The Winnipeg Jets have more problems than meet the eye
With the new cultural change in the locker room happening quickly as Rick Bowness fills the void, that Paul Maurice left, it is time to acknowledge that the Winnipeg Jets are a flawed team.
Let's not pretend that the Blake Wheeler situation is a unique circumstance, as there have been multiple rifts and issues in the locker room documented over the past decade.
Multiple stories mention how many players during their RFA period would request trades out of Winnipeg, for various reasons.
Trouba and Stastny come to mind:
Former Jets forward Paul Stastny told reporters at his end-of-year media availability this past April that the team had a lot to learn, suggesting that players needed to "have more respect for each other". He eventually signed in Carolina.
This is how the Jets dealt with issues under their still-current leadership's reign. Problems don't get fixed, they get removed -- even if it's to the team's detriment.
This is how the Jets dealt with issues under their still-current leadership's reign. Problems don't get fixed, they get removed -- even if it's to the team's detriment.
Trouba and Copp would make similar requests to be moved, and both ended up in New York.
Ultimately, the Jets current roster may support Wheeler, but under Wheeler's leadership the team has lost, Patrik Laine( due to unresolved bullying issues), Jacob Trouba(now New York Captain), and Andrew Copp.
It seems like the decision to strip Wheeler of the C may be controversial, but even if Rick Bowness isn't a great coach he can tell when something is wrong in the room.
The question is, will this solve the Jets issues? Probably not, as the last casualty of the Blake Wheeler era was Paul Maurice leaving, as Maurice himself the team needed a new voice, but is Bowness the one? He talked to the CBC recently and it seems like, the team is tight-knit, but given how chaotic the team has been it's a little hard to believe.
Asked about the alleged estrangement in the room, Bowness said it's a "much, much tighter group than the perception" people have "and that was very encouraging for me."
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 18 | 60 ANSWERS The Winnipeg Jets have more problems than meet the eye Do you believe the Jets are headed in the right direction? | ||
| Yes | 14 | 23.3 % |
| No | 26 | 43.3 % |
| They have no idea what they’re doing | 20 | 33.3 % |
| List of polls | ||