issues then he could be gone. For anyone who wants him tossed, might I suggest concrete names of replacements who would be a step up (an “lol, anyone” response is weak - be better). I will say that Gerard Gallant would be someone worth chasing for sure, and is one of those rare coaches you go out of your way to make room for right now (similar to Florida axing him to make way for Quenneville). Not sure if Vignault still has the mojo he did 7-10 years ago. Maybe a shake-up of assistants? Again, Charlie Huddy can only do so much with the defence he has been given. But special teams needs to evolve on both sides.
DeMelo - looked much better in playoffs than regular season, but good enough not to be exposed to Seattle?
Poolman - if he is a 7th defenceman, that is OK. If asked to be top 4, management is not doing enough to get better players in
Pionk - great regular season, faded at times in the playoffs (maybe he and DeMelo switched bodies), but solid guy. Again, if top 4 D we are happy, but top 2 a stretch if he has to carry the team
Niku - seems destined to be a career minor leaguer at best right now
Copp - took a huge step forward in regular season, was invisible in the playoffs. That should prevent a Brandon Tanev-like overpay in his next contract. Don’t see him jumping into top 6 forward territory, wonder if there is any more or if this is his ceiling (cautiously pessimistic that he won’t do more)
Thompson - did what was expected of him, but completely replaceable with any random 4th line free agent pick-up
Harkins - not sure why some felt he would be a difference maker if inserted into the line up for game 3 or 4 against the Habs. “Play the young guys” is not a viable strategy if they have shown nothing when given their opportunities (however limited - at some point it is up to the player to make an impression, not just be handed a plum spot). Needs a Copp-style leap forward next season or the team should move on
Dubois - oh boy. Will reserve judgment on his playoffs until I hear the injury report Write-off of a year after his turbulent tenure with Torts, can only pray what was lost can be recovered. There is talent there, right? Fix what is between the ears and we’ll see where he fits, but right now Chevy must be screaming at him “do you know what I gave up to get you here??????”
Heinola - another “play the young guy” favourite, and if he is ready, go for it, but the lat D man we rushed who showed early promise was Morrissey, the last one we patiently groomed was Stanley. Where do they each stand (adjusted for their respective natural talent levels) now? I know “patience” is a dirty word for fan bases, but the words “losing” and “bust” are Black Death
Lowry - will never be top 6 scoring potential, but could be one of the best top 9 centres in the league. Happy to have him re-signed for sure.
Little - just watching the clock run out on his contract on LTIR and then awaiting the retirement
Gustafsson - Nothing more than a Harkins with less years under his belt at this point. See me in 2 years for a fresh opinion
Toninato - COVID robbed us of seeing how he might be, good or bad. The game winner against the Oilers in game 1 might be enough to invite a further one year look
Appleton - mid season surge with Copp and Lowry surrounded by a bunch of meh. Could be another long term growth player who could outshine Roslovic’s potential, but if we lose a forward in the expansion draft it is most likely him, and I would not lose sleep over it
Lewis - like Thompson with a pinch more offence. I like his game and you want character and experience like his, but one hopes we can find better/cheaper/younger for 4th line depth going forward
Forbert - on shot blocking and toughness alone I really liked him, but he cannot reasonably be expected to log top 4 minutes. Find him a 5-6 spot and I am happy because it means our top end got better
Stastny - putting sentimentality for 2018 away, he was.....OK, and I am sure he was playing pretty beat up all playoffs. But if his injuries are a byproduct of his age, then time to find a replacement, unless he wants to come back on the cheap.
Wheeler - no one can be a tougher critic on him than he is on hImself, and maybe that is a bit of the problem? You can see when he presses, and it can drag him down. And who knows how his locker-room leadership really translates? Will be a lightning rod for the haters because of the C and no ring, but he stands in front of the media every day and speaks for the team, so I give him immense credit for that in this market. Contract isn’t an anchor yet, but I can see the boat preparing to dock. But as long as he blocks shots with his testicles and doesn’t miss a shift, he has a spot on my team any day.
Ehlers - If only we could clone this guy, or find him a magic line mate who could read his moves. More, please
Legit question here - if by any chance we could get Laine back, would we take him? Serious answers only, and factor in everything including economics.
Broissoit - very serviceable back-up, but if Hellebuyck went down for any period could he really carry the mail? Keep him at the same price until Berdin is ready to make the jump (notice I did not say Comrie)
Hellebuyck - can we just jump to the 8 year extension now please? Or given his superstitious nature, a 4 year $37 million extension followed by a 3 year $37 million extension. Career Jet....make it so.
Benn - Thompson or Lewis in the shape of a defenceman. Thanks for your 2 months of able service. Good luck in your next gig.
Morrissey - oh boy, part 2. We need to find an elite defence partner for him so his contract can go back to looking really good instead of really troubling. He can be top 2 if protected by a strong partner, but does not appear to be the one to do the leading in a top 2 pairing. Do we open the vault for Seth Jones, and would that even be a good match?
Samberg - Heinola with an extra year and less promise. May need to push him into the lineup next year ahead of schedule, wish we had the luxury not to.
Scheifele - One hit has changed the trajectory of his career. Will he learn and rebound like Kucherov did after his suspension and be better and smarter, or will he become a Todd Bertuzzi and wilt? He seems to chafe at not being considered amongst the elite centres in the league, but it takes more than top 10 scoring to get that respect, and it must earned (will be tougher now than ever before). Will be fascinating and somewhat anxiety-inducing how he responds to all the press that came and will continue to come his way after “the incident”. But can a 10 year vet find the next level now, or have we seen his prime already?
Dano - who?
Stanley - a template for “let him over ripen in the minors”, even if he hadn’t really over ripened there. Makes the protected list on defence interesting (in one moment I think that if we protect DeMelo then Seattle may ignore Stanley anyway and take Appleton, whereas if we expose DeMelo he is gone for sure Then I ponder it again and think the opposite, that Stanley would get snatched but DeMelo left alone). Given the state of the defence, hoping a forward gets plucked either way, but if I had to choose now I take the size, strength, and future of Stanley and all its growing pains over the present of DeMelo (hinges on a free agent defence signing or trade)
Seuss - another Harkins or another Appleton, needs more time on the minors (although his age is becoming a factor pushing him into career minor leaguer territory)
Connor - his scoring made Laine expendable, his contract could provide great value in future years, and yet something big missing here. Streaky like all goal scorers can be, but he needs to learn defence badly or he will cause this team headaches. But tons of potential and already shows top end talent, so I can be forgiving here, for now. Ask me again in another year.
Perrault - love that he just embraces whatever role he is given and puts his best forward, and he can adapt anywhere from top line to 4th line and offer scoring, grit, energy, or whatever you ask. Alas, eroding skill set would point him in the Lewis/Thompson “character veteran/glue guy” mold going forward. If he is prepared to take a large cut in pay to have a similar contract to theirs, he would be worth considering. But again, expendable at this stage if younger/cheaper/better is around.
Beaulieu - did not miss him when we was injured. Like Benn, emergency fill-in at best at this point.
Vesaleinen - his size and speed looked good in the playoffs in very limited viewings, but I think the club expects a ton more offence from him. His development decisions in where he wanted to play have hurt him, and with Laine gone is he more expendable? One of those “do we trade him now for more value than he is worth and look like geniuses, or does he blossom into what the hype hinted at and we get burned because we quit on him too soon?” types. Typically, if the talent does appear, it won’t happen here, so I’d be willing to listen to trade partners in the next year.
BC_Blue_Bomber got a reaction from TrueBlue4ever in 2021 Off-season: State of the Jets