Coach Noel Feb. 29 Press Conference

This morning's press conference with Winnipeg Jets coach Claude Noel, as he discusses newcomer Grant Clitsome, the poise of Ondjre Pavelec the fans reaction to Toronto coach Ron Wilson and tomorrow's all-or-nothing game against the Florida Panthers.

Courtesy of Illegal Curve.

Cheveldayoff Post Trade Deadline Press Conference

Here is Winnipeg Jets General Manager Kevin Cheveldayoff holding a press conference answering questions about the Johnny Oduya trade, the Grant Clitsome pick-up and trade day in general.



Courtesy of Illegal Curve.

Oilers Down Jets

It's been 15 years, but the Oilers still know how to dominate the Jets. The Jets had a one-goal lead after 40 minutes, but much like the nightmarish games against the Oilers of the 1980's, the Oilers scored in bunches as Edmonton fell Winnipeg 5-3. This was not one of the Jets better games.

Jets Trade Oduya to Hawks

Defenceman Johnny Oduya has been traded to the Chicago Blackhawks for draft picks in 2013.

Trade Deadline Day

It's trade deadline day and although I don't expect the Winnipeg Jets to make any major trades, there will probably be a few minor leaguers heading out of St. Johns where the Jets AHL affiliate, the Ice Caps reside.

If the Jets do move anyone off of their roster, I expect it to be who the so-called experts pick; Johnny Oduya, Tanner Glass or Kyle Wellwood. Wellwood leaving would surprise me and I'd hate to see him go as I enjoy his work ethic and creativity, yet that would be the reasons he could be moved. Oduya is a smart, mobile defenseman and certainly does not deserve the flak he has received from Jets fans in the city. They still can't let go his turnovers in Game One against Montreal. If it wasn't for his age, I think Chris Mason would be decent trade bait for a team looking for a solid back goalie. I'm glad he's not going anywhere. I like him, both on and off the ice. I think the most obvious Jet that would be trade bait with a prospect for perhaps draft picks in return would be Nik Antropov. His size hasn't been utilized on the Jets as much as it should be. Maybe it would be somewhere else.

Some people are wondering if, or indeed are demanding that, the Jets trade the future for quick results now. A lot of people want a "rental" player. Someone who may help the team for a playoff run, but won't be around at the start of next season and someone who you'd have to give up a young prospect for. Players that you'd think that wouldn't be moved and are fan-favourites? Dustin Bufuglien comes to mind. Tobias Enstrom and Jim Slater are others.

Some are saying that the Jets should trade one of their best players or draft picks (or both) for a superstar such as the available (as of this writing) Rick Nash. Sure, if you want to trade away your own future. The current member of the Jets that aren't going anywhere are the obvious ones. Blake Wheeler, Evander Kane, Zach Bogosian and Ondjre Pavelec shouldn't expect to be leaving Winnipeg anytime soon.

Updates (Jets deals only) will be added if there are any.
One hour and 45 minutes till the deadline.

UPDATE: 1:10 pm
Johnny Oduya has been traded to the Chicago Blackhawks for second and third-round draft picks in the 2013 Entry Draft.

Khabibulin Has Fond Memories of Winnipeg

Former Winnipeg Jets goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin is coming back to town with his Edmonton Oiler team mates for the first time since 1996. He reminisced about his rookie year in a Jets uniform.

Jets Claim Defenceman Grant Clitsome Off Waivers from Blue Jackets

The Winnipeg Jets have claimed defencemen Grant Clitsome off of the waiver wire.

Illegal Curve’s Richard Pollock: “You never want too many defenseman, he’s a left handed shooting defenseman, not the tallest guy, but built tough. He can move the puck out of his own zone. he does a lot of what Johnny Oduya does, at less than half the price. If you are going to be the Winnipeg Jets and can fill the 5th or 6th defense spot with Clitsome for less than $2 million, and move Stuart up to the 4th defenseman, this is a good move by them.”

The Rivalry Returns?

With the return of the Winnipeg Jets to the NHL, with it returns the rivalry with the long-hated, yet woefully talented Edmonton Oilers. Well, the ghost of past Oiler glory at any rate. The new generation of Winnipeg hockey fans that grew up with the Manitoba Moose certainly don't remember the agony of losing to the talent-laden Edmonton Oilers of the eighties and nineties, much less the Jets success of owning the Oilers in the days of the Bobby Hull-led "Hot Line" of the seventies.

Other than dominating the Oilers during the run to the AVCO Cup in the WHA years, the closest the Winnipeg Jets came to vanquishing the Oilers was during the 1990 Stanley Cup playoffs when the Jets were up three games to one thanks to Dave Ellett's double overtime goal in the Smythe division semi-final game four thriller at the old Winnipeg Arena. Of course, the Oilers managed to win the next three games and eliminate the Jets from contention on their way to winning their fifth Stanley Cup in seven years. Although the Jets managed to ice a team that was competitive and usually gave us hope that maybe, just maybe this was the year we would finally beat the mighty Oilers and return to our rightful place as kings of the WHA alumni, we could never beat them. We could never get close enough. But as former Jets owner, Barry Shenkarow once said, nobody was going to get close enough to beat the Oilers in those days, save for the Calgary Flames in 1986. But even then it took Steve Smith to accidentally score on his own net in a game seven Smythe division playoff game to end the Oilers quest of five, perhaps even six straight Stanley Cup championships.

But with today's Edmonton Oilers in a re-building stage and even though they do have first-round picks from three consecutive years in Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, perhaps it is time for the Jets to emerge as the dominant team in this hopefully renewed Canadian rivalry.

And let's not forget what current Oiler Eric Belanger and former Coyote (when the rumor mill surrounding a possible Coyote move back to Winnipeg) said about our fair city, a la Ilya Bryzgalov:

Bryzgalov,"The guys have been talking about it a bit more every day, and the one sure thing is that we want to play in Phoenix and not in Winnipeg,” said Belanger. “Personally, and I won't name any names, but I've chatted with guys that have played (in Winnipeg) and don't want to go back. There are reasons why hockey wasn't working in Winnipeg at the end, I don't see how that would have changed.
"There are good fans there, but Winnipeg is still Winnipeg,” Belanger said. “In January and February, I doubt that my family would follow me out there for a holiday. It's different in Quebec,” Belanger said. They are the same fans, but the economy seems to really be rolling along. The guys that I talk to loved playing in Quebec. You can't go to practice in shorts and t-shirts like I did this morning, but Quebec is attractive. At least there are things to do there!"

"In the mind of the players, it's Quebec before Winnipeg, for sure."

"We can't blame our fans,” Belanger said. “It's been two years that they have been wondering if the club would be moving, and they will come back when it is settled. When these markets are having trouble, it's less money in our pockets. But do we want to go to Winnipeg for an extra 1 or 2%? I'm not so sure."

What punk! I hope Bufuglien or Stuart just crushes this guy.

Top 5 Saves

Well, we had the Top 5 Goals, so here are the Top 5 Saves.
Not to disparage Chris Mason, but you have to know most of these beauties are courtesy of Ondrej Pavelec. Although Mason does have a good one in here stopping none other than Teemu Selanne.

Blues Beat Jets in Shootout

The Jets fell behind 2-0 by the end of the first period before Blake Wheeler notched two to tie it up by the end of the second, but The St. Louis Blues won the game in the second round of the shootout with a nifty backhand by David Perron. The Jets out shot the Blues 42-17 and most times outplayed them but the Jets couldn't muster that third goal for the victory. They did secure a point and temporarily maintain first place in the South-East division.

Claude Noel post-game press conference, courtesy of Illegal Curve Hockey Show.




Illegal Curve post-game podcast.

Hull Feeling Snubbed?

The way the story is written, it seems that the legendary Bobby Hull may be feeling a tad snubbed by True North Sports and Entertainment.

Miettinen Placed on Waivers, Bogosian to Miss Sixth Game

The Winnipeg Jets have placed forward Antti Miettinen on waivers clearing the way for a possible trade and defenceman Zach Bogosian will miss Saturday's tilt with the St. Louis Blues, still nursing his upper-body injury.

Claude Noel Feb. 24 Press Conference

Here is Winnipeg Jets Head Coach Claude Noel talking to the Winnipeg press this morning. He discusses his past working relationship with St. Louis Blues Head Coach Ken Hitchcock, their upcoming contest on Saturday and the recent play of the Jets.

Courtesy of Illegal Curve.

Jets Beat Lightning, Move Temporarily Into First In South East

Although for the second time in as many games, the Winnipeg Jets allowed a goal in the dying moments (this time it was two in 45 seconds) they were able to hold off the Tampa Bay Lightning and win 4-3 at the MTS Centre. The Jets took a 4-0 lead by the end of the second period and Ondjre Pavelec played strong and couldn't be blamed on the last two goals by the Lightning. The power-play clicked enough to ride a streak of seven for seven (including two tonight) going back to last Sunday in the game against Colorado. That streak was snapped at 14:14 of the third period tonight when the Bolts were able to successfully kill off a penalty to Matt Gilroy.

With the win, the Jets leap-frogged both the Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers for first place in the South-East division and third overall in the Eastern Conference with 67 points. The Leafs fall to ninth in the conference with 65 points and the Panthers fall to eighth with 66 points due to their one point earned tonight in a shoot-out loss.

Longing for History

When the whole Phoenix Coyotes debacle gets sorted out and when they're re-located (and they will be) hopefully to Quebec City, but most likely to Seattle; I'm hoping that if La Belle du Province is indeed the next stop for the old Winnipeg Jets/current Coyotes, the new owners will take pity on Jets fans like me that long for the old Jets records to be put back where they belong and re-established in the city of Winnipeg. Now that Winnipeg has re-gained it's NHL franchise, it's only fair and sensible that we re-gain the names of the Jets past glories. That would only make sense and would truly make the wrong that forced us to lose our team in the first place a thing of the past. The records and accomplishments of names like Hawerchuck, Steen, Hull, Hedberg and Selanne don't belong in Phoenix. In a prior post, I mentioned how none of those past stars (if not legends) of professional hockey in Winnipeg don't belong in sedona red and desert sand. They belong in red, white and blue (or now red, white, silver and navy blue)

I don't care about NHL rules and standards concerning relocated teams. I've never understood how it made sense to them how the records of one team can so easily be moved to another and into another, foreign market to which fans of the new team probably (and in Phoenix's case, most definitely) don't even know who these players are. Only Shane Doan, Kieth Tkachuck, Nikolai Khabibulin and the now retired Teppo Numminen had ever donned a Jets sweater. And obviously that's only because they were Jets before the franchise relocation. But why does that mean the history of the team has to go too? I say the Coyotes' history started in 1996. The Atlanta Thrashers' ended in 2011. The same goes for Colorado/Quebec. I'm sure Noridiques fans would agree with me.

And that brings me back to the Coyotes hopefully moving to Quebec. Since the Quebec Noridiques went through the exact same thing the Jest did, they know what a team and its history mean to the city and its fan base. If they could get the Nords history back from Colorado you know they would. Short of merging teams together to ensure the records go back to where they belong (as was the case in 1976 when the Kansas City Scouts merged with the Minnesota North Stars-of course the NHL today wouldn't allow that and would today just contract a team instead of merging them) giving, or at least selling, a team's history back to them would seem to be the only way to right a wrong. So maybe that's the answer. Maybe the new owners of the Coyotes in Quebec could (with the approval of the NHL) sell the records back to the Jets. Then the retired numbers of Hull, Hawerchuck, Steen and future honored Jets would be where they belong.

Hey, you never know. It could happen.

Jets Beer

From the heart of Winnipeg's water and "blessed" by Jets fans themselves comes Budweiser "Winnipeg Jets FAN BREW" beer.

Quick Plug

For those of you who don't know; there is a great radio show on a local Winnipeg station, TSN 1290 Sports Radio called Illegal Curve. It's a wonderful, informative, comprehensive and highly entertaining hockey show that discusses goings on in the world of professional hockey, mostly the NHL and especially the Winnipeg Jets.

I try not to miss an episode as it adds to the flavor of every game day of Jets games. They run regular shows every Saturday at 12:00-3:00 PM CST.
What I find makes their show different and enjoyable is that these guys are big Winnipeg Jets fans! But with professional acumen. They run their show like professionals and give good intelligent interviews and commentary. Obviously like all Canadian boys, they love hockey in general, but it's their shared passion for the Jets that keeps me tuning in every week.

You can catch a lot of past episodes on their website that are also available for download. They have daily updates, interviews and commentary. You may want to search their archives for their own reaction of the Jets return to Winnipeg last May. You can tell their vibe was authentic and they were (and continue to be) just as excited by the Jets return as I am.

Give them a listen sometime.

Jets Let Down Pavelec

Ondjre Pavelec did everything he possibly could by standing on his head throughout the game, especially the third period as his team was out shot 18-6, on his way to a 50-save performance. But his team mates let a late 4-3 lead disappear with 10 seconds left in regulation and JaromirJagr gave the Flyers a 5-4 win over the Winnipeg Jets.
scored in overtime to give the Philadelphia
With a win by New Jersey over Toronto and the Florida Panthers idle, the Jets blew a glorious chance to grab first place in the North-East division which would have given them third seed in the Eastern conference. At worst, they screwed the pooch for the eighth and final playoff spot in the East.

Jets Own Colorado

In a rare Sunday night game at the MTS Centre, the Winnipeg Jets defeated the Colorado Avalanche 5-1 on a night where Bryan Little scored multiple goals for the second consecutive game, Andrew Ladd snapped his goal slump, Ondrej Pavelec kept the Jets in the game when the Avs were pouring it on in the second period; including 18 shots on net and Blake Wheeler scored a career-high four points. This represents the Jets first three-game winning streak since Jan. 31.

Jets Win in First Back-to-Back Game

Ondrej Pavelec was solid, Dustin Bufuglien increased his points streak and Blake Wheeler was the best player on the ice as the Winnipeg Jets won their first back-to-back games this year, including last night's win in Minneapolis, as everything clicked for them (aside from the powerplay) to defeat the defending Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins for the second time at home this season by a score of 4-2.

Jets Beat Wild in Shootout

After a blowout in Pittsburgh and an uninspired loss in a game they should have won at home against the Islanders and even after being outplayed in the second in this one, the Winnipeg Jets outlasted the Minnesota Wild and won in a shootout 4-3 tonight with a high glove-hand shot by Evander Kane, who got his career-high 20th and 21st goals. In fact Kane was involved in all four Jets goals with his two regulation goals, one assist and of course the shootout winner. A shout-out to goaltender Chris Mason is warranted as although he let in three goals on 12 shots, he battled back to perform brilliantly in overtime and in the shootout.

Another Uninspired Loss

You'd figure after embarrassing themselves and leaving their goalie out to dry for eight goals in Pittsburgh, the Jets would have something to prove, if not for their hometown fans, then at least for themselves. No power play goals (two miserable shots on three power-play opportunities) , no inspiration, no points. Their north-south was non-existent as they couldn't connect on barely any defensive zone to neutral zone passes, too many give-aways once again and way too many dump and chases for a power-play that wasn't firing on any cylinders. Is it any wonder the visiting Islanders beat the ever-more demoralized Jets 3-1.

Jets and Ducks Trade Minor Leaguers

The Winnipeg Jets and Anaheim Ducks have traded minor leaguers Riley Holzapfel and Maxime Macenauer.

Another Can't Win

With every game seemingly a must-win for the Winnipeg Jets, today in Pittsburgh, again they turned it into a can't win. Even though the Jets scored two in the first 10 minutes of the first period and scored more than two goals in the game, something they haven't done in almost a dozen games, they once again failed to protect a lead and Evgeni Malkin used his prowess and skill to record a five- point night as the Jets fell to the Penguins 8-5. This marks the third game this season where the Jets have allowed at least seven or more goals. Including this and games against Detroit, Montreal and Philadelphia, the Jets have allowed 30 goals in those contests. Disgusting. I do not believe any team has allowed more blowouts this year. it was also the most shots the Jets have allowed since that 9-8 win against the Flyers.

With Florida staying on with their winning ways and the Washington Capitals also playing relatively good hockey, that eighth and final playoff spot is looking more and more futile, not to mention first in the South-East. There's still a minute hope of pulling in some points, maybe, just maybe enough to steal a playoff spot, assuming Washington and Florida fall apart a bit. That's not all that impossible given how the Jets play at the MTS Centre and they do have a healthy home-stretch coming up.

They better start pulling it together...now.

Winnipeg Jets Top Five Goals ?

From the Winnipeg Jets official website, here are what they consider to be the Jets top five goals so far this year. I don't think I agree with it.



The question mark is there because there have been better goals by the Jets this year. Where is Burmistrov's awesome top corner pick against Carolina or Kane's beauty in-close notcher in the same game? How about Oduya's overtime winner versus Buffalo? Or Kane's winner against the Kings? What about Thorburn's recent beauty against Philly? And really? They didn't list Wellwood's goal eight seconds in against the Penguins for the Jets first win of the season? Yeah, this list is kinda lacking.

Miracle Comeback by Jets

In a game that I had already given up on after it became 2-0 (I even turned the TV off and headed downstairs to blog about it and listened to the comeback on online radio then quickly turned the TV back on) the Jets battled back late in the third in a game dominated by the Capitals. With goals 12 seconds apart by Evander Kane (tying his career high 19th) and Dustin Bufuglien from center that fooled Tomas Vokoun to send the game into overtime that solved nothing, Little and Wheeler both scored on their first attempts in the shootout and Ondrej Pavelec stopped two out of three, only allowing a quick shot from Alex Ovechkin as the Winnipeg Jets incredibly beat the Washington Capitals 3-2.

This was a huge character and confidence-building win. And one earned on the road at that, which the Jets are solely needing. With the home stretch of the season in which every point is immeasurable, let's hope they can keep it up. And who knows, maybe this is the game that turns things around for the Jets and propels them into the playoffs.

But boy, as far giving up on them; that'll teach me.

Study Finds Canada Could Support Two More NHL Teams

A new study has found that with a Canadian dollar at least on par with the American one and a salary cap in place in the NHL, Canada could conceivably support at least two more NHL franchises.
Mario Lefebvre, director, Centre for Municipal Studies, with the Canadian business think tank speaking on behalf of the Conference Board of Canada says, "I can’t say that it would be a recipe for disaster, but I think that, given that you’ve got options — and one of them is not that far out in Hamilton — I like thinking that Hamilton is in a better situation than Toronto would be."

Jets Present Jersey to Canadian Embassy in U.S.

The Winnipeg Jets, in Washington to do battle with the South-East division-leading Capitals, stopped by the Canadian embassy to schmooze with Ambassador Gary Doer and other Canadian delegates and while there completed the embassy's Canadian NHL jersey collection as they presented the ambassador with a Jets one to adorn the walls of the embassy with the rest of the Canadian teams.

NHL Eyes Peg as Possible Sight for Heritage Classic Game

Could it be the return of the Jets and the passion of Winnipeg hockey fans have been noticed by the National Hockey League brass enough to bring the Heritage Classic game to our city? It appears they have their eyes on us.

Hawerchuck versus Gretzky anyone?

Jets Play Hard to Earn Victory Against Leafs

Another sell-out crowd, another inspired victory by the Winnipeg Jets as they out-battled the Toronto Maple Leafs 2-1, although offensive woes continue.

Offensive Woes Continue for Jets

Winnipeg's scoring drought continues and Carey Price continues to shut the door as he recorded his second shutout of the season against the Jets as they lost to the hometown Canadiens 3-0.

The Jets have only been able to score six goals in their last six games. If they wish to surpass the other teams vying for the last playoff spots, they'll either have to really turn it on and start crashing the net (which they don't do nearly enough of) or Kevin Cheveldayoff will have to pull the trigger on a trade for more offensive punch. The problem is, who would another team want in exchange for that punch? You certainly don't want to give up a talented, young defenceman such as Bogosian or Bufuglien who are also fan favourites; but what do you give up in return? Draft picks could be the answer, but then you're throwing a wrench in the works of building your team through the draft and free agency the way True North have said they want to.

One thing is for sure, the Jets better start producing or they might as well make those summer holiday plans now.

Panthers Dispense with Lowly Jets

The Winnipeg Jets continued their pathetic ritual of losing the back end of back-to-back games in consecutive nights as they fell to the South-East division-leading Florida Panthers 2-1.

Pavelec Bails Out Jets, Beat Lightning in OT

Two back-to-back overtime games, two wins for the Winnipeg Jets and Ondrej Pavelec was the difference as he stoned Tampa Bay's top snipers to allow Kyle Wellwood the opportunity to notch the game winner in OT with his seventh point in eight games as the Jets beat the Lightning 2-1 and maintained their reputation as streak killers. The Lightning had won five straight before tonight's contest.

Byfuglien Returns Tonight Against Lightning

When the Winnipeg Jets hit the ice tonight against the Tampa Bay Lightning, they will have sorely missed defenseman Dustin Bufuglien back in the line-up. His return is tentative, being a "game-time" decision and his ice time will be monitored and restricted, but after 16 games on the sideline, Coach Claude Noel will be hard pressed not to insert the big Minnesota native back onto the blue line.