Winnipeg Jets: Is This Already Too Late? with Mike McIntyre

Winnipeg Jets: Is This Already Too Late? with Mike McIntyre

Let’s welcome in from the road, fresh off that one- nothing loss in St. Louis. It’s our pal Mike McIntyre from the Winnipeg Free Press. Mike, what’s going on, dude? How are you? >> I am a little sleepdeprived, Hus. Um, what day is it today? Thursday. >> Yeah, >> it’s still Wednesday for me cuz I actually uh I pulled an allnighter originally. I thought the Jets were practicing today. So, you always I mean we book our own flights. I don’t know if people know that, but um I always book the early flight out the next morning after a game cuz you want to get to the next city presumably to to cover the team when they’re going to have escape. Uh, of course, the Jets late last night ended up canceling their practice today, but it was too late for me to do anything about the flight. >> Were you surprised that they canled practice today? I mean, uh, uh, this team looks like they maybe could use a little practice. >> Well, not only do they look like they could use some practice, they were just talking a few days ago about how crappy it is that they’ve had such little practice time and, you know, kind of blaming some of what’s going on on a, you know, the lack of cohesion. And so, they had a practice scheduled like they they they had the rink. It wasn’t going to be the game rink. They were going to use the uh University of Denver facility which they’ve used in the past and uh you know as of end of the game last night they were ready to go. I know some people have speculated online okay well this is their CBA mandated day off. Well I mean I I don’t know how they you can you know manipulate numbers. I know they are required to get a certain amount of days off you know per month. The Jets just had this past Sunday off. We’re only Thursday. Um, and they start their five-day holiday break on Monday. So, if this was a CBA mandated day off, it certainly wasn’t on the schedule because they were down to practice. And, you know, people will look at last night’s performance and say, “How could they how could they decide they they don’t need to hit the ice and work on anything?” Put it this way. I’ll be curious to to ask Scott O’Neal at the Morning Skate tomorrow. Um, one, what was the reasoning behind the decision? And and two, was this a true off day? Like, did everybody just kind of go do their own thing or was it just an off day from skating and media? Uh, and did they do other things? um which you know they certainly potentially could do whether it’s extended video sessions whether it’s uh sitdowns with the coach we know that Scott Neil already pulled that club out of his bag I think that was back in early November uh when the team was in California and the slide was kind of starting and Scott Arneal had these oneon- ons um I don’t know if he’d use that card again I mean I don’t Well, maybe the GM sat down with players. Maybe the coaching staff and the GM sat down. Maybe the players went to the mountains for some soulsearching. I mean, I it’s a beautiful day here in Denver. So, uh, sorry to the folks back in Winnipeg. I know it’s a not so beautiful day there, but bottom line is, uh, I I’ll be curious to ask, you know, what was the reason to stay off the ice? Um, and secondly, did the Jets did what did you do with the day? Uh, was there any hockey related activities? Um, and if not, if this was just to like get everybody away from the rink, again, I think people will have a hard time wrapping their heads around that because put it this way, Hus, um, the Jets have they’ve certainly led to some people thinking that they’ve taken quite a few nights off at the rink lately. And you know, I don’t know. Maybe this is the latest uh coach playbook that he he’s now killing them with kindness. I don’t know. It’s it’s hard to say. >> Yeah. Well, I mean, I’ll look forward to hear what uh that the coaching staff has to say about that one and the players tomorrow on this. Uh bottom line is they got the avalanche tomorrow and uh we talked about the importance of these three games and to start off the way they did. I mean just I mean they had to have that one and I mean it the the hill gets steeper and steeper with every result like they had last night. Let me throw this to you and and to the chat as well. Why not question of the day for not autocorp but Waverly and McGillry. Um you sat down with Kevin Chevoff on the road when these struggles sort of started and he said the answer has to come from within. Um are we past that point now? And you know if if you can’t and you’re not willing to trade some younger assets your picks including your first round pick which I think would be completely negligent with this in the situation they’re at right now. >> Yes. Um, is it time to maybe wave a veteran or two and just simply get some new blood and some new competition in it? Because I mean, you could literally bring up anybody on the moose and there’s a number of guys playing right now that I mean, there would be no drop off. I mean, it can’t be less productive than it is right now for a good portion of the Winnipeg Jet Forward Group. Yeah, we’re to your original question, we are past that point. So much to the point, Hus, that I I honestly had talked to myself this morning. Now, again, I didn’t sleep at all last night. So, maybe this was the uh maybe this is the lack of sleep talking. I was convinced someone was going to be on waiverss today. And maybe it was just them cancelling the skate. I thought, okay, well, there’s a way to, you know, shield everybody from that a little bit. Um, I was convinced. And whether it was Tanner Pearson, who I think we would all agree has not been very productive. He had a stretch of a few okay games, you know, not that long ago, but overall, not a whole lot there. Guy they just signed last summer, one-year deal. He’s a pending UFA. He’s not drafted and developed. There’s absolutely no loyalty if if nobody put a claim in on him. It’s not a ton of money to Barry and the miners. Paul and Miller who can’t get a sniff of this lineup. They keep putting Luke Shen in. Now Hayden Flurry’s back and I I would suggest Hus that Hayden Flurry is probably ahead of Colin Miller on the depth chart, especially with Scott Neil telling me recently that they are looking to pry Flurry on the right side. That tells me that they’re actually more open to Flurry being the guy that maybe um subs Shen off a little bit than Miller. Colin Miller is a pending UFA. Not a huge salary. Again, if nobody put in a claim, he could bury that in the minor. Gus Nyquist, obviously a higher salary, no goals in what are we now at 23 games for him. 24. He’s playing on the second power play. They’ve tried him like quite literally with everybody at some point, I guess, other than Chley, Connor, uh Shifley and Connor. You know, again, if you were looking to send a message that the status quo is not good enough, that you know, and and let’s be honest, Hus, the Manitoba Moose, I know they didn’t like their last game, but things are going pretty well down on the farm. They got a lot of guys hungry, chomping at the bit. And I’m not even talking about Lambert, Chibberov, and Ford who were up here earlier this year. There’s a bunch of other guys, whether it’s David Gusson, Walker Der, Phil De Jeppi, Jared Anderson Dolan, who who played in the playoffs last year for the Jets. Uh Mason Shaw, their captain, who’s among their their leading scorers. Samuel Fimo, uh Braden Jagger, I mean, just go down the list there. Danny Zilkin, who Mark Morrison recently said is a number one center at the list is long and none of these guys are getting a sniff. So, I had I had convinced myself, okay, maybe today’s the day they wave somebody. You know, I I could make a case. the three guys I just mentioned and as much as I’m sure some fans would argue they are not waving Luke Shen. Luke Shen is going to remain with this team, I would agree that Luke Shen should not be playing regularly on this team. But even if if it’s as a 78 guy, I think they they feel there’s a role for him. But the three guys I just mentioned, Pearson, Miller, Nyquist, all of those guys are penning UFAS. None of them are drafted and developed. there’s no long-term loyalty. Um, you took a chance on signing them, it hasn’t worked. I think almost any other NHL team at this point would have moved on, especially if you have guys that, as you point out, Hus, what’s the worst that could happen? They come in and don’t contribute, but that’s what they’re already getting um from a a you know, and not just the guys I named right now. That list is a very long one. the fact that they’re not injecting any of that energy. You know, yesterday Jim Montgomery before after the morning skate, he talked about putting two new forwards in the lineup last night. I don’t know if fans realize this. Two of St. Louis’s 12 forwards were making their Blues debut last night. One guy was making his NHL debut, Otto Steinberg, and uh N Jonathan Bergrren was making his Blues debut after they grabbed him off waiverss from Detroit on Monday. And Jim Montgomery, and again, the Blues were one point behind the Jets before last night. Now they’re a point ahead of the Jets. He was talking about his team and it actually sounded like he was talking about the Jets, a ton of guys struggling, kind of a lifeless malaise, if you will, around the team, a dark cloud. And he flat out said that he loved the idea of putting two, you know, have two guys make their debuts because he said it’s it’s almost like opening night again. There’s all this excitement, you know, it’s like you’re starting fresh and I think that could be infectious. Well, one team last night looked like they had a lot of energy and enthusiasm and it wasn’t the visitors. So, you know, you hear the the Blues coach saying that and you think, well, why aren’t the Jets open to, you know, trying something like that? And it just boggles the mind. I don’t have an answer for you, Hus. I really don’t. Other than than at this point, nobody wants to admit that any mistakes were made. And so they they’re they’re doubling and tripling down on guys that clearly are not productive whatsoever. And it’s it’s it’s having a contagious effect on the team. And you know, fairly or not, when when people talk about what happened to this team from a year ago, they’ve got so many of the same players. We keep hearing time and time again, well, you know, we’re trying to integrate new guys into the line. Well, who are those new guys they’re trying to integrate? The guys that haven’t done anything. There’s a potential solution right there. And you know, they they will not walk through that door. I don’t understand it. I really don’t. Um and it, you know, we’re going to get to a point if we’re not there already where it’s going to be too little too late. I mean, the hole is just getting bigger and deeper and you know, you’re you’re potentially getting close to a point of no return here. And then it doesn’t matter what you do with the lineup. At a certain point, it’s not going to make much of a difference. >> Yeah. I uh I mean, listen, like I’m not in favor of doing something crazy right now, like trying to salvage the season with a trade of a first round pick or, you know, some of these younger players. I mean, I think we’re sort of seeing that there’s a very good talented core. >> You got the best goalender in the world. You’ve got an elite top line. You’ve got a great defenseman in Josh Morrisy. and you know a few other pieces. But I mean, Mike, I even if you made that move and waved a couple guys and brought up some young players and you know, you don’t get a big boost, at least it’s an open the secret, whatever. I mean, there’s competition. If you don’t produce, like Scott O’Neal said, you know, these guys are professionals. It’s the job to come in and do the job. And I’m sorry, a lot of guys just simply aren’t doing it. It’s pro sports. You find other guys or you give and other guys at least an opportunity to come in and do that. And I think some energy of some guys that haven’t been part of this being injected into it could well as I said it can’t be worse than what’s happened over this last little bit. I mean, despite like you were in the building last night, >> if it’s not a Connor Halabuk game, >> and again, this isn’t to to to bagg on, you know, the backup goalender, but if you just have an average goalie in there, >> it’s 3 nothing after the first period easily, >> if not worse. >> Yep. And I mean, you know, like we’ve seen, you know, you can cover up a lot of things with a brilliant Hart and Vzna trophy winning goalender, but um you know, for a game that had such importance that everyone knew about it, knowing what is to come tomorrow night, >> right? >> Um it is just unfathomable that there wasn’t a little bit more from a team or maybe that is this team and they’re just not capable of. And if that’s the case, you got to figure it out and do something. Well, and I guess what makes this more perplexing than anything, Hus, is we’re still we’re only two games removed from a really easily the best game of the year in my eyes against Washington. Connor Hellbuck returned. You beat the team that on Saturday night at least, Washington was tied for the lead in in the East and you dominated them. And it looked like, as I wrote, it looked like the Jets of old rather than just the old Jets. Um, and what have they done since? I mean, all the talk out of that game from Scott O’Reill down through the players. Yeah, that’s great and all, but that can’t be a one-off. That has to become the norm rather than the exception. Their next two games were at home to Ottawa on the road against St. Louis. two teams that correct me if I’m wrong. I think Ottawa was right neck andneck with them. They might have been one up or one one down. But anyways, >> yeah, >> not exactly juggernauts. >> They got one point out of four against those two teams. And just like that, >> they’ve essentially flushed any goodwill out of the Washington win right down the toilet. And barring, you know, a Manitoba miracle tomorrow night, um, you know, this has the potential, I said on on social media, you know, that they may have a tough time keeping this within a touchdown, uh, given the way they’re playing and given the way the Avalanche are playing. Um, does that mean they I mean, can they come out and and surprise us all? Sure, I guess. But I mean the task is monumental here and you know so much of this is self-inflicted and again I I just don’t understand why the you know they say yeah you’ve got to show up and all this stuff but the bottom line is the the overriding message to the players is well all of your jobs are safe we’re not actually going to make any changes. We might shuffle some things around like you might go from the fourth line to the third or maybe you’ll go from the second down to the third and we’ll move these two little pieces here and there and we’ll swap these we’ll swap one nonproductive player out for another one. But at the end of the day, you know, it’s it’s the definition of insanity. It’s doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. And you know, I’ll say this, Hus, like I don’t want this to sound like I’m just attacking Kevin Shovel layoff cuz ultimately he’s the one that would decide if guys are going on waiverss and callups and that. I also think Scott O’Neal could be doing more just in game. I mean, I said this last night again and I I’ve I’ve said this now a number of times in the last few weeks. At what point do you consider breaking Mark Schiffling, Kyle Kh? And if not now, if you’re not willing to to take a look at what they look like apart now, you’re you’re never going to do it. I mean, because the rationale now is, well, what if what if we do and it doesn’t work? Well, but this is when you should be trying that. It’s already not working collectively as a team. And and you know, then when things go well and the line’s producing, you’re like, well, we can’t do it now. They’re scoring. Well, now everybody’s, you know, all of a sudden fighting it. I I just don’t understand. Like that’s Yes, it’s the the nuclear option or whatever that Scott O’Neal has, but at some point, I mean, I would have tried it at least in the third period. And instead, what was the one move he made? It was moving Valardi down and moving up. Yeah, been there, done that. We know what that looks like. And sure, they played a bit better as a team in the third and Joel Hoffer had to make a few good saves, but it was way too little, way too late. And I I just I don’t understand the decision-making of this team. Uh well, not just at times, pretty much the whole season so far. >> Mike McIntyre, the Winnipeg Free Press in Denver, Jets and ABS, tomorrow night, uh 8:00 PM puck drop, Winnipeg time from the ball arena. Um, let’s talk about Jonathan Taves for a minute. Um, listen, we knew that the story was amazing. I mean, him coming back to the league, working so hard to get back and healthy enough to play. Um, starting off at the 2C and having, in my opinion, a pretty good first kind of dozen games or so. Um, he has no points in the month of December. uh one assist in his last I’m not going to count but looks like about 17 18 19 games. Um he’s moved from a guy that played a lot in the top six to a player that two games ago had the lowest ice time of any Jet forward. >> What was it 8 minutes? Eight and change. >> I think it was 10 1051. He had eight minutes against the Dallas Stars which was a season low. um 835 in that 4-3 loss to Dallas. Um how does this I mean I I certainly don’t think that this is what he thought he would be coming back. I don’t think this is how he envisioned this year going. Um and it if anything it’s getting worse. It’s not getting better. um like I think obviously there’ll be a couple games he’ll go Christmas break back but um how do you see this playing out Mike if this does not get better because uh I don’t think it’s great for him and it’s certainly not good for the hockey club right now and um you know I think everyone’s been hoping that this would turn around. I mean, there is a lot that I’m sure he brings intangibly to the team and all that, but um at a certain point, I mean, you have to be able to get the job done. And I mean, it hasn’t been like, oh, you move to a fourth line role and you’re a much better situation and that line’s been good. They’ve been getting absolutely killed >> like every night. And um it it it’s sad to see. I mean like it’s a very different category than the rest of the guys that came in because we knew there was a whole bunch of other things that went in went went into it. Um where are you at with the tab situation and how much longer can they continue to go both the player and the team with what’s happening on the ice? Well, and this speaks to the point I just made about decision m decision making with this team hus because I don’t think the Jets are doing Jonathan Tay any favors by just running them out there every second night in some cases backto back with what this schedule has been. We all all the talk was about a compacted schedule and the toll it was going to take on players. That’s for everyday players, guys that are in their primes. It’s taking a toll. What about a 37y old who didn’t play for two years trying to come back and you know again I don’t know if this is Scott Arneil’s decision if it’s coming from above him and if if there’s an understanding like that they can’t sit Jonathan Ta out for a game or two give him a breather. I mean I I said it as recently as as that Edmonton game a couple weeks ago where they got killed. um you know and they were playing back to back and that was their seventh game in 11 nights and TA you could see was already running on fumes at that point and the fact they didn’t healthy scratch him and you know it doesn’t have to be embarrassing they’re not they’re not trampling over his legacy they’re not uh making a a mockery of him who wouldn’t understand if they came out and said you know what um We’re trying to manage his minutes a little bit. It’s been a tough spell lately. We’re playing a ton of hockey. There’s very little time for rest and recovery and, you know, we think the occasional night off could actually do him and and the team some good. Well, that has not happened. So, yeah, great that he’s been healthy enough to dress for every game, but he’s not playing like a guy that deserves to be in the lineup every game, especially in the pivotal position that they’ve had him at at times. Now, they’ve scaled back on that because I think that they have no choice, but it seems like that’s as far as they’re willing to go right now, Hus, is scaling back his minutes and moving him down the lineup. But again, are you telling me there’s not a guy on the moose right now who if you told him, you know, 10 10 minutes, come up here and make the most of it isn’t going to be coming out like guns ablazing like he’s trying to make an impact and are you telling me that wouldn’t have a good effect on the team? And you know, that’s where we all know True North, the organization, and and good on them. They can be extremely loyal. They talk about the family atmosphere. Clearly that loyalty has led. It’s been paid back in return with a lot of drafted and developed guys. Um, you know, re-upping here. And, you know, I think that works for this group. I’m not saying the Jets need to run their team like the mob, aka the Vegas Golden Knights, just absolutely cutthroat, because >> the Jets don’t have the same luxury as a Vegas that can that can do that. can treat players just like property, like numbers. And who cares if people’s feelings are hurt? There’s people lining up to come and play in Vegas. The Jets don’t have that luxury. But at the end of the day, it’s got to be that loyalty can’t be completely blind. And if the objective is trying to win hockey games, I mean, I just think and I found myself thinking of this last night slash earlier this morning, like, and guys like Connor Habibuk will never come out and throw anyone under the bus, but what’s Connor Hellabuk thinking after a night like last night? Like, is this is this what he signed up for? Is is this is this what he wants? and you know and and go down the list of Mark Schiffley, Kyle Connor, Josh Morrisy, those are the those are the breadand butter foundation guys and they’re guys that you know while they may have had some bad games here and there and some plays they’d want back, they are not guys that were at all questioning you know what they’re doing for this team, but I can’t imagine that they’re all that thrilled with the way this season has has has turned and none of them we’re getting any younger. I mean, it, you know, the window seemed wide open, but it looks like it’s getting slammed shut, at least for this year. Um, and so, you know, loyalty and all that is great, but that can’t override the underlying objective, which is to try and win hockey games, and it just feels like the Jets can’t get out of their own way in that sense. I know our pal and your colleague Ken Weave when I’ve been talking about this before has kind of said that the optics of and this I’m not talking about Taves now. kind of back to the other underperforming veterans that are on one-year deals that don’t have tenure here >> that the the optics of signing a Tanner Pearson for instance and then waving him after 30 games would be really detrimental to the team, you know, down the road when they’re trying to, you know, fill spots in the off season. And and I guess if you were really outwardly treating players poorly or promising one thing and then not delivering on the others, I guess I get that. But Mike, at the same point, I mean, it is professional sports and I don’t think it is a frankly a good look on an organization to just continue on unsuccessfully because you feel and I’m not saying that they do feel like they can’t do that. I mean that’s that’s an opinion that some people you know I guess believe that there’d be a trickle down effect. To me the effect is more on everybody else not doing something as you see game after game of underwhelming performance of a team that you believe is capable of so much more and has seen it in small doses at times this season. I mean, and to that argument, I would say to those people who feel like the optics are bad, what are the optics like being three points out of the basement of the NHL standings a week before Christmas? It are are UFA >> that’s what everyone sees. >> Are UFAs lining up to come to play for the 29th ranked team? And again, this isn’t a this isn’t a country club. This isn’t this isn’t beer league, you know, drop in hockey. Show up when you can throw your sticks in the middle and we’ll pick we’ll pick sides. Like this is the NHL and yes, the the pie is growing. That is the salary cap. But at the end of the day, there’s only 32 teams. There is a salary cap and there’s only so much pie to go around. So, if you’re worried that, oh my goodness, what if we can’t attract future Tanner Pearsons or future Gus Nyquis? That’s a pretty interesting hill to sort of die on. Uh, in my eyes anyways. I mean, I I think the objectives here, you got to think bigger than that. And again, you have a really good nucleus. like come play for the team with the reigning heart trophy winner. The guy that’s won three VZNAS. Uh a defenseman who’s going to be on team Canada the Olympics. Uh a winger who’s going to be on the American team at the Olympics. Like there’s a lot of selling points, but what’s happening on the ice this year is not exactly uh going in the brochure, I would imagine, when it comes to recruiting players down the road. So yeah, I mean the Jets, again, I I get that they have to handle their business maybe a little differently than some other teams, but if it gets to a point where you’re actually undercutting your ultimate goal, then you really have a problem. So yeah, I mean, it’s a tough position the Jets have put themselves in. No question about it. Um, I guess you’re looking for silver linings. They’re still what? just just five points out of a wildcard spot and it’s not like there’s six teams they’d have to leapfrog but the urgency has to be stepped up and unfortunately the Jets are not really showing any signs uh both on the ice or how what they’re doing off it that makes you really believe that they’re on the cusp of a of a of of a long-term turnaround Here.

The Winnipeg Jets’ struggles continue after a frustrating 1–0 loss in St. Louis, and serious questions are starting to pile up.

Mike McIntyre of the Winnipeg Free Press joins Andrew “Hustler” Paterson to break down what’s gone wrong, why the Jets aren’t making meaningful lineup changes, and whether the organization has waited too long to inject new energy from the Manitoba Moose. The conversation also dives into coaching decisions, loyalty vs. accountability, and the difficult Jonathan Toews situation as his role continues to shrink.

With the Jets slipping in the standings and urgency rising, McIntyre asks the uncomfortable question: are the Jets already past the point of no return?

Topics:
Jets lose 1–0 in St. Louis and the mood around the team (00:00)
Canceled practice raises serious questions (01:50)
Lack of urgency and accountability concerns (05:30)
Is it time to waive veterans and call up Moose players? (06:45)
Why lineup loyalty is hurting the Jets (10:40)
Comparing Jets’ inaction to St. Louis injecting new energy (11:45)
How close are the Jets to the point of no return? (13:05)
Hellebuyck masking deeper team issues (14:35)
From best game of the season to wasted momentum (15:25)
Avalanche matchup and how steep the hill has become (16:40)
Questioning coaching decisions and line combinations (18:00)
Jonathan Toews’ declining role and lack of production (19:40)
Why resting Toews might help both player and team (22:00)
Loyalty vs. winning in the Jets organization (24:30)
What core players must be thinking right now (25:30)
Bad optics vs. worse results in the standings (27:00)
Silver linings — and why urgency still feels missing (29:55)

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