Player Discussion: Winnipeg Jets Defense

[Upperdeckjet]

Scott Arniel on sitting Ville Heinola late last night.
"Ville got stuck in our end a few times and we were kind of looking at five (defencemen). We had a one-goal lead and we were just trying to stay over top of that."

Looking like Heinola is on a very short leash.

 

[Bob E]

Ville is in tough spot. He just doesn’t match up well physically against a big physical team/line like Boston or Vegas can throw out there. If Jets just had Ville at his size (weight), it would not be a problem but they have too many d under 200 lbs. Opponents must see that as an opportunity to exploit against the Jets.

When Samberg comes back, Ville becomes the extra dman. Since he’s no longer waivers exempt, do the Jets pull the trigger on a deal and include Heinola in the move?

Say Perfetti+Heinola for Cozens?

 

[Cnile]

Samberg has come a long way.
Always liked him, a lot of HF was pretty down on him until very recently.
He’s very important to us now.

Ville is in tough spot. He just doesn’t match up well physically against a big physical team/line like Boston or Vegas can throw out there. If Jets just had Ville at his size (weight), it would not be a problem but they have too many d under 200 lbs. Opponents must see that as an opportunity to exploit against the Jets.

When Samberg comes back, Ville becomes the extra dman. Since he’s no longer waivers exempt, do the Jets pull the trigger on a deal and include Heinola in the move?

Say Perfetti+Heinola for Cozens?

Keep Tiny get rid of stretch

 

[Buffdog]

I didn't watch a lick of his time in MTL but his stats generally rated well. He has further played well in NJD with more responsibilities. I think the latter validates his MTL levels a bit as he just wasnt a flash in the pan at this point.

IMO this is where analytics and stats can help unearth potential low cost gems. IE: Marino, or Sigenthaler, Dunn or Demelo (prior to this year).

Anyway, I'm not motivated to get into a huge back and forth on this. I think the Jets should've known his potential better than anyone given he was here for 5+ years. Also, given Schmidt was essentially the third pair RD guy for 6M+Kovacevics level play immediately after leaving the Jets probably would've been better in giving him shot (def less costly in $ and draft picks, with higher upside). But this is opposite of guys like Petan, niku or Dano.

Even though thd Jets ultimately lost Kovacevic in 2022, the decision was made when they aquired Schmidt inbthe summer of 2021. Once they did that, the right side was essentially set for a few years. Remember... they were a removed from having Tucker Poolman as their 2RHD.

At that point, Kovacevic had all of 75 games of AHL experience as a pro. Had they NOT acquired Schmidt, they would have needed another stop-gap plug for the right side until they felt Kovacevic was ready. I think that's what Chevy was avoiding

 

[Gm0ney]

Scott Arniel on sitting Ville Heinola late last night.
"Ville got stuck in our end a few times and we were kind of looking at five (defencemen). We had a one-goal lead and we were just trying to stay over top of that."

Looking like Heinola is on a very short leash.

Yeah well he's had 7 games this year coming off ankle surgery - 5 of those playing on his offside with the 6'7" Wonder while the team was in the shitter. That's all the rope he gets. Waive him.

 

[Cnile]

Yeah well he's had 7 games this year coming off ankle surgery - 5 of those playing on his offside with the 6'7" Wonder while the team was in the shitter. That's all the rope he gets. Waive him.

It is not at all surprising
Stanley sucks full stop

 

[voyageur]

Ville is in tough spot. He just doesn’t match up well physically against a big physical team/line like Boston or Vegas can throw out there. If Jets just had Ville at his size (weight), it would not be a problem but they have too many d under 200 lbs. Opponents must see that as an opportunity to exploit against the Jets.

When Samberg comes back, Ville becomes the extra dman. Since he’s no longer waivers exempt, do the Jets pull the trigger on a deal and include Heinola in the move?

Say Perfetti+Heinola for Cozens?

Jets got Heinola on a two year deal. Which is one more than Niku got. So I think given the Jets history he stays that long. If nothing else he's an offensive buffer, capable of running the PP, if one of the Jets top 2 d-man went down. Without pushing that expectation on Salomonsson, who is given time to develop.

He's #5 on the LHD depth chart, with no one challenging that spot, being given a chance as the #3 RD, and maybe he gets more time in that spot, but he's going to get competition too. Arniel said he was a fan of his, so I wouldn't write him off yet. I'd expect him to get quite a few games in that heavy January home stretch.

But I do agree that the general size of this defense works against a player like him. Also that Morrissey is so damn good that you don't want him killing penalties, and Ville has to get that rope before he can climb up the ladder. Might never make it to the top rung, but draft and develop has given the team at least 4 d-men that they can use this year.

I don't think Namestnikov is getting replaced if he stays healthy. His numbers are better than a lot of 2Cs around the league, and it's not just Ehlers either, he's doing some things now without him. But the defensive side of his game is probably better than a lot of players that could be seen as potential replacements, and last night's game was to me an indication of how much the defensive side of playing center ice is important to Arniel.

Cozens would probably come in as 2RW, and the Jets are more likely to stick it out with what they know. Since the Jets MO is giving players time to grow. Develop chemistry.

Definitely one of those guys though that you wonder how good they will be once they get out of Buffalo.