am I calling Sheifele a lazy, selfish player, No. Does he back check every shift? No. Is he at times lazy and selfish? Yes.
- Ross77

good clarification. Day-in, day-out he is still a guy I think of as very consistent and reliable.

for sure the 1st pp unit has been staying out too long, valid point. the rest of the icetime is because his line starts most periods in most games, starts most shifts after the tv timeouts and other longer stoppages and first shift after the pk. it adds up. I agree that Wheeler needs to shorten his shifts, don't agree with the characterization of Sheifele's play that almost sounds like a suggestion that he is a selfish player who is lazy?
- 2.0

I agree with 100% of this. Jets are a better team with Scheif's on the ice. His skating has never been exceptional, but his positioning and ability to bat down every puck going by him sure has made an impact defensively. His -4 this past season was a career first in the minus column, and he as been the #1C on this club through some very weak years. His defensive qualities are not in his blazing back-check, nor his shot blocking, but his hand-eye and positioning is second to none. I still have him as a top 10 C in this league, and would not question him as a 1/2C with the US team. No american was scored points in as many games as Scheif's did this past season, and only McDavid was able to top him in that category.

I agree with 100% of this. Jets are a better team with Scheif's on the ice. His skating has never been exceptional, but his positioning and ability to bat down every puck going by him sure has made an impact defensively. His -4 this past season was a career first in the minus column, and he as been the #1C on this club through some very weak years. His defensive qualities are not in his blazing back-check, nor his shot blocking, but his hand-eye and positioning is second to none. I still have him as a top 10 C in this league, and would not question him as a 1/2C with the US team. No american was scored points in as many games as Scheif's did this past season, and only McDavid was able to top him in that category.
- bikeguy99

He will be an important player on team Canada

He will be an important player on team Canada
- 2.0

LOL

I agree with 100% of this. Jets are a better team with Scheif's on the ice. His skating has never been exceptional, but his positioning and ability to bat down every puck going by him sure has made an impact defensively. His -4 this past season was a career first in the minus column, and he as been the #1C on this club through some very weak years. His defensive qualities are not in his blazing back-check, nor his shot blocking, but his hand-eye and positioning is second to none. I still have him as a top 10 C in this league, and would not question him as a 1/2C with the US team. No american was scored points in as many games as Scheif's did this past season, and only McDavid was able to top him in that category.
- bikeguy99

Scheifele is a beast! The Jets entire offence essentially goes through this man. Super happy he’s a Jet. We are blessed to have him as our top center.

He will be an important player on team Canada
- 2.0

Haha. Man I keep associating him with Wheeler and Connor. Sorry Kitchener/Waterloo. A brain cramp on my end.

I believe Denamrk has not yet qualified and those qualifier games are about to start. i can not imagine the Jets would tell Ehlers he couldn't play in the qualifier games in the hopes to get his country in and then turn around and let other players play in the Olympics.
- Ross77

You nailed it, Ehlers played, Denmark qualified for the Olympics.

BYE BYE Sami ! The writing was on the wall the minute he was manhandled and easily stripped off the puck about 18 months ago. I'm sure Chevy has tried to trade him for over a year now and never got a sniff.

BYE BYE Sami ! The writing was on the wall the minute he was manhandled and easily stripped off the puck about 18 months ago. I'm sure Chevy has tried to trade him for over a year now and never got a sniff.
- jetsnation

I started having doubts about him after he had the car accident during training camp a few years back.

It is always a disappointment when a players progression plateaus and flatlines. Best wishes to a guy who was a bright spot in the prospect pool, I hope for him success where he lands next.

Observations from Game 1 vs Ottawa:

Comrie remains questionable as an NHL goalie. Dillon and Nash look like good pickups.
Vesalainen needs to show me more. Dubois looking good. Love the way Copp plays, but he is not exactly a sniper. Pionk's shot is not a big enough threat on the power play. Svechnikov deserves a good long look in the pre-season.

Observations from Game 2 Exh.

Not sure that Heinola is ready yet. The big line spent far too much time in their own zone against a Bakersfield lineup.
Svech continues to look good as does Harkins.
I remain concerned about Vesalainen

Early predictions:
LD - Morrissey, Dillon, Stanley
RD - Schmidt, Pionk, DeMelo
C - Scheifele, Stastny, Lowry, Gustafsson
LW - Connor, Dubois, Copp, Harkins
RW - Wheeler, Ehlers, Perfetti, Nash
Spares - Beaulieu, Toninato
Notes - Perfetti starts the season with Jets, if not ready, Ves or Svech step in.

Observations from Game 2 Exh.

Not sure that Heinola is ready yet. The big line spent far too much time in their own zone against a Bakersfield lineup.
Svech continues to look good as does Harkins.
I remain concerned about Vesalainen

Early predictions:
LD - Morrissey, Dillon, Stanley
RD - Schmidt, Pionk, DeMelo
C - Scheifele, Stastny, Lowry, Gustafsson
LW - Connor, Dubois, Copp, Harkins
RW - Wheeler, Ehlers, Perfetti, Nash
Spares - Beaulieu, Toninato
Notes - Perfetti starts the season with Jets, if not ready, Ves or Svech step in.
- bennythehat

More time with the moose won’t hurt Heinola. I think perfetti start the season with the moose, I don’t think he is an NHL caliber winger yet and the Jets have, for now, more sure options at center. Svechnikov will be in the lineup. I agree on vesalainen

Comrie still hasn’t delivered the goods at the nhl level, look for Chevy to pick up a goalie through waivers.

Observations from Game 2 Exh.

Not sure that Heinola is ready yet. The big line spent far too much time in their own zone against a Bakersfield lineup.
Svech continues to look good as does Harkins.
I remain concerned about Vesalainen

Early predictions:
LD - Morrissey, Dillon, Stanley
RD - Schmidt, Pionk, DeMelo
C - Scheifele, Stastny, Lowry, Gustafsson
LW - Connor, Dubois, Copp, Harkins
RW - Wheeler, Ehlers, Perfetti, Nash
Spares - Beaulieu, Toninato
Notes - Perfetti starts the season with Jets, if not ready, Ves or Svech step in.
- bennythehat

2 games later...


G - Hellebuyck and ??
LD - Morrissey, Dillon, Stanley
RD - Schmidt, Pionk, De Melo
C - Schiefele, Dubois, Lowry, Gustafsson
LW - Connor, Stastny, Copp, Harkins
RW - Wheeler, Ehlers, Svechnikov, Nash
Spares - Beaulieu, Toninato, Vesalainen

2 games later...


G - Hellebuyck and ??
LD - Morrissey, Dillon, Stanley
RD - Schmidt, Pionk, De Melo
C - Schiefele, Dubois, Lowry, Gustafsson
LW - Connor, Stastny, Copp, Harkins
RW - Wheeler, Ehlers, Svechnikov, Nash
Spares - Beaulieu, Toninato, Vesalainen
- bennythehat

Malott is making a case for himself as a spare or early call up from Moose. size, energy, decent skater, some sandpaper, chips in on the scoresheet, smarts. well suited to checking line duty.

I like the platoon idea to get Heinola involved. flashes of excellence (and then plays like on the 3rd canuck goal - bad pinch and stopped skating, threw hands up in surrender resulting in odd man rush). Platoon him with Stanley who is not exactly a complete player either.

2 games later...


G - Hellebuyck and ??
LD - Morrissey, Dillon, Stanley
RD - Schmidt, Pionk, De Melo
C - Schiefele, Dubois, Lowry, Gustafsson
LW - Connor, Stastny, Copp, Harkins
RW - Wheeler, Ehlers, Svechnikov, Nash
Spares - Beaulieu, Toninato, Vesalainen
- bennythehat

If I had to pick one guy in there that I'm not sure makes opening day roster it would be Gus. It really comes down to him or Toninato. I think the latter has a slight edge. Harkins has looked great in pre-season as has Svech. Love to see Perfetti get one game in before heading down to the Moose. The kids will be a major star in time.

BTW.... too bad we don't have much of a venue to post.

If I had to pick one guy in there that I'm not sure makes opening day roster it would be Gus. It really comes down to him or Toninato. I think the latter has a slight edge. Harkins has looked great in pre-season as has Svech. Love to see Perfetti get one game in before heading down to the Moose. The kids will be a major star in time.

BTW.... too bad we don't have much of a venue to post.
- jetsnation

Since game 2, Toninato has passed Gus. agreed.
Gus is a faceoff demon !

I can’t believe the Jets can’t get a regular writer on this board. I like reading comments and thoughts about the goings on in Jet land, that Anthony Travalgia (spelling?) writes for several teams on here it seems.

I can’t believe the Jets can’t get a regular writer on this board. I like reading comments and thoughts about the goings on in Jet land, that Anthony Travalgia (spelling?) writes for several teams on here it seems.
- Jetlag

A shame that we cannot get someone local to do it. With all due respect to Anthony, his posts were really just "cut and pastes" from our local papers.

A shame that we cannot get someone local to do it. With all due respect to Anthony, his posts were really just "cut and pastes" from our local papers.
- bennythehat

Agreed, Tessier would talk about games, but would definitely take a deeper dive into more than post game analysis. His posts are definitely missed.

Agreed, Tessier would talk about games, but would definitely take a deeper dive into more than post game analysis. His posts are definitely missed.
- Jetlag

In a way, I felt sorry for Anthony. He would take the time to post something and then the rest of us would debate something different.

Toninato being placed on waivers is a bit of a surprise. He worked really hard in the off-season appeared to be right there in the hunt for a fourth-line or even third-line role. I'm thinking some other lower-tier team likely picks him up for depth.

It appears we now might see Perfetti for the first game while Sheif is on suspension. I still think back to that drafting moment where we might have had the choice between Perfetti and Rossi and then Minny took Rossi. Pre-draft Ross was the big Rossi fan on here while I was the guy praying for Perfetti. I'd say Rossi is more Marner like and also 2 inches shorter at 5.9" while Perfetti seems more Yzerman / Scheifele like. Slightly higher talent in Rossi vs smarter positionally but always dangerous w Perfetti. The jury will likely still be out on that one for a few years. It could still go either way.

Interesting to also look back on the original Hamonic trade which the Jets may have been in the thick of. It never really worked out for anyone except the Islanders. A bust in Calgary and now on waivers in Vancouver.

Looking forward to opening night. I think a healthy Jets team will be minimum semi-finals for the Cup and a good chance of finals. As we know though hockey can come down to just a few lucky breaks, bad penalty calls , puck bounces, injuries etc....so anything can happen. It's a very tough trophy to win , maybe the toughest of any sport. Best team doesn't always win...so much has to go right.

Not much on the waiver wire for goalies....Malcom Subban ? A marginal upgrade perhaps.

Not much on the waiver wire for goalies....Malcom Subban ? A marginal upgrade perhaps.
- bennythehat

We may end up going with Eric the Red.

We may end up going with Eric the Red.
- 2.0

The birdman will be waiting in the wings for a chance to soar as a Jet....