WINNIPEG - I haven’t written anything for a week. I’ve read quite a bit though. I’ve read all the fan “outrage”. “Fire the coach!” “Fire the GM!,” “Trade Wheeler and Scheifele!” “Burn the building!” Or my favourite, “I’m not renewing my tickets!” Funny stuff. Go ahead and cancel. Give one of the 3000 or so on the waiting list a chance.
I listened to all the interviews on “garbage bag” day. Let’s hope Mark Scheifele brings that same passion back onto the ice. Mark was right; no one (me included) gave the Jets a chance against the Oilers. No one predicted the crash against the Canadiens either after former Montreal Canadien - turned head of the Department of Player Safety - George Parros made an example of Scheifele. In a “Captain Obvious” moment, we learned through Paul Maurice that they need to upgrade the defense and Kevin Cheveldayoff said nothing to make us think that wholesale changes to the coaching staff will be made. With both men I agree.
The 2021 season reflected everything that’s going on in the world; unpredictability. Winnipeg did over achieve this past season in most people’s minds. But we did underestimate them, and given what happened the previous season, it was kind of justified. But with the pieces the Jets have assembled now, with an upgrade on the blueline, with a proper training camp, with no silly suspensions, and a proper 82 game season, we will see a much better team that got swept by the Habs over a week ago.
Let’s forget about this past hockey season, and let’s look forward to the CFL season in August!
What do you think?