Jacob Billington: Injury-Plagued Jets Struggle to Keep Pace With Knights, Down 3-1 in Series

Been a season ticket holder of this team ever since they came back in 2011. Will continue to support them through the toughest of times. But at some point, the strength and conditioning/training staff needs to be assessed.

I feel like some of our players are really soft and are not built for the physical nature of playoff hockey. Seems like anytime either ehlers or perfetti take a hit, they either need surgery or go on injured reserve.

There will be some turnover this coming off season with some of the core players. I think Chevy should prioritize bringing some players that are durable and can play a full 82 game season.

Furthermore, I think Chevy and his scouting team should stop drafting players that have fallen in the draft due to injuries.

Chaz Lucuis is a heck of a hockey player. But seems like every year his hockey season ends with him requiring surgery. He’s not even playing against NHL players yet.

Have said on this board for years we are the softest team in the league almost every year since about 2016/17

Carolina may be close but Jets are soft. Draft soft, don’t draft a lot out of the WHL.

Perfetti and Lucius are the future skill of the team and can’t stay healthy at age 20.

Soft and it shows. Even Samberg and Stanley are not imposing physically at all.

We are what we are and it sucks at playoff time

Have said on this board for years we are the softest team in the league almost every year since about 2016/17

Carolina may be close but Jets are soft. Draft soft, don’t draft a lot out of the WHL.

Perfetti and Lucius are the future skill of the team and can’t stay healthy at age 20.

Soft and it shows. Even Samberg and Stanley are not imposing physically at all.

We are what we are and it sucks at playoff time
- jjonah

I think we are watching two very different series here. The Jets have been hitting and playing hard against Vegas the entire series. Jets are not a soft team.

The Jets are falling short due to a lack of skill which is not helped by the injuries.

Furthermore, I think Chevy and his scouting team should stop drafting players that have fallen in the draft due to injuries.

Chaz Lucuis is a heck of a hockey player. But seems like every year his hockey season ends with him requiring surgery. He’s not even playing against NHL players yet.
- knagra

I think Chevy just needs to go. He is ineffective as a GM, poor at talent evaluation and is not very good at asset management. He is a bottom 5 GM for a reason.

This team needs a complete management shakeup.

#firechevy

Jacob Billington: Injury-Plagued Jets Struggle to Keep Pace With Knights, Down 3-1 in Series
- Jacob Billington

I agree JB, the Jets have proven to be a hard working team this playoff series but sadly they won't beat the Knights due in part because of injuries

So you’re content with our level of aggression and toughness?

“When you take one of us on you take all of us” is that the Bowness quote?

Jets do not scare anybody and the front of our net, although a little more protected this year is still an easy part of the ice.

Just my opinion but the philosophy here is not to be a hard team.
Interestingly enough we got pretty far the last time we had some toughness

Buff, Chariot, Trouba in 2018 vs who today for a type of physical or edge you need to be aware of?

We just have to accept our philosophy

What I meant by “soft” was how easily our skilled players…. Ehlers, perfetti, Scheifele and to a lesser extent Morrissey get bumped and have to miss a significant amount of time each time. If these players were more durable, we
could easily be up 3-1 in the series rather than down 3-1.

I have no issues with the amount of hitting or compete level. They’re leaving it all on the ice every night. Just demoralizing how easily our skilled players get injured.

Chevy was a beast on the ice, his Chicago Wolves team were always tough, beyond tough.

There is a philosophy in the building that guides his choices.

My guess is it’s Heiszingers influence on ownership.

I have 4 season tickets and I have accepted that this is Jets hockey.

Buff, Chariot, Trouba in 2018 vs who today for a type of physical or edge you need to be aware of?

We just have to accept our philosophy
- jjonah

I will gladly give you Chiarot for free. Maybe even take one of those soft forwards off your hands.

Chariot that season was a little different than today, please.

Chariot that season was a little different than today, please.
- jjonah

Same player now just heavier pockets.

Buff, Chariot, Trouba in 2018 vs who today for a type of physical or edge you need to be aware of?

We just have to accept our philosophy
- jjonah

Physicality only works when there is skill to go along with it! Just throwing a bunch of guys out there to hit and not control the puck is not a philosophy for winning. We would not even have to worry about clearing the front of our net if we had players that could control the puck and play more often.

Byfuglien and Trouba were also very good at puck possession.

2018 had the mix you’re talking about.

Jets passing was awful last night. So many passes hitting players in the skates or 2 feet out of reach.

Jets passing was awful last night. So many passes hitting players in the skates or 2 feet out of reach.
- bennythehat

This goes back to skill set. How many players on this roster can make clean crisp passes.

guys, I grew up in Moncton NB and we were the Jets AHL affiliate when I was in high school and Bowness was our head coach so I have a soft spot for the Jets and the GF and I were sporting the whiteout shirts for saturdays game watching from home. Damn heartbreaking that OT game. I know the team is short on firepower rightnow missing cole and Nik and now Josh and Scheiff- but what is everyones take on Dubois? I keep waiting for him to just dominate at some point but seem disappointed every game. His penalties at bad times piss me off...he reminds me of Draisaitl taking dumb penalties at bad times but at least Leon pots a couple every game it seems. What is his issue and you guys think he's gone this summer?
best of luck rest of series and man- Lowry is some friggin' beast. I'd take him in my bottom 6 any day- what a warrior.

The Jets should move on from Hellebuyck. This isn't the first playoffs where he's only been average. No I'm not blaming him for the goals against, but at the end of the day great goalies are suppose to shut down the other team not give up 13 goals in 3 games.

guys, I grew up in Moncton NB and we were the Jets AHL affiliate when I was in high school and Bowness was our head coach so I have a soft spot for the Jets and the GF and I were sporting the whiteout shirts for saturdays game watching from home. Damn heartbreaking that OT game. I know the team is short on firepower rightnow missing cole and Nik and now Josh and Scheiff- but what is everyones take on Dubois? I keep waiting for him to just dominate at some point but seem disappointed every game. His penalties at bad times piss me off...he reminds me of Draisaitl taking dumb penalties at bad times but at least Leon pots a couple every game it seems. What is his issue and you guys think he's gone this summer?
best of luck rest of series and man- Lowry is some friggin' beast. I'd take him in my bottom 6 any day- what a warrior.
- shanerationX

Dubois is a great 2A center, that's as good as it gets for him. A good complimentary piece but not the guy you want to lead the offensive charge.

The Jets should move on from Hellebuyck. This isn't the first playoffs where he's only been average. No I'm not blaming him for the goals against, but at the end of the day great goalies are suppose to shut down the other team not give up 13 goals in 3 games.
- BWJumper

I agree 100%. He’ll be a UFA in the summer of 2024. Rather than lose him for nothing or giving him an 8 year extension that’ll take him close to age 40… I’d definitely consider trading him if another team puts forth a package that includes a 1st round pick for this 2023 draft.

I think that people accusing the Jets players ( in general) of being soft or a "soft team because we are suddenly experiencing some injuries is absolutely ridiculous. Mostly its just bad luck with injuries and nothing to do with being soft. Do you think Shea Weber or Patrik Laine are soft players ?

The Morrissey injury was knee on knee . It happens. MCL/ACL. Nothing to do with being soft.

The Scheif injury was a very hard smash into the boards after being tripped up by the goalie. There is no give to the boards that low to the ice. He crashed his shoulder into the board awkwardly and it rotated. It's either a fractured collarbone or a rotator cuff. I'd bet on the latter. It's not cus hes "soft" as he is one of the most physically fit guys in the NHL.

Ehlers to a bone-jarring illegal check from Hartman. You can't blame him for being injured from that hit. Most guys would be. Likely a fractured rib or collarbone. Neither one allows him to play even though it may feel OK, because another big hit and something like a broken rib can puncture a lung. That being said it could be argued that Ehlers is somewhat "soft". Jury still out on Perfetti.

I'd say several times ahead of this series that puck luck would determine the outcome. It definitely has. A break in OT in game 3 and we win that game. Vegas has also scored a bundle of goals on deflections any or all which could have just sailed over or wide of the net. Goalposts and crossbars tend to even out but the Jets have hit more than their fair share. Bottom line is Jets could easily be up 3-1 in the series with any luck at all let alone the bad luck from the way the injuries happened.

I personally am proud of what the Jets have done in the past dozen games. Bashing them when they are down right now is in very poor taste. Save it for the mgmt maybe.

The Jets have some very good players but they need a new head coach from outside the organization who will bring a fresh approach to the game.
Its time to move on from their dump and chase philosophy.
Other than Lowry they need more players playing a more physical game.
Many of the Jets players just aren't built for payoff hockey, so a change is needed.

If you listen to the Hellebucyk interview at the airport today you will hear him say the exact same things I just mentioned in my earlier post about the Jets not really getting any breaks at all in what would have otherwise been a pretty even series.

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