Post-Game Talk: Jets lose 7-2. My teams suck.

[Mortimer Snerd]

Niku does at least one thing better than Josh and that's his ability to create space for himself when he's pressured. Myers was the only defenseman that we had that was really good at that but he was bad at most other things. Niku's and Myers' ability to have someone come at them, make a small move, and suddenly be all alone with options is something that Morrissey doesn't have. Escapability, if that's a word.

Do we know this? Based on Niku's entire 32 game NHL career? For that matter do we know that JMo does not have it?

 

[10Ducky10]

JMo misses Trouba.

 

[BoneDocUK]

Playing both sides on the PP is irrelevant. The issue is with having a right hand shot topass to Laine for the one-timer, or to pass to Scheifele in the slot. You can disagree about the need for that but that is what Morrissey lacks. Otherwise, Morrissey has shown in the past that he is a very good PP QB and puck distributor.

Man, you seem a little grumpy today, sir. Glad I missed last night's debacle!

It's not irrelevant, because Niku can and has made those exact passes, in the Wheeler hole where he has often played for the Moose, and from either point. You can argue whether an RH shot is to be preferred there but his handedness works on the PP, though there's no doubt Buff has some advantages in roving the line and keeping the puck in, and his offensive instincts and ability to maintain control of the puck under pressure are assets there too.

I'm not sure that Morrissey is the problem with PP1. With a few exceptions it's slow and predictable, from zone entry to set-up to shot, and has lacked the crisp puck movement and lethal 55/26/29/81 four-way shooting threat that it's displayed at its very best. Maybe it's tinkering, maybe it's practice and game-speed, but it has looked really dangerous only a handful of times that I've seen this season, and with so many liabilities atm that they can't do much about, the Jets need to max the efficiency of one of their bigger weapons.

 

[AKAChip]

There are quite a few problems with the PP1. It’s predictable, lacks a player who can enter the zone with possession and goes through Wheeler, whose shot isn’t threatening enough to not have the opponent always key on Laine. There are other minor problems but those are the most pertinent.

 

[ps241]

Its early so there is lots of time to improve this. But our HDCF% of 43.21% is the lowest in Jets 2.0 history. If we go through the year this way, it will be a long year and a lot of lopsided losses.

We are spending $13.3 million on our 7 man active D roster and that includes the overpay of $4.3 for Kuli. That equals like 1 Eric Karlsson lol . With Buff on the sidelines this was always going to be a long season notwithstanding a Vezina level Herculean effort from Helly.

I don’t think it will be boring though.

 

[sipowicz]

JMo misses Trouba.

Trouba misses JMo!

 

[ps241]

JMo misses Trouba.

He misses having a top pairing talent to play with. He would be fine with Buff. Makes me more impressed with how Rielly has managed to survive in Toronto without any RHD help.

 

[Atoyot]

Do we know this? Based on Niku's entire 32 game NHL career? For that matter do we know that JMo does not have it?

I've seen him do it multiple times in those few games and in the AHL, and I've seen Morrissey do it many fewer times in his much larger sample. It's not a comment on who is better it's a comment on one tiny aspect of their game.

 

[Mortimer Snerd]

Man, you seem a little grumpy today, sir. Glad I missed last night's debacle!

It's not irrelevant, because Niku can and has made those exact passes, in the Wheeler hole where he has often played for the Moose, and from either point. You can argue whether an RH shot is to be preferred there but his handedness works on the PP, though there's no doubt Buff has some advantages in roving the line and keeping the puck in, and his offensive instincts and ability to maintain control of the puck under pressure are assets there too.

I'm not sure that Morrissey is the problem with PP1. With a few exceptions it's slow and predictable, from zone entry to set-up to shot, and has lacked the crisp puck movement and lethal 55/26/29/81 four-way shooting threat that it's displayed at its very best. Maybe it's tinkering, maybe it's practice and game-speed, but it has looked really dangerous only a handful of times that I've seen this season, and with so many liabilities atm that they can't do much about, the Jets need to max the efficiency of one of their bigger weapons.

Don't know where you think you detect grumpy. I managed to miss most of it too.

Most (not all) of this discussion has been about having a RHS play the point on the PP. That's why some are suggesting Ristolainen. (Maybe you were right. The suggestion of Ristolainen always makes me grumpy. Horrible idea.) Some may be taking a more generic approach to getting better play from the 1 Dman on PP1.

Speaking generally, Morrissey has always been a very good PP QB. I doubt we are going to get any better man for that job unless it is a RHS Dman. RHS can take pass from Wheeler on the half wall and pass on to Laine in one quick motion. LHS cannot. It doesn't matter how good he may be. It can't be done on the forehand of a LHS. A pivot is required in there somewhere.

Pionk played there when JMo was out. He wasn't particularly successful but I would give him more of a shot there. That and swap out Connor for Ehlers so that they could have better zone entries. Or how about this: Put Laine on PP2 and make it PP1? If that suggestion is not too grumpy.

 

[Mortimer Snerd]

I've seen him do it multiple times in those few games and in the AHL, and I've seen Morrissey do it many fewer times in his much larger sample. It's not a comment on who is better it's a comment on one tiny aspect of their game.

I'm not following you. You've seen them do what? Pass to Laine? Of course they can pass to anywhere. But a LHS can't do it without having to pivot. That means it both takes too long and telegraphs the pass. I suppose some LHS might be a little quicker and smoother than others but they can only do so much.

With Buff/Trouba/Myers there the only LHS on our PP1 is Connor and he plays facing the opposite direction most of the time. So everyone was setup to pass to Laine and/or Scheifele for the one-timers.

 

[Robinson2187]

There are quite a few problems with the PP1. It’s predictable, lacks a player who can enter the zone with possession and goes through Wheeler, whose shot isn’t threatening enough to not have the opponent always key on Laine. There are other minor problems but those are the most pertinent.

The PP started getting stale by the middle of last season IIRC. Everyone noticed it except Maurice apparently. So far this year it's been a hot mess. The absence of Buff hurts but it's not the only issue as you pointed out.

Maurice needs a new chalkboard.

 

[tntkid]

I despise the Pens about as much as I despise the leafs.

Really looking forward to when Crosby retires and they suck.

 

[10Ducky10]

Trouba misses JMo!

I don't doubt it. They played well together.

 

[tntkid]

I don't doubt it. They played well together.

At least Morrissey wants to play here.

Jake the Snake is happier in New York.

 

[ffh]

Sami can play both sides on the PP though -- and I suspect that quarterbacking the PP may be one of the things he does better than JMo.

Apparently niku can do everything except make the team with the worst nhl dcore in history. Truth is there is absolutely nothing niku can do better then Morrissey.

 

[Howard Chuck]

Maurice went back to a line that has played very well this year - nothing wrong with that decision.
If you want to discuss changing up the lines completely and trying new combinations that have not been tested, that's another discussion but you won't likely see those types of changes in the middle of a game.

Ruffled feathers? I think I know who you are likely referring to here - I also don't think the team in general had a lot of ground to stand on as far as their play is concerned - if anyone had ruffled feathers, it should have been Mo as he watched his team slide back into old habits that don't work.

The major issue last night (IMO) was an ineffective PP that needs to change - and Mo referenced that point post game. This is a topic where we could indulge in a lot of interesting discussion - more so than who might have ruffled feathers.

The roster in general is another hot point - bottom six and D to be specific. Little will help with the bottom half and the D needs Niku back and BooleeO - and it'll still be D that teams will continue to exploit. Buff is the outlier that is now showing us how important he was (as planned) going into this season.

Coaching wasn't the issue last night but will be the "go to"excuse as long as our expectations exceed our talent (D) and or if our forwards do not play up to their potential (top 6), or if our PP is not rejigged - lots of possibilities on the later and some interesting ideas have come up in this PGT.

Lots of assumptions about my comments there.

 

[LowLefty]

Lots of assumptions about my comments there.

Well if you don't provide any detail, clarity or expand on your points, that pretty much all you can do

 

[Atoyot]

I'm not following you. You've seen them do what? Pass to Laine? Of course they can pass to anywhere. But a LHS can't do it without having to pivot. That means it both takes too long and telegraphs the pass. I suppose some LHS might be a little quicker and smoother than others but they can only do so much.

With Buff/Trouba/Myers there the only LHS on our PP1 is Connor and he plays facing the opposite direction most of the time. So everyone was setup to pass to Laine and/or Scheifele for the one-timers.

I said that the one thing Niku has is escapability, you said "do we know this?" Then I told you that I've seen him display the ability more than Morrissey has.

 

[Gabe Kupari]

Niku is hurt.

 

[JetsFan815]

Maurice showed that in the face of adversity he goes right back to his old ways that never worked in the past.

Roster decisions are still mind numbingly inexplicable. If you want ruffled feathers, this is how you create them.

Small sample but Laine-Scheifele-Wheeler line so far on the season doesn't look much better than last season.

	18-19	19-20
CF%	45.21	37.29
xGF%	42.55	46.31

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

I am not sure one can blame him from splitting that line given stats like those esp if he intends to play that line 15-17 minutes at 5 on 5 every night against top competition. Although I sympathize with those saying that maybe splitting up Scheifele-Wheeler should be something that is considered.

 

[puck stoppa]

We are spending $13.3 million on our 7 man active D roster and that includes the overpay of $4.3 for Kuli. That equals like 1 Eric Karlsson lol . With Buff on the sidelines this was always going to be a long season notwithstanding a Vezina level Herculean effort from Helly.

I don’t think it will be boring though.

Hey, I’m not convinced the season will be a write off. You hang in there and add Buff as a rental in Dec or Jan and maybe even Samberg in spring and things could align for playoffs. To me it’s simple. Plug away and make the playoffs. From there anything can happen with our offense and a hot goalie, key is shoring up D. Lots of ifs but I’m enjoying season so far.
Jmo Buff
Kulikov Pionk
Samberg Niku
That I like!

 

[LowLefty]

Hey, I’m not convinced the season will be a write off. You hang in there and add Buff as a rental in Dec or Jan and maybe even Samberg in spring and things could align for playoffs. To me it’s simple. Plug away and make the playoffs. From there anything can happen with our offense and a hot goalie, key is shoring up D. Lots of ifs but I’m enjoying season so far.
Jmo Buff
Kulikov Pionk
Samberg Niku
That I like!

If nothing else, it'll be interesting - and as per PS241, never dull -
I like your optimism

 

[10Ducky10]

The PP started getting stale by the middle of last season IIRC. Everyone noticed it except Maurice apparently. So far this year it's been a hot mess. The absence of Buff hurts but it's not the only issue as you pointed out.

Maurice needs a new chalkboard.

Kompon is in charge of the PP.

 

[LowLefty]

Small sample but Laine-Scheifele-Wheeler line so far on the season doesn't look much better than last season.

	18-19	19-20
CF%	45.21	37.29
xGF%	42.55	46.31

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

I am not sure one can blame him from splitting that line given stats like those esp if he intends to play that line 15-17 minutes at 5 on 5 every night against top competition. Although I sympathize with those saying that maybe splitting up Scheifele-Wheeler should be something that is considered.

Those numbers are a bit surprising but there were a couple of games that would have pushed them off a cliff - as you noted, small sample.

The wheels / Scheif debate will continue for the remainder of the season - I doubt Mo splits them as they are his warm blanket when it comes to job security. Aside from that, they play a similar style and score a lot of points - so not splitting them is not hard to justify in his mind.

But I'm with most - let's at least take a look at what our top 6 (or even 9) might produce with these guys on separate lines - can't hurt.

 

[puck stoppa]

Small sample but Laine-Scheifele-Wheeler line so far on the season doesn't look much better than last season.

	18-19	19-20
CF%	45.21	37.29
xGF%	42.55	46.31

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

I am not sure one can blame him from splitting that line given stats like those esp if he intends to play that line 15-17 minutes at 5 on 5 every night against top competition. Although I sympathize with those saying that maybe splitting up Scheifele-Wheeler should be something that is considered.

Wonder why he didn’t make a change on our 4th line with awful numbers. Insert a new player maybe?
Plus I don’t mind Ehlers on top line, but break up the other two just once and it would make for better team dynamics. Just once. And it would make for better team dynamics. Is there an echo in the room?