Jacob Billington: Jets Top Players Struggling In Dire Playoff Push

It's pretty simple math for the Jets. In the last 11 games they must beat the Flames and Preds and also win maybe another 4 games. One would think that would get them to the playoffs as I just don't see the Flames or Preds being good enough to get to 93 points .

Beyond that, I don't see the Jets going anywhere in the playoffs. There are just too many good teams right now that are playing very good hockey. LAK, Avs, Oilers, and Vegas are all tough to beat right now just within our Conference.

Despite all the buzz about the EAST, I do think the Cup winner will come out of the West. Why ? Because I don't think any team in the East will have anything left in the tank by the time they reach the finals. Too bad the Jets were not in early season form as it could have been more interesting.

It's pretty simple math for the Jets. In the last 11 games they must beat the Flames and Preds and also win maybe another 4 games. One would think that would get them to the playoffs as I just don't see the Flames or Preds being good enough to get to 93 points .

Beyond that, I don't see the Jets going anywhere in the playoffs. There are just too many good teams right now that are playing very good hockey. LAK, Avs, Oilers, and Vegas are all tough to beat right now just within our Conference.

Despite all the buzz about the EAST, I do think the Cup winner will come out of the West. Why ? Because I don't think any team in the East will have anything left in the tank by the time they reach the finals. Too bad the Jets were not in early season form as it could have been more interesting.
- jetsnation

That's not reflecting a positive attitude!


I believe in this team and with a lucky bounce here and there anything can happen. I am hopeful that this team can develop a great possession game in the next 11 games.

Wheeler will be top 3 in mins for forwards and anchor the 1st PP unit …..somehow that is a formula that works 👀.

Jets lose tonight and you’ll hear an angry building.

Funny I’ve already been billed for next years tickets and it sucks to send the $ right now lol

Chevy and Zinger probably scouting AHL games for next years bottom 6 rotations.

It’s hard to take this team serious when they play wheeler as much as they do. He literally turned the puck over three times on the shift Ehlers (best jet) scored.

And please for the love of god separate 55&81, they can’t get out of their own zone.

This is a horrible team and has been horrible for years. Never going to win with Wheeler and Scheifele... half asses 1 way players... the defense is even worse (except Morrisey). The team had a chance the last 3-4 years, now they have to start over... Wheelers best days were behind him 2 years ago, Dubois is leaving after next season (or at next trade deadline) for Montreal.. Hellebuyck is even becoming mortal... The economy is affecting ticket sales. I had season tickets ever since they came back and that ends this year... I can't afford it, especially to watch a team in decline... the young prospects are not close to what this team had when they drafted as Scheifele, Trouba, Morrissey, Connor, Ehlers and got lottery lucky to draft Laine... 2017,2018 & 2019 they didn't draft in the top 10 anymore and those drafts sunk them with little to no talent... now we wait to see what the next wave has to offer... The teams that had a chance were doomed with a terrible coach in Maurice... guy has never won a thing. Now they bring Bowness off the garbage pile after missing out on 3 respectable coaches... I think they need to clean house and get a new GM and coach... Chevy hasn't done enough when this team had a chance...

0-7 on the PP tonight!!

There will be zero adjustments


Chevy and Heisinger are good AHL executives and it shows.

This is a horrible team and has been horrible for years. Never going to win with Wheeler and Scheifele... half asses 1 way players... the defense is even worse (except Morrisey). The team had a chance the last 3-4 years, now they have to start over... Wheelers best days were behind him 2 years ago, Dubois is leaving after next season (or at next trade deadline) for Montreal.. Hellebuyck is even becoming mortal... The economy is affecting ticket sales. I had season tickets ever since they came back and that ends this year... I can't afford it, especially to watch a team in decline... the young prospects are not close to what this team had when they drafted as Scheifele, Trouba, Morrissey, Connor, Ehlers and got lottery lucky to draft Laine... 2017,2018 & 2019 they didn't draft in the top 10 anymore and those drafts sunk them with little to no talent... now we wait to see what the next wave has to offer... The teams that had a chance were doomed with a terrible coach in Maurice... guy has never won a thing. Now they bring Bowness off the garbage pile after missing out on 3 respectable coaches... I think they need to clean house and get a new GM and coach... Chevy hasn't done enough when this team had a chance...
- Tommycasino

Unfortunately you're not wrong Tommy, everything you said is 100% correct.

It’s hard to take this team serious when they play wheeler as much as they do. He literally turned the puck over three times on the shift Ehlers (best jet) scored.

And please for the love of god separate 55&81, they can’t get out of their own zone.
- Ross77

I would agree - separate 81 and 55. Keep them apart until 55 gets some more energy. Either 55 is hurt, or he is sulking from his benching IMO. Could be hurt?

I know the Jets won last night, and two pts are two points, I know that. But to get out-shot (and outplayed) 18-3 in a period is unacceptable and embarrassing. This by a bottom feeder team! We were lucky to win last night. Thank gawd for Helle (again)!

The Jets can't score and will only make the playoffs as long as Helly is hot.
If their top 2 lines start scoring and Helly continues to play great they can become a scary team to play against in the playoffs.

The Jets can't score and will only make the playoffs as long as Helly is hot.
If their top 2 lines start scoring and Helly continues to play great they can become a scary team to play against in the playoffs.
- islansjet

Jets have never been coached to play a possession style of hockey. It is not that their defensive game stinks, it is their possession game. They keep playing this dump and chase style which might have been good in the 90's but is obsolete now!

Some thoughts....
- Perfetti is more important to this team then is acknowledged
- Possession off of faceoffs is problematic, Schief FO% is 48%, PLD is 49.6%, and it just seems that when they are dropping the puck on a PP, I can't believe that even these FO%'s stated are achieved during the PP. I know the Jets won the draw on 1 PP last night, (maybe more?) but not sure on the other PP's. Point being, if you don't win that 1st PP FO in their one, you just blew 30 seconds of PP time.
- No one really seems to want to shoot on a PP. They just want to snap it around the perimeter and wait for the perfect seam for a tap in. PLD and Wheeler finally took the puck to the net last night but otherwise, no body wants to shoot or get net front.
- Ehlers should shoot 75% of the time he is thinking of passing. Seriously, just shoot the f----g puck whenever there is remote chance of making it through to the net, just shoot it and go to the net.
- ON the topic of Ehlers shooting, just shoot it where ever and when ever you can.
- Wheeler and Ehlers TOI was similar last night

Does anyone else notice that every opposing goalie including last night goalie looks like they are having their "career" game against Wpg? This has been going on since after the New Year and every goalie that plays against Wpg is hotter than a fire cracker. Why is that? Is that because the Jets are a perimeter team that refuses to get greasy goals? No screens, no dragging it to the net, no net front chaos, they just want tap ins after snapping it around and eventually losing possession? Anyone else notice this? Anyone have an opinion on this anomaly where Wpg makes the opposing goalie look good?

I don't totally disagree with Ultimate when it comes to puck possession, but I think all teams employ some dump and chase (with a focus on possession). The thing that drives me nuts is when they want a change and there is no pressure, they're content with dumping and the chase comes late (for the oncoming substitute player). We could definitely use a couple more Ehlers' Lite players that at least have a hope of a controlled zone entry. Generally speaking though, it certainly seems like the Jets do way more dump/chase than most teams. Virtually any dump and chase situations with Sheifele and Connor on the ice are DOA.

I think our lack of traffic in front of the opposing net in all situations is partially to blame for our cratering goal totals. The dip on offense from the back end may be directly correlated to this?

I'm not here for excuses for the Jets, but the Coyotes penalty kill the other night was suffocating. I was pretty surprised how good it was. I'm sure it didn't help with the Jets players gripping their sticks too tight.

I don't totally disagree with Ultimate when it comes to puck possession, but I think all teams employ some dump and chase (with a focus on possession). The thing that drives me nuts is when they want a change and there is no pressure, they're content with dumping and the chase comes late (for the oncoming substitute player). We could definitely use a couple more Ehlers' Lite players that at least have a hope of a controlled zone entry. Generally speaking though, it certainly seems like the Jets do way more dump/chase than most teams. Virtually any dump and chase situations with Sheifele and Connor on the ice are DOA.

I think our lack of traffic in front of the opposing net in all situations is partially to blame for our cratering goal totals. The dip on offense from the back end may be directly correlated to this?

I'm not here for excuses for the Jets, but the Coyotes penalty kill the other night was suffocating. I was pretty surprised how good it was. I'm sure it didn't help with the Jets players gripping their sticks too tight.
- Jetlag

Some thoughts on last two posts:

1 - Cole Perfetti is a good young (fragile?) player but I do not think his loss is a major factor in the Jets situation
2. Got to get the cancer(s) out of the Jets dressing room and the sooner the better before it affects Perfetti (look what's happened to Connor)
3. I would strip the "A" of Scheifele's jersey
4. There is definitely a time for "dump and Chase", but you got to be chasing when you're dumping
5. No, there's little traffic in front - some of the forwards actually seem to be jumping to get out of the goalie's eyes
6. I'm glad that Bowness brought the "motivational factor" to the front yesterday. Time to say good-bye to some of the former major players
7. Disappointing to see that a guy like Barron, one of our hardest working players, got only 5+ minutes the other night. Why?
8. I actually feel that some of the boys would rather miss the playoffs than make them and have to play another two weeks of hockey. Is it the lack of "desperation" hockey that makes one feel that way?
9. Going to be interesting to see who the Jets get in return for Scheifele and PLD (and maybe Helle) this summer. Need a young C and a top pairing D - hard to get!
10. Win or lose, I will still love our Jets!!!

So it'd be interesting to see what the bottom six guys point totals are since the all-star break.

Also of the points the top six guys have gotten since the all-star break how many were on the PP and how many were at even strength.

One of this teams biggest issues and has been for years is its struggle to score at even strength.

Edit: Doubled posted

Some thoughts on last two posts:

1 - Cole Perfetti is a good young (fragile?) player but I do not think his loss is a major factor in the Jets situation
2. Got to get the cancer(s) out of the Jets dressing room and the sooner the better before it affects Perfetti (look what's happened to Connor)
3. I would strip the "A" of Scheifele's jersey
4. There is definitely a time for "dump and Chase", but you got to be chasing when you're dumping
5. No, there's little traffic in front - some of the forwards actually seem to be jumping to get out of the goalie's eyes
6. I'm glad that Bowness brought the "motivational factor" to the front yesterday. Time to say good-bye to some of the former major players
7. Disappointing to see that a guy like Barron, one of our hardest working players, got only 5+ minutes the other night. Why?
8. I actually feel that some of the boys would rather miss the playoffs than make them and have to play another two weeks of hockey. Is it the lack of "desperation" hockey that makes one feel that way?
9. Going to be interesting to see who the Jets get in return for Scheifele and PLD (and maybe Helle) this summer. Need a young C and a top pairing D - hard to get!
10. Win or lose, I will still love our Jets!!!
- grahamzky

I too love the Jets and agree with ever single point you made. I don’t know how you consciously have a letter on Scheifele since the FLA benching.

I want to personally congratulate Adam Lowry on reaching the 30 point plateau for the first time in his career.

This just goes to show that development takes time, so hopefully in about 11 years time we will also be congratulating Lucious and Lambert on reaching career milestones. In about 6 years Stanley too will be reaching career milestones.

The generational goal scorer, Laine, once again goes down with an injury.

Since the big trade:

Laine .37 goals per game

I'm thinking that CBJ expected more....

The generational goal scorer, Laine, once again goes down with an injury.

Since the big trade:

Laine .37 goals per game

I'm thinking that CBJ expected more....
- bennythehat

Maybe the Jets should explore a reunion. At pennies on the dollar…….sign me up. On a side note, I’m pretty sure I read CBJ was using him at center! Didn’t see anything on how that experiment went.

The generational goal scorer, Laine, once again goes down with an injury.

Since the big trade:

Laine .37 goals per game

I'm thinking that CBJ expected more....
- bennythehat

Its good news actually, it helps with the tank!

Laine was a PPG player last season and is just shy of being a PPG this season, was even playing at center recently.

I'm sure they're quite happy with Patrik and are ecstatic to be rid of drama boy Duchois.

For that Chycrun crowd that wanted the Jets to land him……I said he plays 50 games a year….well he’s out 2-4 weeks with the Senators already.

Bullet dodged

Jets sign Parker Ford today.

Team Captain of Providence

5’8” center

This is AHL proven Chevy and Heisinger do best lol

For that Chycrun crowd that wanted the Jets to land him……I said he plays 50 games a year….well he’s out 2-4 weeks with the Senators already.

Bullet dodged
- jjonah

Yes cause not acquiring a top pairing dman is totally dodging a bullet... 🙄

Giving up 1st and/or prospects for a proven play under 60% of the season player is what then?

This isn’t a 2-3 year sample.

Sucks because he’s a talented player but chance of not being there when needed is a coin flip

Not worth it