Jets coach experiments with Perreault-Burmistrov-Ehlers line

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 21/09/2015 (3696 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The experimenting coach of the Winnipeg Jets will waste no time in the NHL pre-season testing his likes and dislikes.

Paul Maurice has decided to employ the forward unit of Alex Burmistrov at centre between wingers Mathieu Perreault and Nikolaj Ehlers, the team’s 2014 first-round draft pick, when the Jets entertain the Minnesota Wild Tuesday night at the MTS Centre at 7 p.m.

It’s the first pre-season action for the Jets, who have seven tune-up games before their regular season begins Oct. 8.

Perreault-Burmistrov-Ehlers has the potential for some offence and for some fancy play, Maurice agreed today.

“It’s something I wanted to see early in camp,” he said after today’s sessions at the MTS Iceplex. “Absolutely no idea if it’s going to work but I know what I’ll see if I like it and what I won’t like about that line.”

No test of Little-Lowry-Ladd line

Early camp buzz was about Maurice’s early investigation of a line with Adam Lowry between Bryan Little and Andrew Ladd. But Little and Ladd were both held off the ice today — Little tried a short time in the early group but exited fairly quickly — and the coach said all players out today were just nursing minor issues.

So the focus turns to the other smaller but skilled trio that will play against Minnesota on Tuesday.

“This is the starting point.

“It’s kind of a function of what I’m doing with some other lines, to put the three of them together,” Maurice said. “There’s not a shortage of skill on that line.

“There’s a chance it could look really good and work well and if I can get them in the right rotation in the lineup, you’ll have no problem with having a line come off the bench in the hole that they will with an awful lot of skill and not a lot of size. We don’t all have to look the same.

Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter

Mike McIntyre | On Sports

Thursdays

Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter.

Sign up for Mike McIntyre | On Sports

Sign Up

I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

“We have to play the same game but we don’t have to look the same way doing it.”

As for the rest of the Jets in Tuesday’s game, the nagging little hurts are causing some juggling and Maurice said everything was not yet set.

The team also has a pre-season game Wednesday in Edmonton.

“I’ve had those lists done for a while,” he said. “(I”m) trying to get both teams set by today.”

tim.campbell@freepress.mb.ca