JN Airmail: Getting All Defensive
6 years ago
This week in a late edition of JetsNation Air Mail, Rob Mahon, Cassie Moiser and yours truly tackle subjects like the use of Connor Hellebuyck going forward, defensive prospects not named Tucker Poolman, whether or not the Jets third line is actually the Jets third line, and the why of Tyler Myers.
Oh and we were asked about goalie interference. God have mercy on our souls.
Rob M: Not sure whether to go by skill, probability of being an NHLer or potential usefulness once they reach the NHL. Factoring in all three I’d say the top three are (in order) Sami Niku, Dylan Samberg and Logan Stanley. Niku is a perfect defenseman for this day and age, smart and mobile and capable of putting up points. Samberg is a bit of a throwback in terms of nastiness but more fleet of foot than the average Mark Stuart type. A long-term project who’ll spend a few years in college before turning pro. Then there’s Logan Stanley. His standing has fallen in my estimation from the start of the year but he’s very quietly scored 13 goals this season so far with time left to hit the 40-point mark. Perhaps some time out of the spotlight has done him good. He needs seasoning in the AHL and the next year is going to go a long way towards determining what his future looks like. A wildcard is Luke Green, who’s been tough to evaluate this year due to his long-term injury, but since returning the slick skater has 13 points in 11 games. Much like Stanley, his first pro season will go a long way to determining what he looks like long-term.
Art M: I think I’ll look at it in terms of what kind of potential or ceiling they have and I like Samberg over Niku, but not by much. I like Niku and he’s been magnificent in the AHL this season but I think Samberg will end up being a better prospect overall. Logan Stanley is in that mix as well, but his skating concerns me. My wildcard pick that I am interested in seeing progress is Leon Gawanke out in Cape Breton. His skating also lacks a bit, but he is pretty smart with the puck and could be a good Tobias Enstrom type defender in the future.
Rob: Lately their underlying numbers haven’t been very good and in terms of offensive production there’s not much doubt they lag behind the Laine-Stastny-Ehlers unit. Their TOI in the two games since Stastny came on board has dropped somewhat, indicating they are effectively the third line in Maurice’s estimation. That said, if that is indeed the third line, it’s a solid third unit that should match up well against most of the league’s other third lines.
Art M: I don’t know if I would get too overly critical quite yet about ice times for different lines and which one is the third line and which is the top line. Offensively the 29-25-27 group is far more effective that Little, Perreault and Roslovic but I also feel 18-85-52 is seen in Maurice’s eyes as a better overall group that can play both ends of the ice well and be a line that can carry puck possession a little more than say the ‘third line’ … I bet if we got Maurice’s honest thoughts, he’d still say the lines (at least the top three anyway and maybe all four once Adam Lowry returns) will be a work in progress. It wouldn’t surprise me if at some point we saw Stastny with say Wheeler and Connor or Scheifele with Perreault and Roslovic.
Rob: I don’t know if he’s playing hurt or not but his injury history in recent years means it wouldn’t shock me. With the Jets banged up on the back end, he may be fighting through some bumps and bruises. And this time of year many players are. Then again, the tentative play may be a sign of lower confidence. Myers has had a tough few games.
Art M: I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but… “tentatively” is just how Tyler Myers has played most of his career and it’s been a knock on him since his time in Buffalo. I think a bit of that knock is unfair as he came in right around the time 6’9″ Zdeno Chara was in his prime and an absolute beast on defense, and people saw the 6’8″ Myers and thought he should be doing the same thing. Myers just isn’t a physical player and while he skates well enough, his ability to play with the puck has regressed over the years to the point where I am not sure if he’s comfortable handling it in his own zone. His uptick in ice time due to having to cover for injuries hasn’t helped either and I do think it’s fatigued him some which has just made his play seem even more disconnected.
Cassie: I don’t think he’s trying to kill Helle, but I also think goalies should be rotated more. For a good stretch, both Mason and Hutchinson were injured with concussions and Comrie is young. I think there is a level of distrust that Hutchinson or Comrie can perform at the same level as Helle. I would also bet that they don’t want to overdo it with Hutch coming off a concussion. Personally, I would have loved to see Helle have a night off against some “weaker” teams since we’re wearing him down.
Art M: I thought the game against Detroit would have been a prime chance to get Hutchinson in for a game, but Hellebuyck has turned in two very good performances over the last two games, so what do I know? With Steve Mason officially back in the lineup, I’d be surprised if he didn’t get one of the next two starts (Tuesday against the Rangers or Thursday against the Devils) and then the Jets will go forward from there. I’m sure Maurice would love to give Hellebuyck a few extra nights off, but that’s only if Mason can come in and win some games himself.
Rob: That way lies madness.
Cassie: Something that needs a clearer definition after this season. If the NHL is going to keep using video review, there needs to be less of a grey area when it comes to goalie interference. If the goalie is interfered with to the point where he can’t play the puck, then it should be waived off. But it has to be in or close to the crease, not way out halfway to the dots. All I know is that it’s currently a mess and you’re better off flipping a coin when that challenge comes up.
Art M: Having watched the Olympics, I kinda like what the IIHF does and just blow the play dead if a player is in the crease. You’re still going to upset fans and no one rule is perfect, but I’m with Cassie in thinking this summer they need to hammer down what the NHL wants to be called goalie interference and then stick with it. Right now the horses are out of the barn and it’s anarchy every night in what is and isn’t interference and the NHL is screwed either way. If they call off a goal due to interference, you can likely find five examples of plays this season that were worse and yet were called good goals. If you allow a goal despite contact with the goalie, you can likely find five examples of plays from this season where a goalie contacted less and still the goal was taken off the board.
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