With the Winnipeg Jets signing Kyle Wellwood to a one-year contract, the team might be banking on him having changed his conditioning regimen since playing for the Canucks and Leafs.
Wellwood was criticized in both Toronto and Vancouver for being unfit for NHL hockey. Canucks coach Alain Vigneault had said that Wellwood's conditioning was "still not NHL caliber."
Even more troubling is that Wellwood's new teammate, Dustin Byfuglien, recently tipped the scales at 286 lbs. Now, defensemen are expected to carry a little extra heft on their frames, but nearly 300 lbs?
And that's not to say that overweight, unconditioned athletes haven't had a measure of success in professional leagues in the past. Here's a list of a few of them:
1. Babe Ruth
2. Turk Broda: Leafs goaltender famously stuffed oranges in his pads; a snack during stoppages in play!
3. David "Boomer" Wells: the "Hefty Lefty" pitcher
4. William 'The Refrigerator' Perry: footballer once weighed in at 382 lbs.
5. John Daly
6. All sumo wrestlers
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Tuesday, 13 September 2011
Friday, 2 September 2011
Tuesday, 30 August 2011
Winnipeg vs. Canada
Western Canada will have to wait.
With Winnipeg occupying Atlanta's Southeast division until the 2012-13 NHL season, the Jets will face western Canadian teams only once each. Canada's eastern teams will take on the Jets four times each. Enjoy it, Jets fans, because that situation will be reversed after this season with realignment to properly accommodate the Jets.
We'll lead up to the beginning of the pre-season with a look at the Jets' chances against those three eastern teams. First up, the Montreal Canadiens:
Jets vs. Canadiens
The Habs will help reintroduce NHL hockey to Winnipeg with the home opener on Sunday, October 9th. Based on last season's results, the Habs are easily the best team of Canada's Eastern Conference teams, and will not surrender the eight available points easily.
Last year, the series between the Thrashers and Habs was split at two wins apiece, with Montreal's two wins coming only after Atlanta shipped Ilya Kovalchuk off to New Jersey.
Jets fans can expect even tougher games this year, as the Habs look to rebound after a first round playoff loss against the Bruins, and the Jets likely struggle to match Montreal's offensive strength.
Series prediction: 3-1 Montreal
With Winnipeg occupying Atlanta's Southeast division until the 2012-13 NHL season, the Jets will face western Canadian teams only once each. Canada's eastern teams will take on the Jets four times each. Enjoy it, Jets fans, because that situation will be reversed after this season with realignment to properly accommodate the Jets.
We'll lead up to the beginning of the pre-season with a look at the Jets' chances against those three eastern teams. First up, the Montreal Canadiens:
Jets vs. Canadiens
The Habs will help reintroduce NHL hockey to Winnipeg with the home opener on Sunday, October 9th. Based on last season's results, the Habs are easily the best team of Canada's Eastern Conference teams, and will not surrender the eight available points easily.
Last year, the series between the Thrashers and Habs was split at two wins apiece, with Montreal's two wins coming only after Atlanta shipped Ilya Kovalchuk off to New Jersey.
Jets fans can expect even tougher games this year, as the Habs look to rebound after a first round playoff loss against the Bruins, and the Jets likely struggle to match Montreal's offensive strength.
Series prediction: 3-1 Montreal
Tuesday, 23 August 2011
New Winnipeg Jets Jersey?
Is this the new Winnipeg Jets jersey?
No, it's not.
A team spokesperson confirms that the above image, posted online, is NOT the new Winnipeg Jets jersey. That confirmation probably relieves more than it disappoints, as the design is rather dull and uninspiring.
Perhaps the only revelation here is that someone shelled out some significant coin to outfit their beer league hockey team in embroidered jerseys.
No, it's not.
A team spokesperson confirms that the above image, posted online, is NOT the new Winnipeg Jets jersey. That confirmation probably relieves more than it disappoints, as the design is rather dull and uninspiring.
Perhaps the only revelation here is that someone shelled out some significant coin to outfit their beer league hockey team in embroidered jerseys.
Monday, 22 August 2011
On Rick Rypien
When Rick Rypien's life ended so prematurely on August 15th, he was a Winnipeg Jet on paper only. Having spent his entire career in the Vancouver Canucks' system, he is a Canucklehead in the heart of west coast fans.
Though the task of honouring his memory is shared between the two clubs, both teams have marked his passing in the press and online. The Jets and Canucks will no doubt find a moment during the opening night(s) of the upcoming season to properly honour his memory in front of fans.
Rick Rypien's value to the Jets was always going to be an emotional one. He was the type of player teammates and fans love to cheer for.
Rypien was no Tim Horton, Bill Masterton, or Bill Barilko. His legacy may lie in increased efforts to put a spotlight on mental illness and depression. And that may ultimately be more valuable than a ballad or dedicated trophy.
Though the task of honouring his memory is shared between the two clubs, both teams have marked his passing in the press and online. The Jets and Canucks will no doubt find a moment during the opening night(s) of the upcoming season to properly honour his memory in front of fans.
Rick Rypien's value to the Jets was always going to be an emotional one. He was the type of player teammates and fans love to cheer for.
Rypien was no Tim Horton, Bill Masterton, or Bill Barilko. His legacy may lie in increased efforts to put a spotlight on mental illness and depression. And that may ultimately be more valuable than a ballad or dedicated trophy.
Monday, 15 August 2011
Jets vs. the Southeast
Well in advance of the 2011-12 NHL season, I'll start taking a look at the Winnipeg Jets' chances in their (somewhat) inaugural season.
As the Thrashers last year, the Jets posted a sickly 80 points to finish second last in the Southeast Division. With realignment expected for the 2012-13 season, and a move to the Western Conference, Winnipeg won't be able to count on perpetual loser Florida to bring up the rear.
For this year there is indeed a Florida team for the Jets to beat up on. And they'd better make good on those games, because intra-divisional points are otherwise going to be hard-fought.
Washington, Carolina, and Tampa are all top-flight teams, with Tampa coming off its stunning bid for a berth in the 2011 cup final, coming up just short at the hands of the Bruins.
In this blogger's opinion Tampa are still the ones to beat, and the Jets are outclassed at every position. 41-year-old Dwayne Roloson is still a force in the nets. The Jets will need the white-clad sixth man to beat the Lightning in Winnipeg.
In the Caps, the Jets have a very talented opponent. Washington's high-flying (some would say over-rated) forwards have been balanced out recently by more grit and a solid defence. Iffy goaltending over the years has threatened to make Philadelphia's netminders look consistent; the Caps' off-season acquisition of Tomas Vokoun (take that, Florida!) could make this underachieving team downright formidable in 2011-12.
The Carolina Hurricanes are tough to read. Significant losses over the summer include Joe Corvo and Erik Cole, who both signed elsewhere. It may not matter whether teenaged sensation Jeff Skinner can avoid a sophomore slump or not. The Canes' depth is disappearing, and with it goes their chances of a playoff spot. It'll be fun to see Cam Ward and Eric Staal visit Winnipeg, and just as fun to see the Jets send them packing.
Next article: Jets vs. Canada.
As the Thrashers last year, the Jets posted a sickly 80 points to finish second last in the Southeast Division. With realignment expected for the 2012-13 season, and a move to the Western Conference, Winnipeg won't be able to count on perpetual loser Florida to bring up the rear.
For this year there is indeed a Florida team for the Jets to beat up on. And they'd better make good on those games, because intra-divisional points are otherwise going to be hard-fought.
Washington, Carolina, and Tampa are all top-flight teams, with Tampa coming off its stunning bid for a berth in the 2011 cup final, coming up just short at the hands of the Bruins.
In this blogger's opinion Tampa are still the ones to beat, and the Jets are outclassed at every position. 41-year-old Dwayne Roloson is still a force in the nets. The Jets will need the white-clad sixth man to beat the Lightning in Winnipeg.
In the Caps, the Jets have a very talented opponent. Washington's high-flying (some would say over-rated) forwards have been balanced out recently by more grit and a solid defence. Iffy goaltending over the years has threatened to make Philadelphia's netminders look consistent; the Caps' off-season acquisition of Tomas Vokoun (take that, Florida!) could make this underachieving team downright formidable in 2011-12.
The Carolina Hurricanes are tough to read. Significant losses over the summer include Joe Corvo and Erik Cole, who both signed elsewhere. It may not matter whether teenaged sensation Jeff Skinner can avoid a sophomore slump or not. The Canes' depth is disappearing, and with it goes their chances of a playoff spot. It'll be fun to see Cam Ward and Eric Staal visit Winnipeg, and just as fun to see the Jets send them packing.
Next article: Jets vs. Canada.
Wednesday, 10 August 2011
Jets Wheeler and Deal
My admittedly long-shot dream of having Teemu Selanne end his career where it began has gone up in smoke.
With the Jets signing RW Blake Wheeler via salary arbitration, there's no room on the depth chart for the Finnish Flash. Selanne, 41, broke Mike Bossy's rookie goal scoring record when he broke into the league with Winnipeg.
The top two slots on Winnipeg's right wing are now filled by Wheeler and Nik Antropov. Wheeler's numbers are dwarfed by the Duck great:
SELANNE
Goals: 31
Assists: 49
Points: 80
Power play goals: 16
WHEELER
Goals: 18
Assists: 26
Points: 44
Power play goals: 0
Granted, Wheeler has many more NHL years to come. Selanne had considered retirement after helping the Ducks to their Stanley Cup win in 2007. He's now contemplating his future with the Ducks, and may not return for the 2011-12 season.
Selanne in Blue and Red was always going to be a long shot. But how terrific it would have been to have him play with 1300th NHL game in Jets colours.
And perhaps see that machine-gun celebration one more time.
With the Jets signing RW Blake Wheeler via salary arbitration, there's no room on the depth chart for the Finnish Flash. Selanne, 41, broke Mike Bossy's rookie goal scoring record when he broke into the league with Winnipeg.
The top two slots on Winnipeg's right wing are now filled by Wheeler and Nik Antropov. Wheeler's numbers are dwarfed by the Duck great:
SELANNE
Goals: 31
Assists: 49
Points: 80
Power play goals: 16
WHEELER
Goals: 18
Assists: 26
Points: 44
Power play goals: 0
Granted, Wheeler has many more NHL years to come. Selanne had considered retirement after helping the Ducks to their Stanley Cup win in 2007. He's now contemplating his future with the Ducks, and may not return for the 2011-12 season.
Selanne in Blue and Red was always going to be a long shot. But how terrific it would have been to have him play with 1300th NHL game in Jets colours.
And perhaps see that machine-gun celebration one more time.
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