Jets rookies have one more game to prove they shouldn’t be cut loose to the Moose

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This article was published 02/10/2015 (3652 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A last impression can be a powerful one. And for those Winnipeg Jets still on the bubble, tonight’s exhibition finale in Calgary against the Flames could be critical as to whether they open the season in Boston with the big club or are soon pulling on a Manitoba Moose jersey.

Jets coach Paul Maurice said Friday after the club’s practice his lineup card is pretty close to being finalized. And when asked if jobs could be won or lost when the Jets meet the Flames on Saturday, he added:

“That would almost be too extreme to say that potentially all three or four guys could get it. I’ve got the lineup pretty close in my head of what it’s going to look like in Boston. We’re still trying to find the places that people fit, things they can do. We’re going to have to make a decision on something so this is the last chance… All of these guys have all played well and are just reinforcing what they’ve done. What we’re looking for is one more of those games so at the end of an exhibition season you can say that you saw it consistently enough through a qualified hockey season — it’s exhibition, but you might see it in an opening game and from then all they’ve got to do is give you 82 of those and we’ll assess where they’re at.”

The Jets will have to declare their 23-man roster by Tuesday and there are still some decisions to make with their forward lines — and who sticks as a 13th forward as well as who lines up where — and especially on a defensive corps that still features nine players. Maurice also said the constant line juggling is all part of his plan to determine who can play in different roles. The more versatility for a guy, the better.

“I understand why it might look like (a lot of juggling) because we tried a lot of different people in a lot of different places,” he said. “But in terms of the structure and the roles and the things we’re going to ask lines to do, I probably have a better handle on the structure than I did with our team last year. Now, they’re different players and I’m still learning about what they can and can’t do, but where I’m going to play them and who I’m going to play them against… I’m pretty far down the road on that.”

 

STANDING UP OR STEALING WORK? Lots of discussion in the aftermath of Thursday’s win over Calgary over an incident that took place in the third period. Jets wannabe Thomas Raffl and Brandon Bollig had dropped the gloves and were readying to throw punches when Anthony Peluso stepped in front of Raffl and fought the Flames tough guy.

Maurice loved it, stating: “I thought it was good. You put your best shootout guys first, right? So… if it was a guy who had been in the American league for five years or who had been in the NHL for five years and knew all the personnel… that’s what Bollig does as a job. He’s a tough customer. Anthony’s good at it as well, as we’ve seen. I like that.”

But there has also been commentary that Peluso was trying to preserve his own place on the team at the expense of Raffl, who stands 6-4 and weighs 215 and is attempting to land a job, too.

“I wanted to fight,” said Raffl, “but, honestly, I didn’t know that guy (Bollig) was making a living out of that. I was thankful that Peluso jumped in for me there, but I’m sure I’m going to get my chance and get to show I can fight, too.

“There’s not a lot of fighting going on back home (in Austria) but I guess I can defend myself and step up.”

Peluso’s take on Friday was simple: his job is to protect teammates, whether it’s a Bryan Little or a Mark Stuart, whether it’s a preseason tilt or a game in March.

“As part of my role, I’ll stick up for anybody on my team,” said Peluso. “So whether it be Thomas Raffl or Blake Wheeler or Nicky Petan… if any of those guys are in that position they can look over their shoulder and know I’ll be the first one there.

“It’s important for me to show my teammates I’m willing to do that. You always want to prove that you’re more than a one-dimensional guy, but it’s definitely something for my teammates to know I’ll always have their back and I’ll always be there for them.”

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @WFPEdTait