Player Discussion: Winnipeg Jets Defense

[GumbyCan2]

Then, adding to Smart Moves later on, one of Dillon or Schmidt or Demelo or Stanley could have been dangled for a possible upgrade on forward top 9 group. Wishing Kovacevic well in Montreal and a long a stalwart career. Wish it was as a Jet but...fate moved him on as Chevy didn't warrant him worthy enough.

I think the smarter move was to send Samberg down since he’s waiver exempt and keep both Stanley + Kovy and let them play out with parent team

 

[surixon]

Then, adding to Smart Moves later on, one of Dillon or Schmidt or Demelo or Stanley could have been dangled for a possible upgrade on forward top 9 group. Wishing Kovacevic well in Montreal and a long a stalwart career. Wish it was as a Jet but...fate moved him on as Chevy didn't warrant him worthy enough.

Jets have much better in the AHL then Kovi. Heinola and Chisholm are elite at that level and imo both have a future on the big club if management doesn't scree it up.

 

[GumbyCan2]

This is all about choice. Samberg has some size, yet Pionk has more grit. That is a hole in his game that is entirely correctable if he choose to. Say what you will about Stanley, at least he tries to be mean. Like it or not pacifists, you still need "truculence" to succeed in the NHL. There's no reason why Samberg can't provide some.

Samberg will be fine with strong D-play and playing tough, hard-to-beat D. He is getting more involved each game he actually plays. He needs to play regularly, experiencing more opponents schemes and skill players' habits and getting comfortable,to advance all facets of his game. He did possess top offensive acumen and play driving skills in high school hockey. He was their leading scorer in his junior year and top3 as a senior when they won the All-State championship 2 years running. He was Hermantown's key powerplay qb.
University Duluth-Minn years had him slowly integrate into men's hockey and playing a shutdown defensive structure. I hope Stanley continues on a trajectory up, up right now and does not revert backwards or hit a wall of meh, the best he has regularly is only mediocre. Appears Jets coaches are still favoring Stanley inmost situations. Let's hope it isn't detrimental to current success and future. Limiting Samberg &Heinolas' exposure, experience and opportunity at this level will bite the Jets org, team in the arse if it continues unsuccessfully too much longer.

 

[Heldig]

Jets have much better in the AHL then Kovi. Heinola and Chisholm are elite at that level and imo both have a future on the big club if management doesn't scree it up.

Kovacevic has averaged 17 minutes of icetime in Montreal over 6 games. +1

 

[surixon]

Kovacevic has averaged 17 minutes of icetime in Montreal over 6 games. +1

Yeah he's looking like a run of the mill 3rd pairing guy. I'm happy for him but our issue isn't third pairing caliber talent on this team. We have that in spades, our issue is good top pairing and top 4 talent.

 

[10Ducky10]

Should've got rid of Schmidt and played Kovi.
That would open up cap space for good top 4 talent.

 

[trebendan]

Should've got rid of Schmidt and played Kovi.
That would open up cap space for good top 4 talent.

Sabres could use a vet like Schmidt. Him and Samberg for Jokiharju.

 

[10Ducky10]

Sabres could use a vet like Schmidt. Him and Samberg for Jokiharju.

You misspelled Stanley.

 

[GNP]

Jets have much better in the AHL then Kovi. Heinola and Chisholm are elite at that level and imo both have a future on the big club if management doesn't scree it up.

I have liked what little I've seen of Chisholm, and would love to see the Jets play him more. I think he could be a very good D- man.

 

[BobTheSolarsystem]

This is all about choice. Samberg has some size, yet Pionk has more grit. That is a hole in his game that is entirely correctable if he choose to. Say what you will about Stanley, at least he tries to be mean. Like it or not pacifists, you still need "truculence" to succeed in the NHL. There's no reason why Samberg can't provide some.

I guess I missed the part in the Toronto game where Stanley intimidated anyone…

 

[DannyGallivan]

I guess I missed the part in the Toronto game where Stanley intimidated anyone…

I guess I missed the part in the Toronto game where Stanley intimidated anyone…

You also missed the point in my post where I said (in so many words) that Samberg is as tough as puffed wheat, which is a choice. Since it is a choice, he may still impress one day. That day better come soon.

 

[DannyGallivan]

I have liked what little I've seen of Chisholm, and would love to see the Jets play him more. I think he could be a very good D- man.

I've always been in the Chisholm camp. I hope he gets a good look soon. I think he will be the best of our defensive prospects.

 

[GNP]

I've always been in the Chisholm camp. I hope he gets a good look soon. I think he will be the best of our defensive prospects.

From the limited amount I've seen of him, including Junior hi - lights, he looks really good, and I'd like to see him get some ice time and prove himself. He looks like he can take charge of the blue line.

 

[WolfgangPuck]

I think we need more tough DMen Everyone misses Buff but also we had Trouba and Chairot who could play mean I don’t see that in our D core.

 

[Hunter368]

I think we need more tough DMen Everyone misses Buff but also we had Trouba and Chairot who could play mean I don’t see that in our D core.

That's why if we're trading a vet D man then I would trade Nate before we trade Dillon. That being said if we trade Nate, then likely we have VH playing on D which makes us smaller and softer. If we trade Dillon then likely Samberg plays on D, which is closer to a lateral move physically and size wise.

 

[DannyGallivan]

From the limited amount I've seen of him, including Junior hi - lights, he looks really good, and I'd like to see him get some ice time and prove himself. He looks like he can take charge of the blue line.

He first stood out to me because he was an actual Canadian draft pick, somewhat of a rarity for the Jets in recent years. From what I've heard and read, that country produces some pretty good players. Then, after seeing him play and reading up on him, I really like his trajectory. I think he'll be a good one.

 

[Heldig]

Early, yes, but kind of funny that Bowness wants the D to score more. Pionk and Morrissey are 1st and 3rd in scoring but the other 5 D have zip points.

 

[BoneDocUK]

That's why if we're trading a vet D man then I would trade Nate before we trade Dillon. That being said if we trade Nate, then likely we have VH playing on D which makes us smaller and softer. If we trade Dillon then likely Samberg plays on D, which is closer to a lateral move physically and size wise.

Agree that is makes sense for. few reasons to move Schmidt before Dillon, although I wouldn't say that VH is softer than Nate. If anything, he's closer to a JMo / Pionk type -- decent amount of underrated nasty in his game that should emerge as he gets more comfortable in the league.

I just don't see how they move Schmidt though. That was always a tricky signing after Dillon was inked to fill an actual need, and IMO had more to do with Chevy coveting him as a player / person over some years than an actual requirement for a Schmidt-like player on Schmidt's contract and term.

 

[voyageur]

He first stood out to me because he was an actual Canadian draft pick, somewhat of a rarity for the Jets in recent years. From what I've heard and read, that country produces some pretty good players. Then, after seeing him play and reading up on him, I really like his trajectory. I think he'll be a good one.

I wonder if he is a player that is dangled to get another, because this is the last year of his ELC. Stanley is still holding down a starting job, and #7 at worse. Capobianco is also signed for next year. You have to get Samberg playing full time, and Heinola, and no one's contract is set to expire this upcoming offseason. If you did manage to turn Schmidt's season into a redeemable 2nd round pick, I'd probably take that, to make room for Heinola. Jets have to decide how to manage the Dillon and De Melo contracts. If they simply let both run out, well Lundmark is on the time frame to replace De Melo, Dillon already has the glut of players behind him.

 

[DRW204]

through 9 games d-zone exits have been abysmal imo. our top-pair needs to tighten up a lot in their own-end. i just don't think we can rely on morrissey-pionk together. pionk particularly has been brutal to start the year. but this team gets in trouble b/c of inability to cleanly clear, or move the puck out of the zone.

i haven't minded dillon-schmidt. samberg has been a bit up and down. i wouldnt mind seeing morrissey-demelo back together.

 

[Fuhrious]

Watching a fair few games around the league, it just feels like the defense is *missing something*. It's hard to put a finger on it exactly. When watching games like last night's match against Vegas, they just seem to be...overwhelmed?

Seeing other teams, it kind of feels like the Jets have a #2, a couple #4s, and three or four #6/#7s. Is that too hard on them?

 

[DRW204]

Watching a fair few games around the league, it just feels like the defense is *missing something*. It's hard to put a finger on it exactly. When watching games like last night's match against Vegas, they just seem to be...overwhelmed?

Seeing other teams, it kind of feels like the Jets have a #2, a couple #4s, and three or four #6/#7s. Is that too hard on them?

Talent and production gap when it comes to the personnel.

 

[The Blue Baron]

By Defence did we mean Helleboi alone?

yeah the guy is a real FREAK of nature this year!

 

[voyageur]

through 9 games d-zone exits have been abysmal imo. our top-pair needs to tighten up a lot in their own-end. i just don't think we can rely on morrissey-pionk together. pionk particularly has been brutal to start the year. but this team gets in trouble b/c of inability to cleanly clear, or move the puck out of the zone.

i haven't minded dillon-schmidt. samberg has been a bit up and down. i wouldnt mind seeing morrissey-demelo back together.

I agree with you here, but I think Pionk is the guy that gets singled out too often, when he is one of the better defensemen at moving the puck. Early in the year De Melo has struggled with simple breakouts, which is why he got demoted.

I do think having a defenseman on each pairing that can move the puck helps. I liked the 2nd period in Vegas with Morrissey-De Melo, Dillon-Pionk, Samberg-Schmidt, even though the team was outshot, that's probably the direction I'd go.

The Jets don't have a clear #1 defenseman, Morrissey is playing banged up already, it's going to have to be a group effort.

 

[AlaskaJet]

I agree with you here, but I think Pionk is the guy that gets singled out too often, when he is one of the better defensemen at moving the puck. Early in the year De Melo has struggled with simple breakouts, which is why he got demoted.

I do think having a defenseman on each pairing that can move the puck helps. I liked the 2nd period in Vegas with Morrissey-De Melo, Dillon-Pionk, Samberg-Schmidt, even though the team was outshot, that's probably the direction I'd go.

The Jets don't have a clear #1 defenseman, Morrissey is playing banged up already, it's going to have to be a group effort.

Absolutely, and with some serious fwd backchecking thrown in.
Which fwds are going to step up?
And who can’t make the cut?