Winnipeg Jets Afternoon Links

Note: Puck drop is at 7 pm CST as the Jets go up against the Blackhawks in Winnipeg. After the game, be sure to check out illegalcurve.com for all the post-game reaction.

Note II: We want you to be part of the conversation on the Illegal Curve Post-Game Show once the final buzzer sounds.

Note III: We heard from Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff this morning as he spoke for about 35 minutes during his midseason address. One thing he did confirm is that Ville Heinola has been medically cleared to play as he has sufficiently healed from his ankle surgery and will do so with the Moose in the AHL as he gets back into game shape.

Jets news:

Winnipeg Sun: ‘Punch above your weight’: small-town Jets GM getting big-time results. The pride was evident in the voice of Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff as he addressed media this morning.

Winnipeg Sun: ‘A lot of scary thoughts’: Jets’ Scheifele thankful he’s OK after taking puck to head. Hard not to think of what happened to Bryan Little when we witnessed a similar type of thing on Tuesday night.

Winnipeg Free Press: Mission far from accomplished but Jets GM enjoying team success. (Paywall). He definitely sounded more relaxed this morning and given his team is currently sitting in first place that is understandable.

Sportsnet: Jets lead the way with halfway mark around the corner. Not really much into power rankings but there is some video in this post saying Winnipeg is the top team story in the NHL.

Illegal Curve: Jets vs Blackhawks pre-game report. Check out the projected lines and D pairs and get all the latest game info.

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

Jets video:

TSN: Lowry on being the top team in the West: ‘Every night we expect to see team’s best’. Jets forward Adam Lowry and Mark Scheifele talk about the challenges that the young Blackhawks team will bring, expecting to see their opponent’s best every night and what has led to their success this season. 

Sportsnet: How big of a swing is Jets GM Cheveldayoff prepared to make at the trade deadline? Winnipeg Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff discusses what he can about his current trade deadline strategy, and why he’d be willing to add to his roster as long as the incoming piece would fit in perfectly with the club’s great chemistry.

Sportsnet: Jets’ Cheveldayoff praises Scheifele for how much he cares about this team and town. GM Kevin Cheveldayoff discusses where he sees Mark Scheifele’s headspace right now, and how deeply he cares for this team and this town, also weighs in on how great it’s been to see Cole Perfetti’s evolution this season.

Sportsnet: ‘More scared than anything’: Jets’ Scheifele talks getting puck to the ear. Mark Scheifele discusses having a puck hit him in the ear and his reaction to it.

Jets audio:

CJOB 680: Chat with Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff. Jim and Cam over on Jets @ Noon spent about 15 minutes with him covering what the Jets have done this season, what they can do to get better, making changes when the team is rolling with potential to impact chemistry, if the plan remains for Cole Perfetti to be a centre, plans this summer to make team deeper, would they be in the rental market, importance of Rick Bowness to the team success, guys wanting to be in Winnipeg, his expectations for the group the rest of the season and plans for DeMelo/Dillon.