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The 2014-15 Winnipeg Jets Thread

GCTF

By GCTF
in Minnesota Wild Talk

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GCTF GCL Twins

GCTF

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Something for me and my countryman, Mr.North, to have a back and forth on for the season.

 

Missed the season opener where it seemed everything went their way. Watched the game against the Sharks last night and they looked hopelessly lost in the first period. Finished up the third nicely though. 

 

Positives for the season. Trouba, looks like he could be a 25-28 minute per night D that plays against the other sides top line. Saw signs of that last season but he looked wiped near the end of the year. The transition from college directly to the NHL is huge but he's managing quite well.

 

They've really improved the bottom six forwards with Perreault and Lowry. I don't think I could take another season of stone hands Tangradi out there. 

 

Negatives...goaltending. Why they think Pavelec is a guy that should play 60 games a year is over my head. I wouldn't have much of an issue with him if he was the back end of a 50/30 split. Most goals allowed three years running, one of the worst save percentages. I believe one of the local scribes came up with the numbers that he would have had to let in 16 fewer goals just to be league average in save percentage. Not having an established backup will be all the more reason to keep sending him out there. 

 

The Jets were in the middle of the pack in goals scored and didn't change anything with their top six. I just don't think they're going to score enough again to make up for the mediocre goaltending.

 

I can't see a playoff appearance. They missed the playoffs by seven points last year and only changed three players, adding Perreault, Lowry and Hutchinson in favour of Jokinen, Tangradi and Montoya.The division is too strong. I made a comment about them being bottom three in the league a few weeks ago and I'll back off from that. Calgary, Buffalo, Carolina are probably all worse, off just off the top off my head. Most likely scenario is a repeat of last season where they hang around but don't really compete for a playoff spot. 

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twinsnorth49 St Paul Saints

twinsnorth49

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Great start against the Coyotes but certainly aided by a bad Arizona team that night, particularly Smith who was gawd awful.

 

Trouba is a stud, agree that he wore down last year but he handled heavy minutes most of the season and this year should be more prepared for it as a result. NCAA to NHL is huge, few players can make that jump right away but he seems to be one of them.

 

Agree on Pav, never thought he should be a 60-65 game a year guy, Watching pre season and tonight against LA, Hutchinson might not be ready yet, the Budaj pickup was pretty smart ( if only for the reason it sent Tangradi packing), we might see him before long.

 

I don't mind the top 6 too much really, I think the key is the continued development of Scheifele and a rebound year by Kane ( hopefully he's nit out too long). Scheifele has looked explosive in the first two games, considerably stronger and with a great first step, he's also winning a lot of face offs. The top 6 is pretty solid really and I really like the 3rd line with Perreault and Lowry. I think Frolik ultimately rounds out that line as its hard to see Buff as a bottom 6 forward. If that's the case that's a pretty solid 3rd line. Galiardi is an upgrade over Tangradi and Wright as a fourth liner and a healthy Slater is pretty important for this team, they were so awful in the circle last year and Slater is one of the best. I felt they really missed him last year.

 

Defensive depth is my biggest issue, just have a hard time with Mark Stuart playing top 4 minutes on a good team, he's a 5-6 on a good team, not a 4. Bogo just has to step up, he was brutal last year, so far he's looked good but he needs to stay healthy. Pardy has shockingly been a pleasant surprise but overall it's a pretty thin group after Trouba, Enstrom and Bogosian.

 

Judging by the San Jose game and what I've seen so far against LA tonight, you're right they'll struggle to score. Both games they've created plenty of chances but lack the finish, very similar to last year. They also seem to be continuing to get into penalty trouble as well. Although their speed is impressive so far, I'll give them that.

 

 

We'll see what Maurice can get out of them, they have some decent talent but his biggest challenge will be getting them to keep it out of their own net. If that doesn't happen, there is no chance, although as you point out, there isn't much chance to begin with. By far the deepest division in the league with 5 teams from the Central making the playoffs last year. Don't see it happening personally either, but I think they'll stay in the hunt longer.

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GCTF GCL Twins

GCTF

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Pretty good summary, this isn't going to be much of a thread if we're just going to agree on everything. ;)  I forgot to mention Galiardi in my first post, definitely a step up from what they ran out there last year.

 

I fell asleep after the Kings third goal and missed the rest of the second (too much ham and turkey and a couple too many ales). The 1-2 start would be pretty much everyone's expectation. The Kings and Sharks are just so much better. Anyway, home opener Friday against Nashville. These are the games they're going to have to consistently win if they're going to have any chance at all.

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twinsnorth49 St Paul Saints

twinsnorth49

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You didn't miss much. Yeah 1-2 can't really surprise anyone, not many teams come out of a California swing ahead of the game. How burned are the Jets that they did the West Coast trip in October? It's not even cold here yet! 

 

I can't believe how bad they were at home last year, if they can improve that to where it should be they could make some noise. Unfortunately I think their road record from last year won't be sustainable for them.

 

Thoughts on Peluso? I like Thorburn and he's a good skater,  but for me Peluso is tougher and more importantly has way better hands. Sometimes I can't quite believe how bad Thorburn is with the puck.

 

Looking forward to the home opener although my first game will be the Avs. I think that could be one team that comes back towards the Jets, they had such a huge turnaround last year they're due for a bit of a fall. Be interesting to see McKinnon up against Scheifele.

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GCTF GCL Twins

GCTF

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Thoughts on Peluso? I like Thorburn and he's a good skater,  but for me Peluso is tougher and more importantly has way better hands. Sometimes I can't quite believe how bad Thorburn is with the puck.

 

 

For the amount of ice time either one will ever get it really doesn't matter much to me who dresses and who sits, but, Thorburn has pretty bad hands. I don't know if you saw him completely whiff when he was wide open back door on Saturday. That was probably their best chance to get the zero off the board and he didn't even get his stick on it. Swing and a miss.

 

WTF did Wheeler get an instigator? Missed that when I fell asleep. Good grief, take a number and let the Thorburns and Pelusos deal with whatever it was.

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twinsnorth49 St Paul Saints

twinsnorth49

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I felt embarrassed for the guy after that one, Scheifele must have been thinking WTF was that?

 

Wheeler pulled off the Gordie Howe hat trick against the Coyotes (Doan pummeled him) and seems to have got it into his head that fighting should be a part of having an A on his sweater. Someone needs to glue his gloves to his hands so he stops

 

In fairness, Regher went into Scheifele knee on knee at the bench and Wheeler was the closest guy there who lost his mind, unfortunately for him and fortunately for Regher.

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twinsnorth49 St Paul Saints

twinsnorth49

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How about now?

Feeling better after two days of kicking things and muttering.

 

Was at the Avs game today, they played extremely well, even Stuart. Would have been a crime if they lost that game. Scheifele impresses me more all the time, except for the puck in the net part, some bad luck though. Thought Perreault showed today and the Lowery, Byfuglien, Thorburn line was dominant.

 

Needed that one....well,as much as you need any game this early.

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GCTF GCL Twins

GCTF

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I had missed the first game against the Coyotes but of the games I've seen this last one against the Av's had to be their best of the season so far. Tough road trip starts tonight.

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GCTF GCL Twins

GCTF

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Well whatta you know, 2 straight, and against a good team to boot.

Pretty impressed with the Islanders, They could be a playoff team. That sound you here are the Sabres crying.

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