Jets recent swoon has fans filling mailbag By: Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe Posted: 3:32 PM CST Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024 Last Modified: 12:45 PM CST Monday, Feb. 12, 2024 Updates

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 11/02/2024 (603 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Variety is the spice of life, and this month’s Winnipeg Jets mailbag is all over the map when it comes to topics.

Naturally, there is some angst out there after the club’s recent five-game winless streak and pieces of play that have really struggled. Then there are the expected questions with regards to a big deal that’s already been done and the rapidly approaching trade deadline. Plus a few other subjects as well.

As always, hockey scribes Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe are at your service to tackle them all. If you have a question you’d like to be included in next month’s edition, send it to mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca and/or ken.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca.

Enjoy!

1. What do you make of the Jets consistent slow starts in games? It seems they rarely have two or three shots by the 10-minute mark of the first period. DAN

MCINTYRE: A concerning recent development, for sure. And something that drives coach Rick Bowness up the wall. To borrow one of his favourite phrases, the Jets have been on their heels, rather than on their toes, out of the gate lately. The exception would be Saturday night against the Pittsburgh Penguins, where the Jets came out with plenty of jump and really carried the play. They were rewarded with a couple of much-needed first period goals. That seemed more like the team we saw for much of the first half, and perhaps this will start a new (old) trend. Of course, it’s worth noting the Jets then tip-toed into the middle frame — something Bowness and several players were critical of following the 2-1 win. In other words, they’re still searching for that full 60-minute effort.

2. I can’t help but feel a bit nervous, trying to shake the specter of last year. Yes, the defence this year has been fantastic coupled with the goaltending, but within the last couple weeks the Jets have simply struggled to score. Obviously we can say our injured crew, but every team deals with guys out. In short, is this team basically doomed offensively when missing a few star players? Can we only make it to the Cup if this team is absolutely 100% intact? So many guys were scoring in November and December up and down the lines, and now that is gone… why has it all dried up so quickly? PATRICK

WIEBE: It’s a long season and scoring goals remains the toughest thing to do in the NHL. There’s no doubt that the scoring has dried up of late, with the Jets denting the twine just 12 times in nine games – which is well below the 3.02 goals scored they’ve averaged over the course of 50 games. The Jets were recently 10th in the NHL in goals per game, but have dipped to 17th as of Sunday, thanks in part to being blanked three times in a seven-game span. Injuries are part of almost every season and the Jets have dealt with injuries to key cogs. They’ve also got plenty of depth up front and on defence and will battle their way through this rough patch. One of the major issues is that the Jets could use a boost from their power play at a time when even-strength goals have been tougher to come by and that simply hasn’t transpired. For any team to advance to the Stanley Cup final and win three rounds, the depth will certainly be tested. Nino Niederreiter snapped his 15-game drought on Saturday and several other players are going through a lengthy slump but there’s more than enough talent for the Jets to get back to finding the back of the net with more regularity. And given the commitment to structure and the improvements on defending, coupled with the elite netminding, it’s not like the Jets need to score five goals a night to have success.

3. Why Sean Monahan? Only upside is he can win a few more faceoffs. That’s it. DWAYNE

MCINTYRE: You’re definitely selling Sean Monahan short if you think his only upside is his work in the dot. Yes, he’s very good at that, and he’s 20-for-36 so far in three games with the Jets (56%) which is, by far, the best on the club.

The offence hasn’t arrived just yet, with no points so far, but Monahan is going to help in that department. His 35 points this season trail only Mark Scheifele and Nikolaj Ehlers for most on the Jets, so don’t let the very small sample size so far fool you. He was an inch or two away from his first goal against the Penguins Saturday as he rattled a shot off the post.

Finding the right linemates and some chemistry is still a work in progress, and he’s now skating with Cole Perfetti and Gabe Vilardi on the second line. His addition has allowed for Vlad Namestnikov to move down the lineup and really solidify Winnipeg’s fourth line.

And I fully expect Monahan will help spark the power play. Again, it’s still early days here, and there hasn’t been much time to practice with the new alignment, but the potential is certainly there.

My advice: Stay patient.

4. Will the Jets attempt to sign Sean Monahan if he seems worthy? SPARKY

WIEBE: Although it’s only three games into his Jets’ tenure, it’s more than fair to suggest the Jets would definitely attempt to have Monahan stick around, just like they did when they acquired Vladislav Namestnikov prior to the NHL trade deadline. You could even go back to Drew Stafford as another example from the Evander Kane trade for a guy who was originally thought to be a rental (since he is on an expiring contract) but ultimately decided to stick around. Monahan is getting into a groove with his new team and has already provided a spark to the power play, been used on the penalty kill and done a nice job creating offence for himself and his linemates, along with playing solid defence. He’s also been strong in the faceoff circle. The offence will surely come. I’ve mentioned this before, but since the Jets interest in Monahan dates back to his draft year, it’s logical to think they would try to sign him to a shorter-term deal, given his age (29) and injury history. The Jets have several prospects that play centre in the system, but none of them are a lock to occupy that position at the NHL level. Given the Jets window of contention and roster composition, a two or three-year pact makes sense. Monahan would certainly be looking for a raise on the $2 million he made this season (in salary, plus bonus) but the cap number should be manageable – even with raises kicking in for both Mark Scheifele and Connor Hellebuyck. Shoring up the 2C spot with a veteran who contributes in as many areas as Monahan does would be reminiscent of the Jets bringing back Paul Stastny in the trade from the Vegas Golden Knights in October of 2020. The difference being the Jets need to outbid the competition in free agency, something they couldn’t do when Stastny signed as an unrestricted free agent with the Golden Knights in 2018 after helping the Jets reach the Western Conference final.

5. I’m no hockey guy but do enjoy cheering on the Jets, watch them regularly. Last year when the Jets started slumping I wondered if they were simply too tired to keep playing the coaches system. I wondered again this year if the Jets could keep it up. It seems quite demanding. They seem to be cheating the system lately, throw it up the side to the half-circle then lob it across the ice, take it over the blue line and stop. Are they just too tired/wore down? Just an observation of patterns from a guy that simply watches but does not know much about hockey.

MCINTYRE: Winnipeg’s bread-and-butter this season has certainly been its stellar defensive play, and they lead the NHL in plenty of categories including best goals-against-average. That’s not easy to do, and no doubt that kind of structure and discipline comes with a price over the grind of an 82-game season. I agree that we’ve seen some slips lately, which the players have recognized as well, and perhaps it’s inevitable. The key is to not let it become a bigger trend, and stay true to what got you this far. It’s a balancing act, for sure. Given where they are in the standings, I see no reason to panic at this point. It will be more concerning if we’re seeing this down the home stretch and, of course, when the stage gets really big in the playoffs. The good news for Winnipeg is they know the magic formula, and they’ve seen first-hand the success it can bring.

6. Curious about the curious case of Rasmus Kupari. While Mark Scheifele was out, he went from floated as a top 6 option to being a spectator in the press box after the Sean Monahan trade. Thought his game was coming around after his return. Simple numbers game or bigger issue? CORY

WIEBE: The case of Kupari is a bit less curious from my view. Jets head coach Rick Bowness has said on multiple occasions that the organization still doesn’t fully know what they have in Kupari. There have definitely been flashes of the player the Jets were first interested in dating back to his draft year (2018) and why they insisted that he be part of the return (along with Gabriel Vilardi, Alex Iafallo and a second-round pick in 2024) in the trade with the Los Angeles Kings last summer. Kupari has good speed, plays with tenacity, can be disruptive on the forecheck and has shown an ability to create scoring chances on occasion, but he’s still working on his goal-scoring ability. He’s gone 68 games without scoring and has nine goals in 151 NHL games. It’s important to remember that he’s only turning 24 next month, so there’s still time for him to develop that touch. However, after the trade for Monahan it’s tough to make the argument that Kupari should be in the lineup ahead of any of the players on the fourth line right now. While versatility is obviously important, the Jets also don’t know if Kupari’s best position is going to be centre or wing. That remains a work in progress as well. By no means are the Jets ready to give up on Kupari after 21 games – which were disrupted by a shoulder injury in November – but he’s going to need to take advantage whenever the next opportunity arrives. Back to your original question, it is as simple as a numbers game right now.

7. Why has the power play coach not been fired? Why is no one talking about the abysmal face-off numbers and why is no one trying to fix it? Is the power play coach also the face-off coach? Sean Monahan was the only guy with decent numbers against Pittsburgh. DAVE

MCINTYRE: There’s no question the power play is a major problem, and the Jets are now in a 2-for-38 rut over the last dozen games. That is bowling shoe ugly. Overall, they sit tied for 26th in the NHL at just 15.0 per cent. Other than the Philadelphia Flyers (31st at 13.2 per cent), none of the teams below Winnipeg are currently in a playoff spot. Nobody is going to get fired this year, but some improvement is sorely needed if the Jets are going to go on a length playoff run. With Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor and Gabe Vilardi only playing a handful of games together this year due to various injuries to all three, and Sean Monahan still getting his feet wet, I’m curious to see if this new-look top group (along with Josh Morrissey) can start to click. As for faceoffs, I think plenty of folks have been talking about. Rick Bowness certainly has, and it’s part of why they went out and acquired Monahan. The lack of faceoff success is actually a big part of the power play’s struggles, as the Jets often spend far too much time trying to get the puck and get set up.

8. I’d like to hear your opinion on Chevy adding another top four D with term and what effect that might have on re-signing Brenden Dillon and Dylan Demelo (do both happen and what term?), especially with Ville Heinola and Elias Salomonsson in the wings. ELIAS

WIEBE: There’s been only one change to the Jets D-man logjam since the last mailbag, with Declan Chisholm being subjected to and ultimately claimed off waivers by the Minnesota Wild. However, Heinola has now played in 12 games with the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League as he works his way back from a fractured ankle he suffered at the tail end of training camp. There’s still some question about whether or not Heinola will be recalled for Wednesday’s game against the San Jose Sharks. Which begs the question, if not now, then when? The answer would likely be after the NHL trade deadline when rosters can expand as long as a team has the salary cap space. In terms of the Jets adding a D-man with term before the deadline, my best guess is that the cost of acquisition (and the salary cap hit that player would be bringing) will be a bigger factor in the decision. As for the impact on the future’s of both DeMelo and Dillon, extending one or both of those players is going to be a priority. Could that be complicated by bringing in a D-man with term? Perhaps, but it depends on the type of player that’s coming in. Chris Tanev is someone that’s been discussed in this space, but another right-shot blue-liner to consider is David Savard of the Montreal Canadiens. Tanev is a pending UFA’s, but Savard has one more season on his deal with an average annual value of $3.5 million and is someone who was on the Jets’ radar when he was with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Savard ended up going to the Tampa Bay Lightning for a playoff run before signing with the Canadiens. Savard kills penalties, blocks shots and has 57 playoff games on his resume – including 20 when he won the 2021 Stanley Cup with the Lightning. The expectation is that at least one of – if not both – DeMelo and Dillon stick around beyond this season. Having said that, Heinola and Salomonsson are more than just a valuable insurance policy if one of – or both or – DeMelo and Dillon depart in free agency. At some point during the next month, Heinola could come up and have an impact on what the Jets decide to do prior to the trade deadline. Salomonsson will likely either be gaining experience playing big minutes with the Moose or playing on the third pairing next season – and his development won’t be rushed. It’s important to remember the Jets still have Kyle Capobianco in the AHL and he’s having a great season there, so he’s expected to be one of the extras around the team once the playoffs arrive. So, as you can see, the crystal ball remains a tad cloudy, though I do expect the Jets will bring in another experienced D prior to the deadline.

9. The idea of a power play is to put your best offensive players to max chances of scoring with the man advantage. It hasn’t worked. Similar with the penalty kill, putting best defensive players together to prevent a score while a man short. It’s working better, but am thinking that’s because whole team approach is more defensive. The thing we brag most about is five-on-five play where all lines play the same, all can score, all can defend. My suggestion for Rick is to forget the power play. Just rotate the lines as usual – “next man up!” Do you like the messages that would sent to all the players? FRED

MCINTYRE: I do, and I definitely wouldn’t mind seeing this approach. In essence, make players earn that special teams time. Given how poorly it’s looked, what’s the worst thing that could happen if you throw the third and fourth lines out for a man advantage? They don’t score? Well, we’re used to seeing that, right? I would file this under “drastic measure” and “message sending”, and I suspect Winnipeg’s newly-configured PP units will be given a lot more rope. But it’s something to have in the back pocket, for sure.

10. It occurred to me recently that the Jets are pretty good at finding leaders. I think they have drafted six of the league’s current captains/alternates, which must be close to double the league average. Why do you think that is? DENNIS

WIEBE: Since the 2.0 version of the Jets returned to the NHL in 2011, we’ve heard plenty about how much the Jets value character and leadership and many of those leaders you mentioned that eventually wore letters at the NHL level also were captains or alternates on their previous teams – whether that be club teams or national teams competing in international competition. I’m not sure what the league average is, but those players currently wearing letters – either with the Jets or on their current teams, were part of the core group, if not the leadership group while they played for the Jets. There are other current Jets that could easily be alternate captains or have worn a letter when one of the regular alternates was injured or out of the lineup (like Brenden Dillon). To your point, two of the Jets best forward prospects, 2023 first-rounder Colby Barlow (captain of the Owen Sound Attack) and 2022 first-rounder Rutger McGroarty (who captained Team USA to a gold medal at the recent world junior hockey championship) are not far away from arriving on the scene and both of those players could eventually be wearing a letter at the NHL level.

11. Can you clear this up for me. When the Canadian national anthem is being sung at the home Jets games, near the end of it, some fans in the stands scream out something. I would like to think what ever it is, is of a good nature, but I can never make it out as to what they are they saying. Do you know what it is, and why do they do that? I would gather some folks might also find it offense in nature just because it is our anthem. Perhaps this whole city and country needs to know what actually happens, especially since the Jets might be getting more TV coverage by others across Canada. PAM

MCINTYRE: I remember, when this first started happening a couple years ago, many of us up in the press box really thought we were hearing a small segment of fans scream “Boooooo” during O Canada. Turns out, upon further listening (and a bit of questioning), it’s something quite similar, but very different. They are actually yelling “Blueeeeee.” As in how they do at Winnipeg Blue Bombers games. Taking a piece of the anthem and personalizing it has become a thing for many professional sports teams. In Dallas, for example, they scream “Stars!” at that part of the U.S. anthem. In Vegas, it’s “Knights!” Now, you may be wondering why Bombers fans are doing this at Jets games. But keep in mind hearing “True North” during the Canadian anthem at the football stadium is quite common, too.

12. Do you think the Jets could provide a reasonable opportunity for Patrik Laine to resurrect his fading NHL career? If Columbus would be reasonable in trade talks and if Laine could give some assurance that he would agree to a specific program to take his game back to where it was when he left Winnipeg, including seriously accepting any necessary lessons in the Jets system of 5-man defence, perhaps we (the Jets) could and Laine would have the needed trust to accomplish big things together. We know he’s player he was when he was drafted. Perhaps the Jets can help him remember how to be that player and more. BOB

WIEBE: With Laine currently in the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program, the most important thing is for him to get the help that he needs to get to a better place. His health must be the top priority and his hockey future is secondary. The second overall pick in the 2016 NHL Draft has endured a number of injuries and a tremendous loss in his life, with the death of his father in 2022. There’s clearly been an emotional toll. Laine, who turns 26 in April, has been limited to 18 games this season. The expected chemistry with Johnny Gaudreau has not come to fruition, though Laine is just a year removed from nearly being a point-per-game player (52 points in 55 games) and was one in 2021-22 (56 points in 56 games). While it’s true that Laine’s most productive goal-scoring days came in Winnipeg during his second season when he was battling Alex Ovechkin for the Rocket Richard Trophy and finished with 44 goals and 70 points in 82 games, his current salary ($8.7 million AAV for two more seasons after this one) would make it prohibitive for the Jets to bring him back in a deal, even if that was an option they were considering. Laine generated a lot of buzz for the Jets during his four seasons, plus one game – including a remarkable five-goal game against the St. Louis Blues that I covered in Missouri and a ridiculous 18-goal month in November of 2018. Laine was a treat to cover, given his blunt honesty and sense of humour. He loved his time in Winnipeg, but things got a bit rocky before his departure on several fronts, including his contract negotiations. So my best advice is to recall the good times from his tenure with the Jets, while knowing those are probably going to remain in past and not likely going to be part of the future.