Scott Arniel has provided himself — and his coaching staff — with an important assignment.
Although the head coach of the Winnipeg Jets plans to work in a little rest and relaxation during the Olympic break, he understands what is on the horizon when the bulk of his team returns to on-ice workouts on Feb. 17.
With 26 games in 51 days to close out the regular season beginning Feb. 25 against the Vancouver Canucks, the Jets will be subjected to a frenetic pace (including 16 games in March) as the stretch drive arrives.
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Winnipeg Jets Head Coach Scott Arniel.
So in some ways, they’re fortunate to be able to hold what amounts to a miniature training camp before the regular-season resumes.
“I’ve got some work to do here,” Arniel said before the Jets faced the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday. “This is our push. I mean, we’ve been doing it. We’re 7-3-3 since we ended our losing streak. We’ve got ourselves back in (the playoff race). Now, the work coming is going to be heavy. That month of March is going to be really, obviously crazy important. But it’s going to be a lot of work, too.
“The staff has some things that we’ve got planned (for) when we do come back for that week of practice.”
The Jets have four players heading to Italy to suit up for their respective countries in the Olympics — defenceman Josh Morrissey for Team Canada, goalie Connor Hellebuyck and left-winger Kyle Connor for Team USA and forward Nino Niederreiter for Switzerland.
With NHL players back at the Olympics for the first time since 2014, there’s definitely a keen sense of anticipation building for when the men’s tournament gets underway.
“I’ve got some work to do here.”
“You can tell they’re excited, as it’s getting closer,” said Arniel. “Everybody’s done a good job of keeping it to the side. But I know they’re excited. It’s a spotlight (in) that the whole world is watching and for the NHL to be back in, it’s been a long time.
“We saw that with the 4 Nations (Face-Off), with how exciting that was. And we’re hoping the Olympics will be the same thing. And for those guys to be a part of it, to have that experience, to be in that atmosphere, to have that pressure, those are all good things for those guys to help us after the break is over.”
Morrissey spoke to reporters prior to the game and he wasn’t holding back his enthusiasm for what is on the horizon.
“As a hockey player in our sport, you grow up dreaming of playing in the NHL, and subsequently, it would be pretty darn cool to play in the Olympics,” said Morrissey.
Chris O’Meara / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES
Winnipeg Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey (centre) said he never thought he’d get a chance to be an Olympian.
“But, unlike other sports, where that’s the ultimate goal, I never thought I’d have the chance to be an Olympian. It’s hard to put into words. Just having the chance to represent Canada on any level, let alone the Olympics, it’s a dream come true.”
Morrissey had the chance to represent Canada at the aforementioned 4 Nations Face-Off last February, though a nasty flu virus kept him out of the gold medal game against the United States.
The smooth-skating defenceman is eager for another opportunity to wear the Maple Leaf at an even more prominent event, where the stakes are even higher.
“It’s just so fun to be around some of the greatest players in the world,” said Morrissey. “It’s not a tough sell to get people to want to go to Italy for the Olympics, so lots of people are coming, which is awesome.
“I just can’t wait to get over there.”
INJURY UPDATE
Following the morning skate, Arniel provided a quick update on the status of defencemen Neal Pionk (lower body), Colin Miller (knee) and Haydn Fleury (neck, back) — all of whom have been out for an extended period of time.
Miller missed the past 12 games after injuring his knee in the first period of a game against the New Jersey Devils on Jan. 11 and Pionk has missed the past 11 games with a lower-body issue.
Meanwhile, Fleury has been sidelined since an awkward crash into the end boards against the Vegas Golden Knights on Jan. 6 (making it 15 games out of the lineup) and left him with multiple injuries to work through.
Jessie Alcheh / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES
Winnipeg Jets defenceman Neal Pionk skated with the team in a non-contact jersey at various points of the last road trip. Head coach Scott Arniel hopes the Olympic break helps bring Pionk, Colin Miller and Haydn Fleury back into the lineup.
Pionk had skated with the Jets in a non-contact jersey at various points of the last road trip, but he wasn’t on the ice with his teammates during the past several days.
So where do things stand with those currently in the infirmary?
“We’ll see when we get back (from the Olympic break),” said Arniel. “I’m hoping that Miller and Pionk will be back skating (on Feb. 17). Fleury’s getting a checkup today to see if he’s able to get going on the ice. Obviously, he’s going to have a little bit more work ahead of him.
“When we get back from the break, we’re hoping two of them are ready to go. And three would be great. I don’t know where it’ll be 100 per cent, if they’ll all be ready to go. They’ll have to get some treatment while we’re away.”
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Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter
The Warm-Up
Winnipeg Jets Game Days
On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop.
Ken Wiebe is a sports reporter for the Free Press, with an emphasis on the Winnipeg Jets. He has covered hockey and provided analysis in this market since 2000 for the Winnipeg Sun, The Athletic, Sportsnet.ca and TSN. Ken was a summer intern at the Free Press in 1999 and returned to the Free Press in a full-time capacity in September of 2023. Read more about Ken.
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