Winnipeg Jets Morning Papers (Wednesday, Feb 29th)

Jets news:

Winnipeg Free Press:  Playing for playoff payoff.  All fans want/expect is to see the players put forth a full 60 minutes of effort against an opponent.  The expectation is not that Winnipeg will win its remaining 17 games, but people need to see the Jets leave it all out on the ice.

Winnipeg Free Press:  Contract negotiations shelved for playoff push.  This is an opportunity for both the player and team management to evaluate one another and determine the tenor of contract negotiations after the season concludes.  The Jets have 7 UFA’s (Stapleton, Flood, Wellwood, Glass, Slater, Jones and Mason) who salaries currently range from $525,000 to $1,850,000.00.

Winnipeg Free Press:  The Race. Taking a look at the race for the playoffs and what teams in the Southeast have remaining and their projected % of making the post season.

Winnipeg Sun:  Mediocre won’t do for Jets.  The Jets brass, coach Noel, fans and hopefully the players themselves will be expecting a full 60 minute performance tomorrow night against the Panthers.  While catching Florida seems unrealistic at this point, if the Jets want 8th spot, they need to put it all out on the ice on Thursday.

Winnipeg Sun:  More Q than A for Jets Noel.  The Jets at 65 games have played more than almost every other team and perhaps a bit of exhaustion is setting in.  Miettinen is getting some chances but with limited ice time, it still just hasn’t turned on for him.

Jets official site:  Tanner Glass – Road less traveled.  Using hockey to achieve an Ivy league education is something more young kids should be made aware of.  Tanner Glass definitely took the road less traveled and it has been quite the interesting journey that has led him from Craven, Saskatchewan to Winnipeg and his spot on the GST line.

Illegal Curve:  Trade Deadline Show.  Host Drew Mindell, Analyst Richard Pollock were joined by former Coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets Scott Arniel were in studio breaking down trades as they occur. In addition TSN 1290?s Rick Ralph jumped in to break trades as soon as they were made official. Guests on the show included the newest Winnipeg Jet Grant Clitsome, TSN Jets’ Dennis Beyak, as well as a live press conference from Winnipeg Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff.

Illegal Curve:   Establishing Ondrej Pavelec’s market value.  In this two part series, our hockey analyst Richard Pollock took a look at the potential market value of one of the most important restricted free agent for the Jets (Evander Kane being the other) this off-season.

Affiliate news – St. John’s IceCaps:

The Telegram:  IceCaps found wanting in Binghamton.  Despite the fact that the Senators are the defending Calder Cup champs, they are a cellar-dweller this season and the Caps failed to show a killer instinct last night in a 5-1 loss on the road.

Next opponent news – Florida Panthers:

Miami Herald:  Panthers have won three straight, four on the road.  It is looking more and more like these Cats are going to win the Southeast Division as they extended their lead over the Jets with a 5-3 win in Toronto.  The victory might have been best for Winnipeg though as it keeps the Leafs 3 points back.  However a Caps win over the Islanders vaulted them into 8th and the Jets 1 point back and into 9th.