Tonight, Tonight: Jets First Preseason Game Preview!

by Bettman's Nightmare on Sep 20, 2011 1:34 PM EDT

6pm CT - Winnipeg Jets @ Columbus Blue Jackets - Nationwide Arena

7:30pm CT - Columbus Blue Jackets @ Winnipeg Jets - MTS Centre

You ready for this? I mean, really ready? The boys are back in town, and they get to cut their teeth on the Columbus Blue Jackets in our home, the MTS Centre. Booyah. We're going to see Dustin Byfuglien crushing forwards and blasting shots, Zach Bogosian darting around and playing that tough physical game (potential bonus? Maybe doing good things with the puck), Ondrej Pavelec committing larceny, Nik Antropov...looking really tall.

The only unfortunate thing is that this is more of a preseason doubleheader, with split squads. So the Winnipeg faithful won't get a look at Evander Kane in MTS, or Blake Wheeler, or Spencer Machacek, or Chris Mason, or Zach Redmond. Follow after the jump for the complete rosters for tonight.

Stick tap to Illegal Curve; Michael Remis put together a lineup card for the MTS Centre game (including both Jets and Blue Jackets rosters), so be sure to visit and print it out.

	*In Columbus*			*In Winnipeg*
#	*Player*	*Pos*	#	*Player*	*Pos*
6	Ron Hainsey	D	1	David Aebischer	G
9	Evander Kane	LW	4	Zach Bogosian	D
12	Randy Jones	D	5	Mark Stuart	D
14	Tim Stapleton	C,RW	8	Alexander Burmistrov	C
15	Tanner Glass	LW	16	Andrew Ladd	LW
19	Jim Slater	C	20	Troy Bodie	RW
22	Chris Thorburn	RW	24	Janne Pesonen	RW
26	Blake Wheeler	RW	28	Patrice Cormier	C,LW
34	Peter Mannino	G	31	Ondrej Pavelec	G
36	Mark Flood	D	33	Dustin Byfuglien	D
40	Kenndal McArdle	LW	38	Paul Postma	D
41	Jason Jaffray	C	44	Arturs Kulda	D
43	Riley Holzapfel	C	45	Mark Scheifele	C
46	Spencer Machacek	RW	49	Ben Maxwell	C,LW
47	Derek Meech	D	52	Ivan Telegin	LW
48	Carl Klingberg	LW	53	Brett Festerling	D
50	Chris Mason	G	57	Jason Gregoire	RW
59	Zach Redmond	D	76	Shayne Wiebe	C,LW
62	Travis Ramsey	D	77	Kevin Clark	RW
70	John Albert	C	80	Nik Antropov	C,RW

Sara Orlesky tweeted the forward lines in practice for the game in the 'Peg; don't take too much stock in preseason lines (coaches are feeling certain players out), but FYI, listed LW-C-RW:

Andrew Ladd - Nik Antropov - Janne Pesonen

Shayne Wiebe - Alexander Burmistrov - Jason Gregoire

Ben Maxwell - Mark Scheifele - Kevin Clark

Ivan Telegin - Patrice Cormier - Troy Bodie

Some very interesting things going on; it looks like Burmistrov and Antropov are both being given time at centre, so we'll see if the plan is to audition Burmi for the 2nd line centre position against Antro. Seeing Gregoire on the right wing is not the worst thing in the world, as position flexibility could land him with the big club sooner rather than later. Kevin Clark is a bit of an unknown, but also a local boy who played for the Manitoba Moose last year. It's highly unlikely he'll stick with the Jets.

Things to Watch:

Jason Gregoire. He played very well in the Young Stars Tourney, and this is the next level of competition. If his game holds up as well as it did in Penticton, he'll could be a fun player to watch in Winnipeg.
Janne Pesonen is a bit of a wild card, a smallish winger who's done his time in the SM-Liiga and KHL. He's been prolific in Finland and the AHL, but it's mostly a shot-in-the-dark. Might make the 4th line.
Like Gregoire, it'll be interesting to see if Scheifele's weaknesses show up stronger against Columbus. His skating was definitely a question mark after seeing him in Young Stars. Hands and passing were great, though.
Fans will also get a good look at top Jets prospect Paul Postma. The 22-year old defenceman is an offence-savvy player who can be a bit of an adventure in his own end. He's like a skinny Byfuglien.

Prediction:

6pm game - Jets 1, Blue Jackets 3

7:30pm game - Jets 4, Blue Jackets 1

Go Jets Go!

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Comments

SO excited!

And I fully expect similar score lines for the home and away games….though It might be fairly close in Columbus. The last Jets game I went to prior to tonight was Gretzky’s last game as an LA King….and I was 8. Woooooo

In Canada our balls are bigger

by canadian texan on Sep 20, 2011 3:35 PM EDT reply actions

Where is Little?

by Shaker on Sep 20, 2011 5:36 PM EDT reply actions

Healthy scratch

Little, Enstrom and more than a few others aren’t playing in either game tonight because there’s only so much room

In Canada our balls are bigger

by canadian texan on Sep 20, 2011 6:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Little isn't dressing tonight

Neither is Kyle Wellwood, nor Tobias Enstrom. I haven’t heard reasons why, could just be minor injuries from practice, not quite in-shape yet (Wellwood), family obligations (it is the preseason, after all), etc. Nothing to be overly concerned about.

Co-Manager at Arctic Ice Hockey

Want Jets historical stats, Gabe Desjardins metrics, Jets prospect scouting reports, player previews, and old school photos from the WHA days? Get your copy of the First Commemorative Maple Street Press Winnipeg Jets Annual for 2011-12 here.

by Bettman's Nightmare on Sep 20, 2011 6:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Looks as though Schiefle is gonna make it hard to cut him. I expect they’ll keep him around for the start of the regular season and then send him back at the 10 game deadline.

by Shaker on Sep 20, 2011 11:54 PM EDT reply actions

That’s the truth. Worth giving him a few games for sure, but still hope they don’t decide to keep him around beyond 10 games.

Co-Manager at Arctic Ice Hockey

by Bettman's Nightmare on Sep 21, 2011 12:10 AM EDT up reply actions

I'm sorry

But if it comes down to Antropov or Scheifele as second line centre I’m going with Scheifele after this performance. Antropov, despite having two assists, looked sluggish and utterly incapable of winning a faceoff or getting himself into scoring lanes. Scheifele backchecked, won faceoffs and was the second best player on the ice (Burmistrov was EVERYWHERE)

In Canada our balls are bigger

by canadian texan on Sep 21, 2011 12:18 AM EDT up reply actions

Problem is

Antropov makes $4 million a year, Burmi is talented, and the Jets won’t want to put Scheifele on the 4th line. Now, if Antropov stays on the right wing instead…

Seriously though, I know Scheifele looks great, but training camp and the NHL regular season are two different things. I agree with Shaker: give him 10 games, send him down, and don’t waste that rookie contract if you don’t have to.

Co-Manager at Arctic Ice Hockey

by Bettman's Nightmare on Sep 21, 2011 12:35 AM EDT up reply actions

if he's the best option after 10 games

I say we keep him. but if there’s doubt, yes back to Barrie. But at this point, especially if Noel is rolling 3 scoring lines? He’s the better option. And Antropov’s supreme inability to win faceoffs tonight suggests that maybe he should revert back to RW instead. That gives you Little, Burmistrov and Scheifele as your “scoring line” centres.

In Canada our balls are bigger

by canadian texan on Sep 21, 2011 1:00 AM EDT up reply actions

Too many rookies look great in preseason and even thru 5 games at the NHL level only to fizzle out by the 40th game. As much as everyone wants to make the playoffs this year the team is building to win in the next few seasons.

Honestly he would benefit most from going to the AHL, but the league has a ridiculous rule that you must be at least 20 to play there. Makes no sense…..they let you play in the NHL but you can’t play in the AHL??? Dumb.

by Shaker on Sep 21, 2011 10:01 AM EDT up reply actions

I actually agree

I think he stands to gain nothing from juniour, so why send him down. the drop off in talent wouldn’t be as pronounced in the A, but if it isn’t aloud I think the big club is the best bet for him. I don’t want to see him become the next Alexandre Daigle, but I do think he can contribute and become a great player down the road. Look at the Sedin twins and how long it took them to develop…and they played in the swedish elite league for 3 years before making the jump. We do have a lot of players currently under contract at forward capable of playing centre so we’ll see how this goes. In a month from now it should be a lot more clear

In Canada our balls are bigger

by canadian texan on Sep 21, 2011 8:05 PM EDT up reply actions

me neither

I don’t think they will either

I write everywhere. You're probably better off following me on twitter

by fetch9 on Sep 21, 2011 12:38 AM EDT up reply actions

Gregoire

I really don’t see how they can keep him off the roster. Although I am biased given that we went to school together, but I still am super impressed with his play.

I write everywhere. You're probably better off following me on twitter

by fetch9 on Sep 21, 2011 12:38 AM EDT reply actions

He plays a big game for his size

and he stirs shit up when he’s out there. I would not be opposed to giving him some NHL games this year. He’s really the epitome of the “energy” player.

Co-Manager at Arctic Ice Hockey

by Bettman's Nightmare on Sep 21, 2011 1:00 AM EDT up reply actions