Hey all! Here is our feature running Monday through Friday that will bring you up to date on what’s going on in the media pertaining to the Winnipeg Jets and elsewhere in the NHL.
Ed. Note: Now that we are through with the Stanley Cup Finals, Altitude Check will only be running on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Here is what's in the news for Monday, July 9, 2012:
Al Montoya is saying all the right things in accepting his potential role as Winnipeg’s back-up to Ondrej Pavelec: “Obviously, we want to win. Whenever Ondrej can’t play or whatever the reason — 20, 30, whatever they have me playing, less, more for me — it’s about being ready and being able to win. Ondrej is a phenomenal goalie. I’m here as a backup to work as hard as I can, and when I am called upon to go into the net and contribute, I want to help this team move forward and into the playoffs.” [WFP]
Paul Friesen gives his take on whether or not the Minnesota Wild’s signing of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter might have a lasting impression on other free agents and drive them to to Winnipeg: “The Winnipeg equivalent [to signing Parise and Suter]: Jonathan Toews, if he were a free agent, signing with the Jets and bringing Shea Weber with him. Or something like that. So could Jets fans become the beneficiaries of a similar free-agent finagle? Probably not. For starters, the Jets are thin on talent, even thinner on blue-chip prospects. The process of stocking the shelves has only begun, the jury’s still out on the man in charge of it, GM Kevin Cheveldayoff.” So don’t buy into the pipe dream, Travis Zajac fanboys. [Winnipeg Sun]
Gary Lawless is cool snacking on Cheez-It’s waiting for the Winnipeg Jets to serve the main course. Although, if the main course consists of Mark Scheifele and Jacob Trouba, it won’t necessarily wow the tastebuds as much as it will set a nice base for the tannins of a fine wine. [WFP]
Houser. Houser. Houser…. is now dead. Alas Michael Houser will not be at Winnipeg’s development camp this week as he is currently in the process of negotiating a contract with the Florida Panthers. Enter Brandon Wheat King Corbin Boes. [Winnipeg Sun]
Ed Tait starts preparing Jets fans for development camp which starts today! However, if Jason Kasdorf is ever in goal for Winnipeg, this team will probably be in line for a lottery pick. [WFP]
Bad news, everyone. Despite most of Winnpeg's goaltenders trending positively in their latest rankings, the Goalie Guild still rates the Jets netminders a D- overall. Blame it on Hellebuyck and Phillips I guess. [The Goalie Guild]
The St. John’s IceCaps have signed John Albert, Jake Marto, Hunter Tremblay and Ryan Schnell. [WFP]
Mark Kiszla suggests that the Colorado Avalanche should trade Matt Duchene: “It’s as obvious as the grimace on the face of coach Joe Sacco that Duchene is simply not the type of player the Avs thought they were getting with the No. 3 selection in the 2009 draft. I like Duchene. But isn’t it apparent Colorado management likes O’Reilly more?” Ryan O’Reilly scored 55 points last year, 12 less than Duchene scored in his rookie season. Sure, Duchene didn’t have the greatest of years last year (28 points in 58 games) but if you trade him now you’re telling the rest of your pipeline that you have no faith in your system and are unable to properly assess talent at the third overall selection. That’s dumb. [Denver Post]
Dominik Jansky believes that while the addition of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter obviously makes the Minnesota Wild better it does not inherently make them a playoff team. [SB Nation]
Our very own Gabe Desjardins agrees, and gets roasted in the comments section. My favourite from Wild Fan (who shockingly disagrees with this premise!): "It sounds as if we have a bunch of sore losers on this thread. All of them who wished their team would have signed the two best free agents this year. ZP stated that if he didnt sign in Minnesota, he would have went back to NJ and Suter would have followed him. So Detroit, Philly, Chicago, and Pittsburg[h] (lolz) can keep their weeping to themselves. You were not even in the running. I wouldnt want to live in any of those places either." [NHL Numbers]
Minnesota's latest signings leave Ryan Lambert with more questions than answers. [Puck Daddy]
Hersheypark Arena caught on fire yesterday, but don't worry — the damage is minimal and should be a quick fix. [SB Nation]
Harrison Mooney is a smart man as evidenced by his latest article title: If Alex Semin doesn’t want to be here, why hasn’t he left for Russia yet? Your move, stigmatic idiots! [Puck Daddy]
Finally, the New Jersey Devils keep getting depleted as Larry Robinson has accepted an assistant coaching position with the San Jose Sharks only weeks after Adam Oates was named head coach of the Washington Capitals. [Fear the Fin]
