Player Discussion: Winnipeg Jets Defense

[ps241]

He didn't get a ton of ice time over the last couple of yrs - and has had a couple of significant injuries that were part of that.
I look forward to seeing him settle into a 3rd pair role and continue to improve - I'm less concerned about the "prospects" he has blocked.
We're talking about 3rd pair talent here - Stan against the rest of them that are all borderline. The potential payoff on a big Dman is worth it IMO - and the fact that what has been so called "blocked" isn't worth the debate.

Our board spends an inordinate amount of time and energy debating 7, 8, 9 D men. I have dabbled in the debate at times. Logan Stanley will be 27 in May and he he played 19 and 24 games the last two seasons as a meh #7 D man. Losing Schmidt and Dillion opened the door Stan and Ville to compete for the #6 spot but both of their health situations are getting in the way. We’ll see how it all plays out I guess.

My belief is that Logan’s ceiling remains the same which is a functional bottom pairing D man, his floor is a #7 somewhere in the league as long as he stays 6’7”. He will probably remain with the Jets to provide depth toughness playing sheltered bottom pairing minutes. Dillon was ideal for that role (better at hockey and tougher) but was getting older and wanted to move on eventually.

 

[Slimy Sculpin]

I agree with you about Miller. I also thought that both had problems with breakout passes. However, it's early and they perhaps need a little more time to familiarize themselves with each other and their new teammates. (I still consider Miller as a newbie.)

 

[DeepFrickinValue]

We gonna lose a dman or two to waivers when Heiny and Stan come back.

 

[voyageur]

We gonna lose a dman or two to waivers when Heiny and Stan come back.

I'd be surprised if Fleury doesn't stick all year, maybe even hit the 60 game mark.

There is the extra roster spot there. Coghlan would clear waivers. Maybe the Oil take him, but that's not going to hurt. Likely he just bumps Bauer or Barteaux out of the Moose lineup.

 

[DRW204]

After a healthy year last season, Jets likely have Samberg out for a while. The depth after Samberg is a whole lotta fringe guys.

I think they'll keep Morrissey and Pionk separate still. That way at least one of them is on the ice for essentially over 2/3s of the game since they're our best offensive catalysts from the back end. Heinola third pair with Miller to start, he said his conditioning isn't there yet after yesterday's game, and truly I don't think Pionk can be a defensive anchor of a pair, atleast to the point of carrying heinola. I can't see the Jets throwing heinola on the second pair vs Minnesota to start

 

[bumblebeeman]

After a healthy year last sesosn, Jets likely have Samberg out for a while. The depth after Samberg is a whole lotta fringe guys.

I think they'll keep Morrissey and Pionk separate still. That way at least one of them is on the ice for essentially over 2/3s of the game since they're our best offensive catalysts from the back end. Heinola third pair with Miller to start, he said his conditioning isn't there yet after yesterday's game, and truly I don't think Pionk can be a defensive anchor of a pair, atleast to the point of carrying heinola. I can't see the Jets throwing heinola on the second pair vs Minnesota to start

Heinola has looked good in the top 4 before, I think he can do it again. But yes he'll need to work his way up coming off injury

 

[voyageur]

After a healthy year last sesosn, Jets likely have Samberg out for a while. The depth after Samberg is a whole lotta fringe guys.

I think they'll keep Morrissey and Pionk separate still. That way at least one of them is on the ice for essentially over 2/3s of the game since they're our best offensive catalysts from the back end. Heinola third pair with Miller to start, he said his conditioning isn't there yet after yesterday's game, and truly I don't think Pionk can be a defensive anchor of a pair, atleast to the point of carrying heinola. I can't see the Jets throwing heinola on the second pair vs Minnesota to start

I feel like this is right for more than one reason. Ehlers line has gone invisible at times this year. Part of that is defensive turnovers to me. Or unsustained defensive pressure with 3rd pairings particularly with Fleury in the lineup. I feel like a centre man like Namestnikov and a guy who like to curl to the top of the blue line like Ehlers could help an offensive minded d-man who makes plays. Namestnikov can definitely cover for him positionally. Might add offense there.

 

[KingBogo]

Heinola has looked good in the top 4 before, I think he can do it again. But yes he'll need to work his way up coming off injury

When has Heinola been part of the top 4?

 

[DRW204]

Heinola has looked good in the top 4 before, I think he can do it again. But yes he'll need to work his way up coming off injury

what year? and what constitutes as good, what do the stats say?

 

[bumblebeeman]

When has Heinola been part of the top 4?

what year? and what constitutes as good, what do the stats say?

Ya'll making me do homework here haha

Ville Heinola Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Salary, Title | Hockey-Reference.com

Checkout the latest stats of Ville Heinola. Get info about his position, age, height, weight, trade, draft, salary and more on Hockey-Reference.com

www.hockey-reference.com

2019, over 18 mins toi/gp and a positive corsi and a +3

Obviously a small sample size, but every NHL showing he's had has been a small sample size

 

[WolfHouse]

Ya'll making me do homework here haha

Ville Heinola Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Salary, Title | Hockey-Reference.com

Checkout the latest stats of Ville Heinola. Get info about his position, age, height, weight, trade, draft, salary and more on Hockey-Reference.com

www.hockey-reference.com

2019, over 18 mins toi/gp and a positive corsi and a +3

Obviously a small sample size, but every NHL showing he's had has been a small sample size

He wasnt playing top 4

 

[bumblebeeman]

He wasnt playing top 4

Where do you see that?

 

[WolfHouse]

Where do you see that?

The machoverse.

 

[AlaskaJet]

At 6’4” and good speed, I want to see how well Fleury can anchor Pionk..
Th more they play together, the better.
Miller, not so sure about how he can step up.
But who to bring in on the third pair..
Heinola? Maaayybee..

 

[AlaskaJet]

Well, even if Heinola doesn’t think he’s conditioned yet, they’re bringing him up anyways. So I’m pretty sure we’ll see how well he does with Miller..If Heiny is the one of those two who is encouraged to play up, I hope he has the speed to get back from the Ozone in a timely fashion..
His shot placement or passing were never a problem, just not much of a net-front presence at either end.
But I guess we’ll see..

 

[WolfHouse]

1st for chisholm?

 

[AlaskaJet]

Heinola says he’s not fully conditioned..
Miller: “Hey Heiny..goin’ fishin?”
Heinola: “Yeahh..”
Miller: “Got worms?”
Heinola: “Yeah, but I’m goin’ anyways!”

 

[Adam da bomb]

1st for chisholm?

And 2 1st for kov.

 

[Buffdog]

1st for chisholm?

Why settle?

Offer 4 1sts for Kovacevic
Throw in Perfetti

 

[WolfHouse]

Why settle?

Offer 4 1sts for Kovacevic
Throw in Perfetti

If those 4 1sts are Stan, Heinola, Ves and Lucius... its not enough

 

[voyageur]

Ya'll making me do homework here haha

Ville Heinola Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Salary, Title | Hockey-Reference.com

Checkout the latest stats of Ville Heinola. Get info about his position, age, height, weight, trade, draft, salary and more on Hockey-Reference.com

www.hockey-reference.com

2019, over 18 mins toi/gp and a positive corsi and a +3

Obviously a small sample size, but every NHL showing he's had has been a small sample size

That was a crazy year. Makes the team out of camp with Gustafsson, 18 and 19. Jets are totally screwed by Buff retiring.

1st game top 4 is Morrissey-Kulikov, Heinola-Pionk. Bitetto and Poolman, 3rd pairing. Beaulieu injured in preseason. Dahlstrom picked up on waivers. Both Morrissey and Kulikov miss games early in the season, Poolman too, but this is the beginning of Morrissey on one pairing, Pionk on the other in the top 4.

Heinola's best game is the final one of the 4 game road trip to start the season where he scored against Pittsburgh, +3, playing with Poolman in the top 4, with both Morrissey and Kulikov out of the lineup.

It was a subpar home game after that had him in the press box for a week. I was at the 7-2 Pens win that he didn't play in and it was still very much a question mark how that defense could possibly work with some guys who weren't NHL calibre.

Came back and bounced between Pionk on the 2nd pairing and the lower pairing d-man, Bitetto.
Dahlstrom competing with him for minutes.

Heinola getting sent down had to with picking up Sbisa on waivers I believe, and Josh did not kill penalties that year, it was suspected because of an early season injury.

But without a doubt he joined the Jets in the season when they had their worst defense in modern history.

If he had stayed that year would be a completely different narrative in his career. Went back to Finland shortly after being demoted...next year is Covid, stuck on taxi squad. Then Samberg and Stanley move ahead of him.

But I think there was still some optimism in 2019 Niku would make the jump. And Heinola could have time to grow.

Now he has the opportunity again to get back to the start of his career, with a much better team around him.

 

[Jet]

At 6’4” and good speed, I want to see how well Fleury can anchor Pionk..
Th more they play together, the better.
Miller, not so sure about how he can step up.
But who to bring in on the third pair..
Heinola? Maaayybee..

I just don't see it with Fleury. I think he's a fine replacement D - a perfect 7 but if he's in your top 4 that's not good.

I guess we will find out what the plan is tonight.