Winnipeg Jets Afternoon Links

Note: Puck drop is at 7:00 pm for tonight’s game between the Jets and Blues.  After the game, be sure to check us out for all the post-game reaction.

Note II:  Jets captain Blake Wheeler spoke today about Dustin Byfuglien.  You can listen to it here.

Jets news:

The Athletic Winnipeg:  Blake Wheeler on why it’s unfair to make Dustin Byfuglien the villain in pending split with Jets.  (Paywall).  Ken adds this piece about the topic du jour.

The Athletic Winnipeg:  What the beleaguered Jets defence thinks of media narratives, injury troubles and its own play.  (Paywall).  Us against them is good and all but it isn’t media narratives these guys have to defend against.  It is some pretty, pretty, pretty good hockey players.Winnipeg Sun:  ‘Nothing would surprise me’: Wheeler on Buff playing again.  The best line from the captain in response to this line of questioning was this simply one “Hopefully he picks us again”.  After describing the Mark Stone hit as one of his favourite memories you know Wheeler and the rest of the Jets don’t want to be on the receiving end of a Byfuglien hit.

Winnipeg Sun:  Wheeler says Big Buff ‘not a villain’.  While it may not have been the end envisioned by many he will still go down (as far as I am concerned) as the most popular player from the Jets 2.0 era to date.  Paul was in also St. Louis asking Byfuglien’s fellow Minnesota product and Jets captain Blake Wheeler about the news that has come out about number 33 and his thoughts surrounding same.

Winnipeg Free Press: ‘Shoot, we miss that guy’: Jets captain Wheeler on Byfuglien’s absence. (Paywall).  That is an understatement to say the least considering how this season has played out.  Mike spoke with the Jets captain today at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis.

Illegal Curve: Jets vs. Blues pre-game report. The Jets held an optional skate this morning followed by a media availability before they take on St. Louis at 7:00 pm CST. Check out the projected lines and D pairs for both teams.

Illegal Curve: Morning Papers.  If you missed any of the news from earlier today we have you covered.

Jets audio:

Sportsnet:  31 Thoughts Podcast.  Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman chat about the Jets and Byfuglien starting at the 33:25 mark and runs to 42:34.

Illegal Curve:  Coach Maurice pre-game scrum.  Topics included – Why wasn’t he out on the ice?  Where will Nathan Beaulieu go in the lineup?  Was it a tough conversation with Bitetto?  How does he preview tonight’s game?  Need to play the classic road game?  Is Beaulieu the only lineup change?  The depth of the Blues to do this well without Tarasenko.  What is the biggest challenge for Scheifele when he goes up against O’Reilly.