Winnipeg Jets Morning Papers (Tuesday, Dec 13th)

Note:  The Finnish Flash, Teemu Selanne, will be on a conference call today with media to discuss his return to Winnipeg.  We will be participating and will bring you up to the minute tweets (@illegalcurve) as well as either the audio or (transcribed audio) following the call, on our site.

Winnipeg Free Press:  A win tonight will put things right.  No need to panic just yet.  As was said yesterday by Zach Bogosian, the team wasn’t exactly doing poorly before the blowout loss to Detroit.  And the team is still riding a 4 game winning streak at the building quickly becoming one of the most entertaining places to watch a hockey game in the NHL.

Winnipeg Free Press:  Jets notebook.  Ladd’s birthday.  Jets injury update.  Wild news.

Winnipeg Free Press:  This Glass is half full. If you want to build a culture of winning it helps to have guys who have had success and winning the Presidents Trophy and making it to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals has taught Tanner Glass some valuable lessons.  Which is why he and the rest of the GST line have been so embraced by the fans and their coach.  They don’t take shifts off.  A lesson he can pass on to younger teammates.

Winnipeg Free Press:  Excited hockey fans snap up first 10,000 Jets plates.  Only in Manitoba would they sell that many plates in one day.  If my math skills are correct that means $300,000.00 for the True North Foundation.

StarPhoenix:  Voice of Jets says its the Saskatchewan way.  Getting to know the voice of the Jets Brian Munz including what a Jets game day looks like.

Winnipeg Sun:  Jets’ Wheeler packing a punch.  The chemistry that has developed between Kane, Wheeler and Little has resulted in some excellent on-ice scoring chances for the Jets.  The team is going to need to see him start to shoot a bit more than he does right now although his puck possession in the offensive zone has definitely improved.

Globe and Mail:  Wellwood keeps it clean.  Wellwood is clearly a more cerebral player who has figured out what you can and cannot do in today’s NHL.  It shows in his play on the ice, both offensively and defensively.

Next opponent news – Minnesota Wild:

StarTribune:  A new Jet age takes flight.   There is a lot of empathy from our friends to the Southeast as they too experienced the heartbreak of losing their North Stars back in 1993, only to regain them in a new incarnation as the expansion Minnesota Wild for the 2001/01 season.  They even have a Winnipeg connection on the team, as Winnipegger Tony DaCosta, is the Wild’s equipment manager.  Should be a fun rivalry for years to come.   Three Jets players are from the State of Hockey (tied with Alberta for most on team from a state/province). Can you name the 3?

Pioneer Press:  First visit to Winnipeg with Wild rekindles old memories for Mike Yeo.  The Wild made a very smart decision in promoting their former AHL bench boss.  They were able to bring someone who knew the Wild system and also knew the players from the farm club.  Has to be the current front runner for the Jack Adams award.

KSTP:  The best team in hockey.  If you look at the stats you wouldn’t think so.  They sit 14th in goals for (1 behind the Jets), 5th in goals against, 20th in power play, 9th in penalty kill, 30th in shots per game, 29th in shots against per game and 6th in face off %.  Does that sound like a team that is in 1st place overall and winners of 7 games in a row?