JN AirMail: Brandon Tanev Superstar

Ask any Winnipeg Jets fan and they likely have an opinion on Brandon Tanev. He certainly has become an early season focal point for the club and it’s fans. Today in AirMail I talk a little bit about him as well as what Maurice will do with Perreault out, as well as hashtags.

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As of this morning, we got our answer.. Perreault to the IR, Kyle Connor called up.

Here is hoping that Connor sees most of the 2nd line minutes that Perreault is leaving behind, but knowing Paul Maurice, it may be more of a second line wing by committee type deal, and yes that means we may see a little more of Brandon Tanev on the 2nd line. I wouldn’t rule out that possibility especially if Adam Lowry is still hurt and going to miss Tuesday’s game against Columbus. If Lowry was healthy, then it probably would have been a safe bet that Maurice bumped him up to 2nd line duty.

As for Tanev, I’ll have more on that in a moment…

I think NY Jets fans are more upset over a blown fumble call in Sunday’s game against the Pats than they are over any sort of hashtag, but if I can I’d like to bring everyone’s attention to one small issue that’s a pet peeve of mine.

To me the Winnipeg Jets have two “official” hashtags. #GoJetsGo is of course the team endorsed, logo stamped one. The other is #NHLJets. I point this out because as someone who considers himself a twitter power-user, I see too many times media and fans alike using just the regular #Jets hashtag which, funny enough as a NY Jets logo tacked on to it which is even more amusing when you see the word #Jets “trending” in Winnipeg in the middle of the week.

It’s also funny to me as someone who follows a bunch of football accounts to see people tweet about the Jets which usually takes me a moment to figure out if they mean Jets of the hockey or football variety.

Maybe we should be thankful the team didn’t go with the rumored name of “Polar Bears” because we know that would have just been shortened to “Bears” and we still would have had this issue with an NFL team conflict.

Such a deep sounding question and so open ended. For our main story tonight, let’s talk about Brandon Tanev for a moment. There are two things about Brandon Tanev’s game that I don’t think anyone can question.

One is that he plays all out, is one of the hardest workers on the ice and hustles for everything. I believe some people refer to that as “having a high motor” or what have you.

The second is – and I am trying to be polite about this as possible – that his decision making on the ice isn’t the best. Call it “lack of hockey IQ,” call it “playing out of control,” call it whatever you want. I simply don’t believe Tanev thinks or sees the game on the ice as well as players who are regulars on top six groups.

But it’s that first part – the non-stop hustle – that catches the eyes of coaches and it’s why Paul Maurice didn’t hesitate to put him on the ice with less than a minute to go against Carolina while clinging to a one goal lead. In that instant, Tanev’s hustle but also lack of ability to recognize the situation and how to play it was put on full display…

Fine save by Hellebuyck, but if you notice, it’s Tanev that races out to the point and ends up getting side-stepped and allowing the Carolina player an open lane to take a shot.

Now we can file this under “no harm, no foul” and as it was pointed out to myself by a few fans, if Tanev does manage to get a blade on the puck, this play possibly turns into a brilliant steal and maybe even a breakaway the other way. Hockey is a “game of inches” and a couple more inches of reach and suddenly Tanev becomes a possible hero and not guy who was skated around.

But there lies the problem; was this really the right time to attempt that play? Up by one, with seconds left and the Canes goalie pulled? Would Tanev have been better served just staying in front of his man and trying to block? That’s really an issue for Tanev and the coaches to figure out. Perhaps this is exactly what Paul Maurice wants (which would be weird considering the passive box he has his penalty kill using right now) or maybe this was a case of Tanev making a mistake.

My personal hope is that this being just his second full season of pro hockey that Tanev starts figuring this stuff out. He’s 25 and was a late bloomer in college, so maybe the same thing happens at the pro level.

In the meantime though that hustle of his is what will keep him in the lineup and as we saw on Saturday night, grant him chances to play with the Jets top-six. That’s not to say that this is the right way of going about things for Paul Maurice, but it’s likely that’s what his thought process is at the moment.

That’s why Tanev.