MAILBAG CALLOUT
With the calendar flipping to the final month of the regular season, the Jets monthly mailbag is open, so please send your questions to Mike and Ken by replying to this email or reaching out via email or social media.
FROM THE PRESS BOX
MIKE SAYS: Niederreiter struggled through much of the season prior to shutting things down in late February to have arthroscopic knee surgery, with just 19 points (8G, 11A) in 55 games. He admitted as much this morning as he made some fairly eye-opening remarks to us media folks.
Nino Niederreiter (Matt Slocum / The Associated Press files)
Niederreiter confessed he’s been bothered by the issue since last summer but neglected to do anything about it because he didn’t want to get in the way of a couple of personal milestones: hitting the 1,000 game mark, which he did in December. And representing Switzerland in the Olympics, which he did in February. As soon as both of those were out of the way, he shut things down and went under the knife.
Niederreiter says he’d probably do things differently if he could go back in time. I wonder how, in the world of pro hockey where team over individual is stressed so much, this type of approach will be taken. There’s an argument to be made that Niederreiter was hurting, not helping, the Jets by playing far below 100 per cent.
If — and it’s a fairly big if — Niederreiter can quickly return to being an impact player, Winnipeg will benefit from it. But that’s a big ask from a 33-year-old coming off a knee procedure.
As for Namestnikov, he, too, struggled before his injury which came two games after the Olympic break with just 13 points (7G, 6A) in 57 games. Perhaps a reset will serve him well. He’s only one year removed from being the second-line centre for the team that captured the Presidents’ Trophy, and I still think there’s some value to be found in terms of what the versatile 33-year-old forward brings to the table.
Both Niederreiter and Namestnikov have one year left on their existing contracts, so they should both have plenty of motivation to show there is still some fuel left in the tanks.
There’s no question the Jets are going to be a slower group tonight than they were 48 hours ago when both Barron and Ford were in the lineup. Both of those guys can move. Winnipeg’s overall quickness has been an issue all year long, especially when they face fast, puck-moving teams.
Putting Brad Lambert beside Niederreiter and Namestnikov is probably the smart play, as he can really skate.
KEN SAYS: The Jets are making some changes to both power play units as well, promoting Jonathan Toews to the top unit and sliding Cole Perfetti to the second unit — while adding Namestnikov and Niederreiter to it and removing Isak Rosen and Alex Iafallo.
Toews’ ability to win draws is something that could provide a bit more time in the offensive zone and in structure, as zone entries have been an issue for the Jets of late.
Toews also has the ability to use his vision and make more plays with the benefit of time and space, plus he is strong on the puck and can help with retrievals out of the pop position.
His experience on the power play over the course of his career could potentially unlock a few wrinkles.
Toews spent some time on the top power play unit earlier this season and has scored four of his nine goals and has chipped in two of his 16 assists with the man-advantage.
“It gives us a different starting point,” said Arniel. “The power play hasn’t been clicking. We need it to go here these last couple of games. It’s a little bit of that, trying to find something here that sparks a little bit, (for) both groups. We had success when JT moved up with that top group earlier in the year. It puts Fetts out on that flank, where he’s played a lot over the past couple years. It’s just looking for a bit of a different look, a little bit different attack point.”
Winnipeg had the best power play in the NHL last season, but the struggles with the man-advantage have been noticeable coming out of the Olympic break, as they’ve gone 5-for-48 (10.4 per cent).
That’s dropped them to 28th in the NHL at 17.2 per cent for the season.
At a time when goals are tough to come by, finding a way to get the power play going would be one way to help them in some of these tight games.
As for the Kraken, they’ve also been sputtering out of the Olympic break and are trying to make a last-ditch effort to stay in the playoff race here.
One player to keep an eye on is Kraken forward Bobby McMann, who has been an excellent trade deadline addition, chipping in eight goals and 12 points in 11 games since he was acquired.
Bobby McMann, pictured here playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs prior to his trade to the Kraken, is a player to watch. (Karl DeBlaker / The Associated Press files)
Combined with 19 goals and 32 points in 60 games with the Toronto Maple Leafs, McMann has posted career-bests (27 goals, 44 points) and figures to be one of the coveted free agents this summer when he could become an unrestricted free agent.
If McMann, who turns 30 in June, hits the open market, the Wainright, Alta. product is someone the Jets would be interested in, given the way he’s been able to round out his offensive game, coupled with his skating ability and the tenacity he plays with.
PROJECTED LINES
WINNIPEG JETS
FORWARDS
- Connor-Scheifele-Iafallo
- Perfetti-Lowry-Vilardi
- Niederreiter-Namestnikov-Lambert
- Koepke-Toews-Rosen
DEFENCE
- Morrissey-DeMelo
- Samberg-Pionk
- Fleury-Bryson
GOAL
HEALTHY SCRATCHES: D Heinola, F Ford
INJURED: D Salomonsson (concussion protocol), D Miller (lower-body), C Barron (lower-body), F Nyquist (undisclosed)
SEATTLE KRAKENFORWARDS
- McMann-Beniers-Eberle
- Schwartz-Stephenson-Tolvanen
- McCann-Catton-Kakko
- Winterton-Fisker Molgaard-Gaudreau
DEFENCE
- Evans-Larsson
- Dunn-Fleury
- Lindgren-Montour
GOAL
HEALTHY SCRATCHES: G Murray, D Oleksiak, D Mahura, F Melanson, F Meyers
INJURED: C Wright (upper body)
NOTABLE QUOTABLE
Jets coach Scott Arniel on what advice he’s given to Vlad Namestnikov and Nino Niederreiter as they both return to the lineup from injuries tonight:
“I just said, pace yourself early. Especially, don’t get caught out on long shifts. The other side is stay on the right side of people. Because when you’re pressuring around and you’re playing, you might be able to close that two or three extra steps. You’re gonna catch a guy or D-man jumping or whatever it might be on the forecheck. Just recognize where you are on the ice, don’t get yourself in too many foot races early on, and the other side for me is just go have fun with it. We need their experience. We need their skillset. They’re two veteran guys that can, they can help us.”
WHAT WE’RE WORKING ON
Mike will provide an early story on Nino Niederreiter and Vladislav Namestnikov returning to the lineup, while Ken will handle the game analysis of Jets vs. Kraken. You can find both stories in Tuesday’s paper and online at winnipegfreepress.com.
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