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THE ARMCHAIR ASSASSIN figures it’s a good time to be a fan of the Winnipeg Jets. 


FIRST OF ALL… To the Winnipeg Jets organization; take a bow. General Manager Kevin Cheveldayoff and head coach Paul Maurice worked magic this season.  They took a team that had every excuse to be a non-factor and turned it into a contender. Nobody (including me) picked them to make the playoffs.  In fact, several pundits had the Jets finishing last in their division.  But Maurice took this crew and somehow got them to buy into his philosophy. He turned the Jets into a nasty hockey team to play against.  Claude Noel used to say, “You can’t teach physicality.”  Coach Maurice debunked that theory in a hurry as the Jets banged their way to a playoff spot.  No question, Paul Maurice was able to get more out of this group than any coach before him.  The current core of players had been all but written off.  Not competitive enough. Not hard to play against. Not consistent enough. Not winners.  Not so fast.  Maurice even turned the enigmatic Dustin Byfuglien into a consistent hockey player.  Bravo coach, bravo.  And then there’s the general manager.  I’ve been a fan of Kevin Cheveldayoff from day one and he continues to impress.  First and foremost the hiring of Maurice was brilliant.  His draft record is excellent. Many experts believe the Jets have the top group of prospects in all of hockey.  So many things to gloat about, but what I’m most impressed with was the handling of the Evander Kane situation.  Although I do believe someone within the organization should’ve addressed the apparent dressing room dust-up in a more timely fashion – I can’t argue with what followed.  A dynamite trade.  Chevy turned a damaged asset into two excellent roster players, two grade-A prospects and a first round pick.  Just another day at the office for the dynamic leader of the Winnipeg Jets.  There are so many things to be proud of surrounding the Jets these days.  Standing and cheering after they were swept out of the playoffs was easy.  Because not only are Winnipeggers perpetually grateful to have NHL hockey back, they are also proud of the way the team is run.  First class all the way.  The rabid fans who pack MTS Centre are as knowledgeable as any fans in hockey. They know when something special is brewing and they know good people are in charge of their team.  This year was a great ride, but I firmly believe this is just the beginning.  The Winnipeg Jets will be good for a long time.

RANDOM MUSINGS… The Anaheim Ducks looked good against the Jets. Scary good. I’m pretty sure they’re going to the Stanley Cup final… Ken Hitchcock will be fired in 3…2…1… The Chicago Blackhawks are a fun team to watch. Jonathan Toews, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, Marian Hossa, Patrick Kane – no wonder they’re annual contenders… Did you know Floyd Mayweather has been convicted five times of assaulting women? Here’s hoping Manny Pacquiao knocks him on his ass Saturday night… Game of Thrones is an epic TV show. Nudging its way past Breaking Bad in my heart… Pretty cool move by Sidney Crosby to play for Canada at the World Hockey Championship… Good on the UFC for suspending light heavyweight champ Jon Jones indefinitely. Jones is quickly becoming more famous for his bad life decisions than his fights… If I see one more NFL mock draft I might fight someone… And finally, if you’re going to tailgate me in a school zone – please take the next step and get a personalized license plate that reads “ASSHOLE”.