Jets Nation Round Table
8 years ago
Welcome to the weekly Jets Nation round table where some of the writers got together over some e-beverages and talked about a few topics concerning the Winnipeg Jets and the Central Division.
Check out what everyone had to say below!
What has surprised you the most about the Jets this season?
Cammers: Other than the success of Nik Ehlers, Cheveldayoff’s reluctance to bring in and keep quality depth. The Jets seemed to be so close to beating the Ducks in the 2015 playoffs. Management should have done what they could to build off of the success of that team, instead of trying to re-invent the wheel by going all in with the youth movement. Now, the Jets took a step back, are most likely going to lose Andrew Ladd, and can only hope the 2016-2017 season is more successful. As soon as it was clear the Jets’ youth were not up to the task of replacing the voids left by Frolik, Stempniak and Tlusty, Cheveldayoff should have made an in-season deal to shore up the depth.
Garret: I thought the team may step back but not to the degree they have. The team struggled in the same areas as last year, but their 5v5 performance (while still good) was not enough this season to make up for their inadequacies. I really expected more from both Adam Lowry and Alex Burmistrov but was sadly disappointed. I thought those two would have driven the Jets bottom six, but in the opposite direction. Hutch wasn’t as competent as I expected either, but that’s goalie voodoo for you.
AWheeler: Fall off in shot suppression and overall poor defensive play relative to last season. The personnel were certainly stronger then, but I guess I bought pretty heavily into the superior defensive play being a result of improved coaching from Maurice.
AMiddleton: I have to agree with Garret, it’s kind of shocking how every little gamble the Jets made this year has not panned out at all. The youth we expected to help form the bottom six and carry them didn’t come through at all.. Hutch stumbled… Chiarot and Trouba have been disappointing on different levels.. Scheifele has been ok but I think many of us expected more and for him to be a real driving force on the second line.. The team seemingly hasn’t learned their lesson and are taking as many if not more penalties for careless stick infractions.. Sure you expect one or two things to go sideways in a season, but – and this will seem a bit whiny granted – it doesn’t feel like anything has gone the Jets way this season.
Do you think the rumoured 1st and prospect is a fair deal for Ladd?
Cammers: Only if the prospect is an A prospect. In my opinion, the Jets should look for someone young who can make an impact in the next season or two. The Jets shouldn’t take too far of a step back, but they need to make sure the return helps prevent the team taking a step back. I would be interested to see what kind of prospect is sent back, if any. The obvious choice is a forward, but I wonder if management would consider trading for a good defenceman.
Garret: From what I’ve heard, the prospect that was offered by the team was a very low level, “meh” prospect when that was more of a throw in. This is just an initial offer, so I’m not shocked by it being so low, but no I wouldn’t find that quite fair given the price for Polak and Spaling. I’ve heard that the Jets want a more “top prospect” in return.
AWheeler: It would depend on the level of the prospect. There’s no way you’re getting a lottery first round pick here for a rental, so no chance at Matthews or really anyone who’s going to be much help in the near term. Given the way the Jets are constructed currently I think I’d rather have a more NHL ready or ‘better’ prospect and a lesser pick (2nd or 3rd) than a just OK prospect and the 1st rounder.
AMiddleton: A first rounder and a prospect is more than fair as long as that prospect is someone who would be a safe bet to crack an NHL roster and not a fringe NHL’er (I know, easier said than done to project that kind of future). I would also be ok with a couple of mid-round picks and a prospect.. A second and third rounders and a prospect perhaps? I’m not married to the idea that it *has* to be a first round pick involved or nothing at all, but given what we’ve heard and read with all the interest, that should be what we get.
If Ladd is traded, who do you see as Captain?
Cammers: Bryan Little, hands down. He has been one of the most underrated centreman in the past few seasons and is an extremely important piece to the Jets. I can’t speak for what he says in the locker room, but Little’s impact is evident on the ice. He is almost always positive in driving play and has shown that he is an offensive threat on a nightly basis.
Garret: Honestly, I don’t know and don’t care… cynical I know haha. The popular answer is Blake Wheeler because he’s the best player on the team (except maybe Byfuglien) and he says the right things for sound bytes, but a captain should be the leader and none of us know who leads the dressing room from on-ice performance or sound bytes.
AWheeler: Wheeler or Byfuglien I’d think.. Best players on the ice and from most accounts two of the biggest voices in the room.
AMiddleton: No captain for the rest of this year obviously.. Then why not Byfuglien as captain when the new season starts? He’s obviously well liked by his teammates and commands respect and he’s going to be around (as far as we know) for the next five seasons. Of course would Buff want the role? I have my doubts, but I’d be all for giving him the C.
Who’s the team to beat in the Central Division?
Cammers: For me, it’s Chicago and Dallas comes in at a close second. I think the Stars have a team that can make a deep playoff run, if they are able to load up at the trade deadline. Having Seguin and Spezza as you #1 and #2 centres is an incredible offensive force. On top of that, Jamie Benn, and John Klingberg are great pieces to have for a playoff run. That being said, Stan Bowman has done an excellent job of replacing talent to surround Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane. Panarin has been an excellent pickup, Anisimov is thriving with Kane, Hossa is still a two-way threat, and their defence is excellent. On top of all this, Corey Crawford is having a career year.
Garret: Dallas and it’s not even close. Over the past 20-25 games, the performance of all the central teams has left a lot to be desired. In score-adjusted Corsi% the best to worst teams have been Dallas (54), then Nashville (51), Chicago and Winnipeg (50), St. Louis (49), Minnesota (47), and Colorado (43). The only thing that has been holding back Dallas is their goaltending, and you never know when a goalie might hit a hot-streak.
AMiddleton: Chicago is the team to beat. I have zero faith in Dallas’ ability to defend or rely on their goaltending and as we know that’s probably the biggest key to getting anywhere in the playoffs. Chicago still has depth, we know they are going to add to that depth in a week or two and Crawford is still one of the best goalies in the West. If I had to rank my favorites, it would be Chicago, St. Louis, Dallas, Colorado in that order.
AWheeler: I was thinking Chicago when first looking at the question but now given some time to reflect I’m going to go with Dallas. They’ve been playing the best down the stretch here and if they continue that they set themselves up pretty nicely to face a weak wild-card in the first round and then the battered and bruised winner of Chicago/St. Louis in the second round. Goaltending is suspect to be sure but I like the way things are shaping up for them right now.
Next week we will be in the post-trade deadline world for the 2015-16 season. Hopefully, there will be lots to talk about in regards to trades and the Winnipeg Jets!
Recent articles from Cam Farquharson
