FROM THE PRESS BOX
MIKE SAYS: I’ve only received one email today — at least so far — accusing me of what the reader called a “hit job” on Jonathan Toews. Frankly, I expected a few more, even if the piece I wrote and filed Thursday was anything but.
Look, I know folks are a bit sensitive about the hometown hockey hero and his incredible comeback story, which as I noted is far from complete. But the cold, hard facts suggest the first few chapters have left everybody wanting more.
That’s not just my opinion, either — it’s what Toews, coach Scott Arniel and GM Kevin Cheveldayoff all referenced in separate interviews on the just-completed road trip.
I then did a deep dive looking at every other second-line centre in the league to see what their production is like, quickly discovering that only the lowly Vancouver Canucks have received less from that role this season. Finally, I turned to the Natural Stat Trick folks for some underlying numbers on Toews which reinforced what a struggle it’s been.
As I wrote in the story, I’ve seen some good things from Toews as well that have unfortunately not led to anything substantial. That’s a product of so many other teammates struggling at the same time as he is.
At some point, perhaps that bad puck luck and lack of finishing will start to turn. The Jets are clearly counting on it, since they fancied themselves Stanley Cup contenders and clearly put plenty of faith in Toews to help lead that charge in a very prominent spot in the lineup.
It’s not unfair to point out that one-third of the way through the season, with the Jets below the playoff line, it hasn’t exactly worked out.
It’s also worth celebrating that Toews has been able to suit up for all 26 games so far, which was far from a given considering his two-year health-related hockey hiatus.
No question the 37-year-old has really put in the work to get his conditioning where it needs to be. Hopefully the next steps now will be a bit more finish around the net — both for him and his linemates, Cole Perfetti and Vlad Namestnikov, who have to find a way to provide some secondary scoring.
KEN SAYS: The Jets aren’t quite at the point of no return when it comes to the prospect of breaking up the top line, but if things don’t turn quickly, Arniel isn’t going to be left with any other choice.
But while most folks assume that will mean putting Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor on their own respective lines, I would actually advocate for keeping them together and flip Gabe Vilardi and Cole Perfetti.
Vilardi is riding a hot streak, while Perfetti hasn’t yet found his offensive groove in his 12 games back from a high-ankle sprain, producing two goals and four points.
The Jets also desperately need some offence from Jonathan Toews (one assist in 10 games) and Vladislav Namestnikov (one assist in 14 games) on the second line.
Toews set up Namestnikov for a glorious scoring opportunity in overtime on Wednesday, but Jakob Dobes made the save to help force the game to the shootout.
This is an important game for Salomonsson, as he’s set for his fourth NHL contest — and first on home ice. There have been some positive signs in his first taste of NHL action to go along with some expected growing pains.
Limiting the turnovers is something Salomonsson does as the game slows down for him, but with Haydn Fleury cleared from concussion protocol and back on the ice, the numbers crunch is coming for the defence corps.
Salomonsson needs to keep taking steps forward to earn a longer look up with the big club. The experience he’s gaining will surely serve him well in the long run, but the clock is ticking on how long this recall might last.
Benson is ready to play his 15th game of the season and while he’s racked up 11 assists, he’s still looking for his first goal of the campaign.
That is surprising for a guy who hit double digits (11 as a rookie and 10 last season) in each of his first two NHL seasons. But Benson is a guy who skates well and is always hustling, traits that were on display when he became a fan favourite for his WHL team.
“He looked really good early on and then an injury set him back,” said Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff. “He’s dogged on the puck, he makes a lot of great plays down low. He’s a kid that when you put him on the ice, you know what to expect.”
PROJECTED LINES
WINNIPEG JETS
FORWARDS:
- Connor-Scheifele-Vilardi
- Namestnikov-Toews-Perfetti
- Niederreiter-Lowry-Iafallo
- Koepke-Barron-Pearson
DEFENCE:
- Morrissey-DeMelo
- Samberg-Pionk
- Stanley-Salomonsson
GOAL:
INJURED: G Hellebuyck (knee), D Fleury (concussion protocol)
HEALTHY SCRATCHES: D Miller, D Schenn, F Nyquist
BUFFALO SABRES
FORWARDS:
- Benson-Norris-Thompson
- Doan-Ostlund-Tuch
- Zucker-McLeod-Quinn
- Greenway-Krebs-Malenstyn
DEFENCE:
- Samuelsson-Dahlin
- Byram-Timmons
- Power-Bryson
GOAL:
INJURED: D Kesserling (lower body), F Kozak (undisclosed), C Kulich (ear), RW Danforth (lower body)
HEALTHY SCRATCHES: G Ellis, F Dunne
NOTABLE QUOTABLE
Jets head coach Scott Arniel on why he’s keeping the top line together, at least for the time being, when the rest of the forward group is in an offensive funk:
“Believe me, I’ve debated this for a long time. We’ve been talking about it. I’ve got some ideas. But at the end of the day, we are getting zero goals and it’s hard when that line can score like that. You hope they can go out and do what they do and outscore the opposition. Whether that’s 1-0, 2-1, 3-1, and then hope the other guys chip in.
“The one thing about that line, they’re usually always on the plus side of chances and goals. But, do we spread the wealth? That’s something we’ve honestly been talking about here in the last couple of days. We want to get through this stretch here. That’s one thing we’ve done a lot of, is change the lines. It’s happening quite a bit.
“Just my own experience from that, both coaching and playing, it’s hard when you have different linemates each and every night. Chemistry is a big part of it.”
Winnipeg Jets Head Coach Scott Arniel (Mike Deal / Free Press files)
WHAT WE’RE WORKING ON
Ken is set to handle the game analysis after Mike returned from the five-game road trip.
Mike and Ken combine to bring you the top NHL storylines during the first third of the season in the latest instalment of Dump and Chase, the weekly lap around the NHL.
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