Note: It all begins today for the 2016-17 incarnation of the Winnipeg Jets as they begin their push for the playoffs beginning with the home opener against the Carolina Hurricanes tonight at the MTS Centre. We will have your projected Jets and Hurricanes lines following the morning skate along with pre-game audio. Keep it locked to illegalcurve.com and on social media including Twitter| Facebook | Instagram for all the latest pre and post game news.
Note II: The Moose will hit the ice for their final day of training camp today at the IcePlex. The players will skate at 10 AM before they depart for Iowa where they will take on the Wild for a pair of games on Friday and Saturday.
Jets news:
Kenora Daily Miner and News: Jets will honour their most passionate fan before home opener. Will seem odd listening to the national anthem and not seeing Kroppy in his customary spot, belting out the anthem with gusto.
Winnipeg Free Press: Whatever you do, don’t say ‘healthy’. (Paywall). The crew is ready to go and healthy.
Winnipeg Free Press: Jets spotlight touted rookies, pair them with Perreault for opener. (Paywall). He used this line the other day in practice after having used Perreault with the two Finns and folks felt it could be a very dangerous one. We shall see. Article also covers: 1) The captain’s viewpoint 2) Last line of defence 3) Turning on the power.
Globe and Mail: Slow and steady success for the Winnipeg Jets. Always enjoy reading Eric’s work. Lots on Mark Scheifele and his continued growth as a player.
Winnipeg Sun: Jets rookies calm and cool on eve of first game. This crop of Jets rookies doesn’t really seem too overwhelmed by the experience of playing in their first NHL regular season game.
Winnipeg Sun: Jets will be exciting, but can they win? Paul goes one-on-one with Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff in advance of the season starting for Winnipeg.
Winnipeg Sun: Jets hope youth movement will fuel rise in standings. The team is getting younger and younger and we shall see how that impacts them when the are up against some of the other veteran NHL rosters.
Winnipeg Sun: Scheifele embraces top-line role. A big, long-term contract isn’t going to change Mark Scheifele.
Winnipeg Sun: Speed? Check. Scoring? Check. Defending? Well... They’ve got a new captain, a new starting goalie and four rookies expected to be in the opening-night lineup.
Winnipeg Sun: Five keys to Jets vs. Hurricanes. Includes: 1) Youth is served 2) Improved defending? 3) New No. 1 4) Make special teams special and 5) Be disciplined.
Winnipeg Sun: Jets ready to get going. Pretty clear from this collective group that they were ready for their extra long summers to come to an end and get this season underway.
Winnipeg Sun: Young stars will make Jets contenders … eventually. So they may gel and kick start the season with a bang or it may take awhile. Got it.
TSN: Which Canadian teams have the best shot at the postseason? Jets are given a 45% chance. They take a look at Why they’ll make it, Why they won’t and Potential Fallout.
Photo Credit: Rodney Braun
News and Observer: Hurricanes hit the road for season opener at Winnipeg. Get some insight into the opposition for the Jets tonight.
CBC: Fans get upgrades at MTS Centre but beer and game tickets to cost more. A look at some of the improvements to the MTS Centre, the increased price of beer, and new goal song to be revealed (although technically its only being revealed when the Jets score their first home goal so it may not be tonight if they get blanked…).
Globalnews: Jets ready to fly. The Jets players and the fans are ready for take off of the 2016-17 season.
Sportsnet: What is Jacob Trouba’s long-term NHL potential? An interesting read on where Trouba’s analytics are and how they can help to determine what kind of player he may develop into one day.
Today’s Slapshot: Darren Dreger believes Trouba would love to play for the Detroit Red Wings. Chris transcribed a chat that TSN hockey insider Darren Dreger had on Buffalo’s WGR 550 where the subject of Trouba came up.
Illegal Curve: True North’s foundation announces new upgrade to its 50/50 program. Some updates to the popular program at the MTS Centre.
Winnipeg Free Press: Jets fired up, ready for takeoff, pilot Maurice says. (Paywall). It is certainly going to be a busy October in ‘Peg City.
Illegal Curve: Jets Practice Report. A look at the lines, D-pairs, PP1 and PP2 units. Includes audio from Drew Stafford, Blake Wheeler, Shawn Matthias and Patrik Laine. Also a nine minute chat with coach Paul Maurice.
Illegal Curve: Behind the Mask with Jets goalie Michael Hutchinson. A little insight into the design of Hutchinson’s helmet.
Illegal Curve: Jets rookies get new numbers. Hopefully you didn’t prematurely get your Josh Morrissey and Kyle Connor jerseys yet.
Jets audio:
TSN 1290 Winnipeg: Hustler and Lawless. Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff joins Hustler & Lawless in-studio to preview the new Jets season, including the decision to re-assign Ondrej Pavelec to the Manitoba Moose, the impasse with Jacob Trouba, and the younger players making their mark.
TSN 1290 Winnipeg: Hustler and Lawless. TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger joins Hustler & Lawless to discuss the Canadian NHL team’s chances of making the playoffs. Dreger also discusses Wayne Gretzky’s new position with the Edmonton Oilers, and Kevin Cheveldayoff standing pat on wanting to retain Jacob Trouba.
TSN 1290 Winnipeg: Hustler and Lawless. NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly joins the guys to discuss preparation for the new season, including the upcoming Heritage Classic, Wayne Gretzky joining the Oilers Entertainment Group, and the updated concussion protocol.
TSN 1290 Winnipeg: Hustler and Lawless. The guys discuss the Winnipeg Jets roster to start the 2016-17 season, the surprises in the lines at the first practice of the regular season, and the potential problems.
TSN 1290 Winnipeg: Donvito Roundtable. Former NHL goaltender and currently goalie analyst Steve Valiquette joined Rick Ralph talking The Winnipeg Jets goal-tending situation, the depth within the organization at that position, new goalie gear in the NHL and how a club can develop a number one netminder.
TSN 1290 Winnipeg: The Big Show. Voice of the Jets Dennis Beyak joined the guys to give his outlook on the club’s playoff chances, what the goaltending can accomplish and why improving the special teams could lead to a better finish than expected.
