Jets expecting to take act to Finland next season

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 26/01/2018 (2786 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

ANAHEIM, Calif. — The National Hockey League is on the verge of confirming the Winnipeg Jets will take part in their next Global Series, which will involve playing a pair of regular-season games in Finland during the 2018-19 campaign.

The official announcement will likely come on Saturday from commissioner Gary Bettman during his state-of-the-league address at the all-star festivities in Tampa Bay, according to a source.

Jets chairman and co-owner Mark Chipman will speak once the league has released details.

Winnipeg’s opponent in Finland is expected to be the Carolina Hurricanes.

That would give Finnish fans plenty of homegrown talents to cheer, including Winnipeg’s Patrik Laine and Joel Armia and Carolina’s Sebastian Aho and Teuvo Teravainen.

● ● ●

Speaking of the all-star game, Laine wasn’t thrilled with having to take another break in the schedule, considering his team just came off their week-long bye.

“For me, I don’t need a break. But I’m still young. Maybe a lot of the older guys need a break, I don’t know,” he said.

Laine was asked whether he plans to watch Sunday’s game, which will feature all four divisions competing in a three-on-three mini-tournament.

“I think I’m just going to hang out with my PlayStation, probably. But if I got nothing else to do, I might watch a bit, how Helly and Wheels are doing. But I think I’m just going to stay away from hockey,” Laine said.

Goalie Connor Hellebuyck and captain Blake Wheeler are representing the Jets this weekend in Florida. They’ll be on the Central Division team.

● ● ●

One player who is happy for a few more days off is veteran Jets centre Matt Hendricks. He didn’t have to travel far following Thursday night’s game in Anaheim, as he was sticking around the area for a few days of vacation time with family who flew in from Minnesota.

His six-year-old sun, Gunnar, laced up the skates and was on the ice with about a dozen Jets who took the optional morning skate.

“It was a lot of fun. He was really looking forward to breakfast with the team, and riding on the big bus. Coming in here and sitting through our power-play meetings, seeing how things go. For me, it means the world to have him here. It was great,” Hendricks said.

“He loves hockey. He’s got some favourite players on our team. Patty Laine, for sure, is one of them. Wheels, and the way (Hellebuyck) has been playing. It’s a lot of fun to have him around him. The guys were great, playing shinny with him here in the locker room before practice.”

Their plans in the coming days involve visiting Disneyland.

Head coach Paul Maurice was asked about the new free agent signing on the ice and whether he might suit up.

“He’s a game-time decision. I liked his attitude, I liked his effort. But we may need a little more size in the lineup. That will be the deciding factor,” Maurice cracked.

● ● ●

Defenceman Dmitry Kulikov’s health status remains up in the air after taking a big hit from behind during a 5-4 overtime win against the Sharks on Tuesday in San Jose.

Ben Chiarot took his place in the lineup and on a pairing with Tyler Myers during Thursday’s game in Anaheim.

Kulikov was cut on the play, but hasn’t been diagnosed with a concussion.

“Not with him yet. So it hasn’t been, for me, called that yet. So he has to get tested and he has to wait a couple days to see where the symptoms are at,” Maurice said following the morning skate.

“Whenever we’ve had a player who’s had a concussion, I’ve fired that out.”

Defenceman Toby Enstrom, who missed Wednesday’s practice, was good to go.

Mark Scheifele, Adam Lowry, Shawn Matthias and Steve Mason are the other Jets currently sidelined by injury. Lowry will likely be the first one back and could play as early as Tuesday, when the Jets resume action following the break by hosting the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Defenceman Tucker Poolman and forward Brendan Lemieux were healthy scratches against the Ducks.

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @mikemcintyrewpg