Winnipeg Jets Afternoon Links

Note:  After the game, be sure to check us out for all the post-game reaction. As soon as the site is updated we notify you via twitter @illegalcurve and Facebook.

Note II:  Join Ken Wiebe of the Winnipeg Sun 30 minutes before puck drops (7 pm) at American Airlines Center if you’d like to chat about the Jets and Stars.  Ken will talk about all things Winnipeg (not just game topics) so here is an opportunity to mix it up with a team beat writer.  Click here to join the discussion.

Jets news:

TSN:  Insider Trading (video).  TSN Hockey Insiders Darren Dreger and Pierre LeBrun start talking about the Jets potentially being buyers at 1:20.  Goes for about a minute.

Winnipeg Free Press:  With win, Jets can pull away from from Stars in playoff race.  Too often when we have seen this team have an opportunity to put some distance between themselves and the competition they have fallen short.  Tonight is a big opportunity for them to do just that.

Winnipeg Sun:  Jets look to knock off Stars.  The team recognizes the importance of these points and Ken brings you up to speed on the latest from American Airlines Center.

NHL.com:  At the Rink.  Another preview of tonight’s game.

TSN:  Jets rewarded for smart free agent decision on Perreault.  Fans of the team will read this article with glee.

TSN 1290 Winnipeg:  The Rona Roundtable (audio).  James Mirtle joined Rick and says that the Winnipeg Jets are the real deal and as long as they get good goaltending could be a difficult team to play against.

ESPN:  Top 50 NHL prospects (paywall).  If you can read the article by ESPN’s Corey Pronman he is very high on the Jets top end talent in this list as Winnipeg has three players (Ehlers, Petan & Morrissey) in the top 15 of his rankings.  He also ranks the goalies separately and Winnipeg has two (Hellebuyck & Comrie) in the Top 10.

Illegal Curve:  Game day set-up.  Setting up tonight’s Jets and Stars game with projected lines, starting goalies, games notes and more.

Illegal Curve:  A Jacob Trouba injury progression update.  We get an update on the Jets sophomore defenceman and whether he may be back ahead of the February projection.

Illegal Curve:  Coach Maurice pre-game scrum (audio).  On Jacob Trouba’s progression.  Has he been cleared for contact?  Bryan Little and Evander Kane just maintenance?  Will Trouba skate in a normal jersey in a regular practice?  What made this a good start for Pavelec?  Did he want Hutchinson in against Chicago?  Does he get excited to coach against a coach like Ruff?  Growth in Blake Wheeler’s game.  Does he pay attention to the standings (knowing that Stars sit seven back of them)?  Next step in his development? 

Illegal Curve:  Jets vs. Stars projected lineups.  Take a look at what the lines looked like after practice today and what combos you should expect to see at American Airlines Center this evening.

Illegal Curve:  Morning Papers. If you missed any of the news this AM we have you covered.  

TSN 1290 Winnipeg:  The Big Show (audio).  As the Jets get set for a back-to-back set with Dallas and Chicago, Paul Edmonds discusses how the team plans to move forward in net and why Michael Hutchinson gives Winnipeg a better chance to win games than Ondrej Pavelec. (Goalie talk starts at 6:20).

Stars news:

Dallas Morning News:  Morning skate update.  Get all the latest on the Jets opposition from beat writer Mike Heika.