Jets coach switches up defensive pairings at practice today

By: Ed Tait Posted: 3:03 PM CST Sunday, Dec. 13, 2015

The Winnipeg Jets are loading up their defensive pairings in an attempt to get some offensive pop and more minutes to their Top 4 defenceman.

Read this article for free:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

*Billed as $4.00 plus GST every four weeks. After 24 weeks, price increases to the regular rate of $19.00 plus GST every four weeks. Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

*Billed as $19 plus GST every four weeks. Cancel any time.

The Winnipeg Jets are loading up their defensive pairings in an attempt to get some offensive pop and more minutes to their Top 4 defenceman.

Read unlimited articles for free today:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 13/12/2015 (3583 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Winnipeg Jets are loading up their defensive pairings in an attempt to get some offensive pop and more minutes to their Top 4 defenceman.

Jets coach Paul Maurice had Jacob Trouba paired with Dustin Byfuglien at practice Sunday morning and, coupled with the Toby Enstrom-Tyler Myers pairing, it is a look the team could carry into Tuesday’s home game with the St. Louis Blues.

The third pairing now features Ben Chiarot and Mark Stuart; Chiarot had been working with Byfuglien with Trouba teamed with Stuart.

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Tyler Myers continued practising with Toby Enstrom this morning at the MTS IcePlex. — MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Tyler Myers continued practising with Toby Enstrom this morning at the MTS IcePlex.

“It’s an interesting dynamic to have a one-time shot with a guy who can move the puck as well as Buff does,” said Maurice. “We know that Jake has that ability; he can pull the puck across the line and be creative in that hole, too. It has more to do with who they match up with and who they play behind. We think they’ll be effective, but there will be a learning curve for the two of them.”

The Byfuglien-Trouba pairing was used in Friday’s 2-0 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks as the Jets rallied to generate more offence. Byfuglien leads the Jets in average ice time at 23 minutes, 47 seconds while Myers is second at 21:32 and Trouba third at 20:15. Trouba’s ice time is down about three minutes from a year ago; Myers is down two minutes as is Toby Enstrom’s. Only Byfuglien’s ice-time is up, by about a minute, among the Top 4 defencemen compared to last season.

Interestingly, the move means the Jets will now have two right-handed shot defencemen in the Trouba-Byfuglien pairing and two lefties teamed together in Stuart and Chiarot.

Asked what he liked about the new pairing, Byfuglien shrugged and said:

“I couldn’t tell you anything right now. I don’t know. We practised today and that’s all we’ve got so far. I’ve played with everyone a bit. It’s early. We’ve got to focus on our D zone and the offence will come.”