Thank goodness we only have to play Chicago one more time this year. I don’t know if I can hold up through any more than that. It’s ranting time.

That was just atrocious. The Jets were once again completely outclassed and taken to school on Thursday night, by a Blackhawks team that is just simply far beyond what this Jets team can ever honestly be on any given night. The sad part of it all is, I have little doubt that if the Jets power play were not on a streak right now, this game would have been much, much worse. Its ability to connect on a couple opportunities gave them a strong second period of scoring chances, but outside of that the team’s offence was practically non-existent. This is what the Winnipeg Jets are. They are a long way from consistent success.

I’m absolutely disgusted with Claude Noel right now. First he decided that Devin Setoguchi, the Jets best Chance/20 player, should benched for over half of the third period for what remains a completely unknown reason. Then he followed it up by providing nothing but a smug smile when media started asking if Kane has to “get better at playing with his line mates”. Evander Kane is far and away the best player on this Jet team. He makes his teammates better, rushes the puck down the ice, and does what he can to create opportunities. Yes he has been in a rough streak, but almost every scorer in this league goes through regular ups and downs. If Claude Noel drives him out of town, I’ll loose my mind. This “escapade” between the two of them needs to stop, or Claude has to go. Elite scorers don’t come around every day.

Keaton Ellerby picked the worst game possible to have a couple blunders. He had a few giveaways and was caught out of position a couple times, likely due to his moving up the lineup and playing against stronger players than usual. He’s a third pairing guy, and a good one at that. Unfortunately, I am certain that Noel is going to look at this game and wrongly yank him out as soon as Stuart is ready to go. If not, then the second Trouba comes back Ellerby will be in the press box. Stuart has done absolutely nothing to prove he belongs in this lineup. It would be a stupid move, but that’s nothing new around these parts.

Mark Scheifele once again showed everybody that he is not ready to play in the NHL. He was danced around on more than one occasion, and has completely disappeared offensively. Poor judgment and a stupid decision to not obtain another center in the offseason has the Jets stuck in this situation, leaving them to make excuse and try to develop Mark in short order. The NHL is not a developmental league. Get this kid to the AHL, and let Eric O’Dell try to prove he belongs up here in a third line role. Does Scheifele have more upside? Sure. But right now he is not giving the Jets anything that Eric O’Dell couldn’t, so make the change and let the kid get used to playing against men.

It took the lowest point in almost a month for it to happen, but Claude finally put Byfuglien and Enstrom back together. These two are the best possible combination of defensemen. That’s a fact. Stop breaking them up and pretending like Grant Clitsome is a top pairing guy. He’s not. That is also a fact. In the Western Conference, Grant Clitsome is a former Columbus waiver-wire player. In the East, he is a $2 million over 3 year second pairing guy. (Apparently) Guess what? The Jets aren’t in the East anymore.

Why is Michael Frolik not getting penalty kill time? He was a top penalty killer in Chicago. Chicago won a Stanley Cup. In Winnipeg, he’s nothing more than a third line guy. This franchise has made the playoffs once in its existence. Stop trying to reinvent the wheel and stick to what works.

I’m not exactly sure how Blake Wheeler managed to finish at a +6, but I guess that’s a positive? I’m sure it was due to fortunate line shifting throughout the game, but he has generally been a pleasant surprise lately. I have no beef with the top line at all. They do everything they can, and are relied upon a ridiculous amount.

For the first time in pretty much ever, Ondrej Pavelec is not the team’s biggest problem. That’s great for him, but speaks to just how terrible this team really is. Let’s stop sugar coating it. They are not good, and they are stuck with a load of big money, long-term contracts. A lot of players need to start growing together pretty damn fast, or we are in for some long-term pains.

I’m sorry for the overall tone of this, but there really isn’t much else to say. It’s ridiculously difficult to try to get a positive vibe on some of these articles, and I feel like you would all rather read the truth than some powder-puff feel good story. This team needs work, and I’m really starting to lose the last bit of hope I had with the people in charge of completing it.