Winnipeg Free Press https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/hockey/jets/jets-hellebuyck-happy-with-productive- off-season-444895853.html

Jets Hellebuyck happy with productive off-season

By: Jason Bell

Connor Hellebuyck says he totally prepared for the upcoming NHL season, in mind, body and spirit.

After being anointed as the ' starting goalie this time last year, Hellebuyck comes into training camp this season as the de facto backup to Steve Mason, who was signed as a free agent July 1.

The likely change in workload doesn't seem to bother the 24-year-old Commerce, Mich., product, who maintains he's encouraged by a productive off-season regiment aimed at getting his body movements and his headspace right.

"I’m excited with everything, all the work I’ve done this summer and everything I’ve implemented in my game," he said Saturday morning at training camp. "I’m very excited about how this team comes together. You can kind of feel in the locker room that we’re excited to play this season and we expect to win."

Hellebuyck played in 56 games during the 2016-17 season, posting a record of 26-19-4. He was pulled in eight starts.

At times, he was upbeat about his play in post-game scrums with the media, while at others he looked lost for words. But he flashed some of his self-assured side Saturday after a 90-minute workout with a group of predominantly Winnipeg roster players.

"I think it goes along with me finding my game, and my game is mainly mental. I think it's getting my confidence, and not only my confidence but the feel of the game right," Hellebuyck said. "If I’m comfortable in the net, I’m gonna do things I don’t realize I’m doing. Once I found that, I implemented the right things into my game. I’m really excited this upcoming season."

Despite Mason's arrival and the presumption he'll get the bulk of the starts, Hellebuyck said he feels even more under the gun this fall.

"You know what? I feel a little bit more pressure because I have to prove what I set out here to do," he said. "I think last year, I showed aspects of it but I need to be better than that. I need to prove to not only myself but to the guys around me that I can be a brick wall and that I’m not here to just settle in and to blend. I’m here to do something and be part of something great."

Hellebuyck spent time this summer with Adam Francilia, a Kelowna, B.C.-based goaltending expert, who has trained a number of NHL goalies and is credited with playing a huge part in the resurgence of solid goalie Devan Dubnyk.

"I went out there a couple of times and saw what he’s all about, worked out with him and changed my body composition," said Hellebuyck. "His biomechanics are what’s coming into the game. It’s next-level stuff. Everything he teaches me and talks to me about, it makes sense. I’ve been trying to apply it all summer long and I really like what it’s done for my game.

"When I jumped on with him, I saw tremendous improvements come into my game. That’s what I was looking for, taking my game to the next level and proving not only that I belong but that I can be a high-end skill in this league. With Adam’s help, I’m on my way to doing that."

On Friday, Mason said after success with the early in his career (he was named NHL rookie of the year in 2009), he slipped into a major funk and was on the verge of quitting the game. He said not having a mentor early in his career hurt his development.

Hellebuyck, who was thrown into the fray over the past two seasons, wouldn't bite when asked if his situation was similar here.

"I’d really like to avoid those questions. I don’t want to throw anyone under the bus and I don’t want to say the wrong thing. So I have no comment for that," he said. "What I am going to say is that I went and discovered my game and I like where my game is now, and I like the improvements that are continuing to come."

Michael Hutchinson and Eric Comrie are also in camp and will likely share the puck-stopping duties for the .

Hellebuyck said he's energized by the competition in the crease.

"Absolutely, I think it brings fun to the game. At the end of the day, Steve and the other goalies here enjoy it and I think having a little bit of a battle is not going to be a bad thing," he said.

Jets head coach said he's already notices differences in how Hellebuyck, a former college standout with the University of Massachusetts (Lowell), is carrying himself in camp.

"He looks bigger, he looks stronger, he looks positive. All of that experience from last year has a great value to him. It's a confidence builder," said Maurice. "He's been through it, he knows how to handle it, there's far less unknown for him going into the year. He's a more confident man."

He said Hellebuyck's unwillingness to concede the top job to Mason is exactly what a coach wants to hear.

"They don't ever get to the No.1 position without that (mentality). Among all the positions in hockey, that ' mental framework of wanting to be in the net every night has to develop because to be a No.1 you have to carry, you have to have that mental toughness," Maurice said. "So, he wants the net every night, that's a really good thing." https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/hockey/jets/petan-looking-past-growing-pains- 444950603.html

Petan looking past growing pains

By: Jason Bell

Nic Petan takes responsibility for his lot in life with the Winnipeg Jets — to a point.

The 22-year-old forward from Delta, B.C., is heading into his third pro season, after a four-year stint with the Western Hockey League’s Portland Winterhawks that was nothing short of brilliant.

Petan’s time with the Jets organization can be characterized in less glowing terms and there’s no guarantee he’ll be with the big club when the Toronto Maples Leafs visit on Oct. 4 for the season-opener.

He played 54 times during the 2016-17 campaign, but netted just a and supplied 12 assists.

In 80 games over two seasons, he had three goals and 19 points playing limited minutes on the fourth line, supplemented with time on the club’s second power-play unit.

"Anyone’s going to go through a low point in their career and last year was (it) for me," Petan said after a skate at the Iceplex.

"I played tons of games and it just wasn’t good enough, even for my liking and I’m sure not for the organization’s liking. So I just want to come back and bear down more."

Petan averaged just under 11 minutes of ice time and finished as a club-worst minus-13.

In some respects, Petan’s production and worth has been difficult to gauge.

He was part of a trio with an ever-changing cast of characters, although most of the time he’d glance over and see the now-departed Chris Thorburn to his immediate right.

But there’s a solid argument to be made that he was afforded opportunities to cement his position on the club.

Petan doesn’t dispute a lacklustre campaign has left him fighting for work at a pivotal Jets training camp.

"It’s a combination of everything. Last year, I played fourth-line minutes, but also played the power play. I ended up with one goal but it should (have), could (have) been however many you want it to be," he said.

"A couple of times it’s just being unlucky, a lot of times it’s just not bearing down and a couple the timing was off."

But he said limited playing time and a lack of cohesiveness on an ever-changing line added to his frustration.

"My line changed a lot last year, from guys going in and out of the lineup and me going in and out of the lineup. From my wingers being (Drew) Stafford to Thorburn to (Andrew) Copp to (Brandon) Tanev... the key part is getting chemistry with whoever you’re going to play with. That’s the biggest thing in hockey — duos, trios — you gotta have chemistry to make good stuff happen on the ice," he said.

"They know the fourth line’s not my role, but they continue to put me in that position, but also gave me a power-play position, which is a little different. Not many players have that in the league, so I was thankful in a way. But I also want to help the team more and I think playing in a different position will help me help the team more."

The arrival of Matt Hendricks and presence of Andrew Copp with another year under his belt significantly hinders Petan’s opportunity to play up the middle on the fourth line.

He’s known for some time he’s being auditioned on the wing over the next few weeks. But who can he possibly unseat? , Shawn Matthias and would seem well ahead of Petan on the depth chart.

"Everyone knows the top six is the top six and you can’t really beat that. The numbers were great in everything, so you’re not even really looking at that. You’re looking at the bottom six and for me I’m looking at the third line. I (want to) push for a spot.," he said.

"I (want to) steal a job and that’s my goal here.

"I gained a lot of confidence this summer, working on a lot of stuff — got a shooting coach — so a lot of things feel more comfortable now," he said.

"I did a whole new set of off-ice training with a lot of movement stuff, tons of shooting, tons of release points that I needed to work on from last year, so I feel confident with my and wanna put more pucks in the net."

Jets head coach Paul Maurice said Petan’s best chance at making club is as a winger.

"At his size, the wing is an easier place for him to play right now. He can be a little bit like Mathieu Perreault. He can be a little bit more dynamic when you get him out on the wings. That’s why he starts there."

● ● ●

Training camp continues on Sunday, with on-ice sessions set for 9 a.m. and noon. The skates are open to the public.

Group 1 comprises most of the Jets returnees, with the additions of defenceman Tucker Poolman and , as well as forwards Kyle Connor and .

Group 2 has a mix of Manitoba Moose regulars and some newcomers fighting for work, although Marko Dano and Ben Chiarot are also skating with them.

Maurice said nothing should be read into the fact two veterans are separated from the other Jets, adding he wanted to see a couple of specific combinations.

"It’s not a depth chart. I wanted Stanley to play with Dustin Byfuglien in camp, two big men. Buff can show him things. I wanted Poolman with Enstrom for the same reason," he said.

"I wanted those pairs and I only wanted eight defenceman on the ice. So, you can tell I split mostly with a veteran group in the first, I wanted that for pace and for speed so we can drive it the way we want to."

Winnipeg Sun http://www.winnipegsun.com/2017/09/16/hellebuyck-optimistic

Hellebuyck optimistic Jets goalie eager for crease competition

BY KEN WIEBE, WINNIPEG SUN

Connor Hellebuyck isn’t ready to give up the crease without a battle.

Hellebuyck, who appeared in 56 games (including 53 starts) for the Winnipeg Jets last season, spent a good chunk of the summer getting his game back in order and adding a few new things into his repertoire.

While veteran Steve Mason was brought in to be the No. 1 guy, Hellebuyck is encouraged by his summer of training and eager to get the new season going.

When asked if he was feeling less pressure coming into this season after Mason’s arrival, Hellebuyck didn’t hold back.

“You know what? I feel a little bit more pressure because I have to prove what I set out here to do,” said Hellebuyck. “I think last year, I showed aspects of it but I need to be better than that.

“I need to prove to not only myself but to the guys around me that I can be a brick wall and that I’m not here to just settle in and to blend. I’m here to do something and be part of something great.”

There were a number of ups-and-downs for Hellebuyck as he carried the workload of a No. 1 netminder at the NHL level in what was just his third pro season.

What was his biggest takeaway after having some time to reflect?

“It’s hard to put my finger on one thing,” said Hellebuyck, who was 26-19-4 with a 2.89 goals- against average and .907 save %. “I learned a lot last season and I felt myself get a lot better.

(Playing 56 games) means a lot. It means I can handle the workload. You learn from playing, you learn from your mistakes. I’m going to take from last year as much as I can, what I succeeded at and keep working on the little things I need to.”

Hellebuyck spent part of his summer in Kelowna working with goalie guru Adam Francilia of NET360.

“First off, in the summer, I had to find my game again and I found that right away. I was very comfortable with my game,” said Hellebuyck. “When I jumped on with him, I saw tremendous improvements come into my game. That’s what I was looking for, taking my game to the next level and proving not only that I belong but also that I can be a high-end (goalie) in this league. With Adam’s help, I’m on my way to doing that.”

What was the biggest thing Hellebuyck took from working with Francilia?

“I’ll give you the most basic way I can say it and that’s biomechanics,” said Hellebuyck. “The way the moves and how the body moves, and it starts from the core.”

Hellebuyck has spent some time getting to know Mason during the past several weeks and believes having a healthy competition will help both goalies.

“He’s a good guy. I like him a lot and we bonded right away. It’s an exciting time,” said Hellebuyck. “Absolutely, I think it brings fun to the game. You can’t be too hard on yourself because at the end of the day you’ve got to have fun doing it. I think having a little bit of a battle is not going to be a bad thing. It’s going to help.”

Mason said on Friday that not having a veteran he could lean on early in his career was something he wished he’d had – and that he was hoping to provide that for Hellebuyck.

When asked if not having a more veteran presence around him last year may have been a factor in his up and down play, Hellebuyck wasn’t interested in going down that road.

“I’d really like to avoid those questions. I don’t want to throw anyone under the bus and I don’t want to say the wrong thing,” said Hellebuyck. “So I have no comment for that. What I am going to say is that I went and discovered my game and I like where my game is now and I like the improvements that are continuing to come.”

Jets head coach Paul Maurice has noticed a change in Hellebuyck’s appearance and believes he’ll benefit from the experience he gained last season.

“So, he's a little older, his neck's a little thicker, he's a little more powerful in the net getting across, he can drive through the entire practice,” said Maurice. “So, all those things that are important to other players are so important to goaltenders to be able to play the position.

“He looks bigger, he looks stronger. All of that experience from last year has a great value to him. It's a confidence builder. He's been through it, he knows how to handle it, there's far less unknown for him going into the year.” http://www.winnipegsun.com/2017/09/16/jets-line-combos-begin-to-take-shape

Jets line combos begin to take shape

BY KEN WIEBE, WINNIPEG SUN

It’s more than sheer speculation, but it’s important to remember the start of the regular season remains several weeks away.

With the arrival of the first actual on-ice sessions at Winnipeg Jets training camp (on-ice fitness testing doesn’t count), many were wondering if head coach Paul Maurice might be tipping his hand on how things might look in terms of line combinations and defence pairings this season.

As is customary, it’s important to not read too much into Day 1, but you can’t completely ignore them either.

“I know one thing, the lines are never set in stone. They're going to move over the course of the year,” said Maurice. “Part of this is training camp. We'll move them around a bit, there's not a lot of time -- nine practices, seven games and then the puck drops, so we won't over-experiment. I've got a pretty clean idea right now who the top six forwards are.”

With plenty of debate over how the top-six should look, Saturday’s sessions featured Patrik Laine playing on the left side of the first line with and Blake Wheeler.

“That’s where we started. At the end of the day, there’s still going to be movement in those six guys,” said Maurice, referring to his top two lines. “We’re going to move them around just to make sure they don’t get stale, but I’ll give this a run here for a while.”

Maurice isn’t worried about the perception that the Jets should be spreading out the goal- scoring beyond the top unit.

“You’ve got two guys who can really skate and lug the puck and you got a guy who can finish and I know he’s a 36-goal guy and the report will be I loaded up one line, but I put a 19-year-old with two veterans and one of those guys (Scheifele) is 24,” said Maurice. “In terms of experience on the ice, I like the idea of (Laine) playing with those types of veteran guys that can skate a lot.”

Bryan Little started with Mathieu Perreault and Nikolaj Ehlers, while Adam Lowry was with Kyle Connor and Joel Armia, Matt Hendricks was with Andrew Copp and Brandon Tanev and Jack Roslovic was between Shawn Matthias and Nic Petan.

In the afternoon session, Michael Sgarbossa was between Brendan Lemieux and Marko Dano.

The Jets open the pre-season schedule on Monday against the Minnesota Wild.

ABOUT THE D COMBOS The first group also gave a glimpse of what the defence pairings might look like on opening night.

Josh Morrissey was with Jacob Trouba, Tyler Myers was with newcomer Dmitry Kulikov, Dustin Byfuglien was with Logan Stanley and Tucker Poolman was with Toby Enstrom.

Stanley will be heading back to junior and Poolman is likely to need some seasoning with the Manitoba Moose of the as he works his way back from bilateral shoulder surgery, but that would put the familiar pairing of Byfuglien and Enstrom back together.

Maurice explained he wanted to put Stanley with Byfuglien and Poolman with Enstrom for very specific reasons.

“Two big men. (Byfuglien) can show him things. Just by watching your partner, so that's what I wanted,” said Maurice. “I wanted Poolman with Enstrom for the same reason. It's how they talk. Tucker is a bright guy, cerebral guy, and Toby can sit and talk to you for days about hockey and things that he's learned.”

Stanley, who was chosen 18th overall in the 2016 NHL Draft, didn’t get into any pre-season action with the Jets last fall.

Might that change during his second NHL training camp?

“I want him to get through the first two practices,” said Maurice. “If he does that, more than likely we’ll see him in a game.”

Ben Chiarot is the leading candidate to be the seventh defenceman.

PETAN MOVES TO WING (FOR NOW) Petan, who had one goal and 13 points in 54 games last season while averaging 10:54 of ice time, is in a battle to maintain his NHL roster spot and he’s starting training camp on the wing instead of his natural position of centre.

“That’s why he’s on the wing. I want to give him the best chance to make the team,” said Maurice. “Also, at his size, the wing is an easier place for him to play right now. He can be a little bit like Mathieu Perreault. He can be a little bit more dynamic when you get him out on the wings. That’s why he starts there.”

WEARING THE MAPLE LEAF Morrissey relished the opportunity to suit up for Team Canada at the 2017 IIHF World Men’s Hockey Championship, taking home a silver medal after losing in a shootout to Sweden.

“It was a big thrill. I wasn’t really expecting it, wasn’t really sure I was going to get the call,” said Morrissey. “I was pretty thrilled to get the chance to play. Obviously, it was a tough way to lose in the shootout in the final, but a great experience. I think having the chance to play alongside some elite players in the NHL, guys that you’re shutting down some nights and going into the corners, you can see them up close and get to know them, pick their brain a little bit. It was great.

“Personally, I hope I don’t have the chance to go in the future because we’re in the playoffs, but it was a great experience and I was able to learn a lot from it.”

CBC Winnipeg http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-jets-fan-fest-1.4293371

Winnipeg Jets Fan Fest takes off at Bell MTS Iceplex Pre-season starts with home game against Minnesota Wild on Monday

By CBC News

The Winnipeg Jets Fan Fest took off Saturday morning, and at least one hockey lover didn't let distance stop him from being there to see his favourite players.

Brasen Sim, 11, and his mother drove five hours from Weyburn, Sask., to take in the pre- season practice and festivities at Bell MTS Iceplex.

"I'm hoping to see Dustin Byfuglien and Patrik Laine," said Brasen, adding he thinks Laine is an exciting addition to the team.

"Watching Laine, because of how good he was doing last year, I think that he could improve even more because of his young age and I think he'll shock rock it up."

Brasen said he hopes to see the Jets' defence pick up its game. "Last year, it was all offence instead of defence and so I think they just need to even that out a little bit more."

Graham Taylor and his four-year-old son Grady said they were at Fan Fest to check out the players and activities, and to celebrate the upcoming season.

"I think we have some amazing talent this year, it's just a matter of it all coming together," said Graham. "I'm really excited to watch another season of Scheifele and I think he's going to do some amazing things."

Aarika, 9 and Arun, 5, have been Jets fans since they were very young, said their mother, Mandeep. "We're very big fans of Jets, and we always watch games," she said. "Arun is a very big fan of Laine.

"We're excited and we hope they can make it to playoff," she added.

The fourth annual Winnipeg Jets Fan Fest runs until 4 p.m. and is free for all fans. It includes the opportunity to watch two rosters of players as they take to the ice in training camp, games, activities, autograph sessions, player and coach interviews, and more.

Organizers said Saturday it was the first time the fest had been moved indoors. They were hoping for 3,500 people.

Global Winnipeg http://globalnews.ca/news/3749992/hope-we-make-the-playoffs-fans-flock-to-4th-annual- winnipeg-jets-fan-fest-with-playoffs-on-the-mind/

A family-fun filled day at the fourth annual Winnipeg Jets Fan Fest

By Global News

Every year, the Winnipeg Jets Fan Fest kicks off the new hockey season.

Thousands of Winnipeggers are expected to descend on the Bell MTS Iceplex on Saturday, Sept. 16 to take part in the free family-fun activities. This year, the entire event is moving inside the complex, which is good news for those who are worried about rain in the forecast. Fan Fest takes over two ice rinks with plenty of things to see and do throughout the event.

Two on-ice training camp sessions are featured this year, at 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. Admission is free, but seats are limited to a first come, first served basis. Fans will be able to catch an inside look at how their favourite players train.

Throughout the day, a Q&A will be conducted on the main Fan Fest stage with select Winnipeg Jets and Moose coaches, management, and players. A second stage gives fans the opportunity to snag autographs with current Moose Players, and Jets WHA and NHL alumni.

New this year are two breakout sessions that allow fans a sneak peek at how the video production teams put together stories for the scoreboard. Focus Fitness trainers also give details on how players maintain their strict training regimen and diet.

There will also be plenty of fun for the kids with inflatable bouncers and a special fun zone with Mick E. Moose in the Ice Lab. Jets Gear will be available to purchase on site featuring new Adidas pro jerseys and Fanatics Breakaway jerseys available to the public for the first time.

Free parking is available throughout the day to the north of the Bell MTS Iceplex in the adjacent Assiniboia Downs lot.

You can visit their website for the full schedule breakdown.

The Athletic Winnipeg https://theathletic.com/102747/2017/09/15/duhatschek-one-on-one-with-jets-coach-paul- maurice-on-expectations-goaltending-and-patrik-laines-shot/

Duhatschek: One-on-one with Jets coach Paul Maurice on expectations, goaltending and Patrik Laine's shot

By Eric Duhatschek

Paul Maurice is entering his fourth full season as the Winnipeg Jets’ coach, having taken over from Claude Noel in January of 2014. Only 50, Maurice was the second youngest coach to win 500 games and he enters the season 11th all-time in games coached (1,365) and 16th overall in wins (596), meaning he enters the 2017-18 season only four victories shy of 600.

Maurice spoke with The Athletic’s Eric Duhatschek about the Jets’ prospects, heading into a highly anticipated 2017 training camp.

Duhatschek: I was reviewing a conversation we had at this time about a year ago and you were cautioning me that the Jets were still fully committed to integrating your kids into the line-up – and to expect there would be a learning curve. With another year of experience under their collective belts, where do things stand in terms of the evolution of a club you’ve been patiently building from the ground up?

Maurice: So just to provide some perspective: Three years ago, we set the franchise record (of 99 points); made the playoffs; and had just over 500 man-games played by players 25 or younger. Last year, we had over 900. The only team with more was Carolina. So we feel like we’ve had a full-on investment in (youth) the last two years, and while we still have some more of that this year, we also believe we’re going to get some return on our investment this year. Even if Kyle Connor makes our team as a rookie, it won’t be his first game in the NHL. In each of the past two years, we had three or four guys who were playing their first NHL games. We didn’t know at the start of last year that Patty (Patrik Laine) was going to score 36 goals; and more importantly, beyond the goals, we didn’t know how much his game would improve over the course of the year. Nik Ehlers comes in this year and now he’s a third-year guy, which is when you should stop worrying so much about the consistency of their games. So we think we’re going to get a bit of a payoff coming now.

Duhatschek: You made a few strategic off-season additions that I’ll get to in a moment, but it also looks as if you’ll get Tyler Myers back healthy after he was limited to just 11 games last season? How much of a difference to your overall defensive game will that help?

Maurice: We missed him greatly. Also (Steve) Mason, (Dmitry) Kulikov and (Matt) Hendricks will all help in the areas where we really struggled last year – in the defensive part of our game and in the killing. We were seventh overall in goal-scoring last year and we think we can score more. But the real focus for us, with all these young players, they truly have the skill level. We have to get them into playing a real smart defensive game.

Duhatschek: Myers was a guy that jumped off the page to me, because it looked at different times during last season as if he were inching back in the line-up, and it never happened, and then he had the surgery. I can see where adding him and the minutes he played two years ago when he was healthy (an average TOI of 22:37, second on the team behind Dustin Byfuglien) could make a difference.

Maurice: This was a two- or three-year injury for Tyler. It started with hips and knees that he had surgery on. He came back the next year, those are fine, but his stride is different, so now he starts to have groin problems. Then it got to point where, it was looking good, he was looking strong, and then it would happen again. It eventually came to the point where the best option was surgery and the rehab from that is long and drawn out. The positives are, he just had a real, real hard skate the other day and his conditioning felt lousy, but his groin felt great. We think he’s going to be ready to go from Day 1.

Duhatschek: Let’s talk about your goaltending and the new guy, Steve Mason. Did you ever cross paths with him in the past; did you watch tape on him before he signed; and how do you intend to deploy your goaltenders? Most NHL teams go into the new year with a defined No. 1. But with Mason and Connor Hellebuyck coming off a 26-win season, it looks as if you could end up with a goaltending platoon.

Maurice: With Mason, you call around. In junior, he played for a good friend of mine, Pete DeBoer, so you know a little about his personality. He’s turned himself into a really good pro. Just in the two weeks he’s been here, getting ready for the season, he’s got strong routines. He doesn’t mind being on the ice. He doesn’t mind taking shots. He’s put some time into his game. He’s had runs over his career when he’s played incredibly strong. But he’s also played for teams in similar situations to ours, teams that needed to be better defensively. We believe we’re not far off there, so that should help his game. He’s capable of running long stretches – and being very, very good.

As for Connor, we think we’re going to see growth. We’ve seen him in stretches, be very good, but the challenge for any young goalie, trying to be a dominant No. 1, is their consistency. Now how that (rotation) plays out, the honest answer is ‘we’ll see.’ We think we have two goaltenders that believe, in their own minds, they can be No. 1. So there’ll be a lot of open communication and the guy that’s playing the best goes.

Duhatschek: You were telling me last December that Laine has one of the most interesting shots you’ve ever see in the NHL, just because of the way he gets it off, and that even reviewing his goals on tape, it is sometimes difficult to follow the puck. That same day, Bryan Little told me even two months into his career, Laine’s shot compared favorably to ’s, with whom he played in Atlanta, in the old Thrashers’ days. What makes Laine’s shot so unique?

Maurice: (Laughs) The shot, I can’t describe it. If we could figure out what he did, we’d pass it around to everybody on our team. It’s different. He can get it off his stick, and it looks as if he’s really laid into it, but he can do it with a six- or eight-inch backswing. Either it’s a snapper, or he leans into it, but it comes off his stick so hot that it’s hard to find. You slow it down and you see the real big flex in his stick and then there’s a blur and the puck is gone. And he can deliver it from all different places – off his front foot, off his back foot, in tight, out far, stretched-out upper body, compact upper body. I just don’t know anybody who shoots like that. I’ve never seen it before. And it’s consistent. He pretty much scored consistently all year. He missed eight games with a concussion and came back and just continued to score.

Duhatschek: Laine now has a year under his belt. Going into his second year, does anything change, relative to the awareness teams around the league may have of him?

Maurice: You can say that in his second year, players know more about him — except they knew about him two weeks into his first season. Everybody watches video now. Connor McDavid didn’t sneak up on anybody. We all had a pretty good idea this guy was fast. My expectations for (Laine) aren’t going to be based on the goals. I don’t know how many he’s going to score. I’m not putting a ceiling on him. But in the beginning of last season, he had a long way to go just in terms of understanding the smaller ice and the speed of the NHL game. He was pure 18 year old. He didn’t turn 19 until April. And yet, he made big strides. He was very coachable. He understands, if you’re asking him to do something, why you’re asking him to do it. He gets it.

Duhatschek: In the offensive zone, Laine seemed to be pretty elusive, which is a really unique skill, given how the game is played in such close quarters these days.

Maurice: I only watched Brett Hull play, but I’ve read articles about his ability to find the hole to get the shot off. I think there are special guys who have that feel – where the puck’s going and where they need to be. We leave him alone on that as long as it’s reasonably within the context of what we’re trying to do. He has that instinct. I don’t ever see that going away. I just see it continuing.

Part of it will be who he plays with. He’s going to play left and right wing. He’ll play with Scheif (Mark Scheifele) and (Blake) Wheeler. He'll also play with Little and Ehlers. There are a lot of combinations within that six, and we’ll move them around, depending upon the opponent. Young players get a little tired sometimes, so you have to cut their minutes back, so we’ll monitor that. But what he will do now is start drawing the No. 1 and 2 defenceman fairly regularly, and that’ll have a bit of an impact.

Duhatschek: In the very limited dealings I had with Laine last year, I expected one thing and actually got another. Scott Oake and I were talking to him on the morning of a Hockey Night in Canada game and there was nothing brash about him at all. He just seemed to be an even- keeled young guy. And I guess, heading into his draft, with some of the television interviews he did, I was expecting something different.

Maurice: There were two things that I found really interesting with him. One is, he had a really dry, sharp sense of humor – in a second language – which is hard to do. It’s hard enough to do in your first language, and there are lots of people who don’t have that ability. But in your second language, if you can turn a phrase, or process something really quickly and then deliver a funny line, that’s hard to do.

But what I like the most about his personality is, he’s very humble and very confident at the same time. We’ve gotten no whiff of arrogance. He’s got a great belief in his game and in what he can do. But all the good things we want out of our players, like spending time with the fans, he has that as part of his personality. And that’s family driven.

Duhatschek: What can you tell me about Wheeler’s leadership and playing abilities? To me, he’s one of those players, like Scheifele, that’s sneaky good and maybe people outside of Winnipeg don’t understand how good he really is. I mean, two years ago, he was tied for sixth in overall NHL scoring with Joe Pavelski and . That’s pretty accomplished.

Maurice: I think what happens is, a lot of times we’ll look at a player in his first three or four years and decide that’s who he is and move on. If you look at Blake’s play in the last three years and the things that have disappeared from his game, he is no longer a streaky player. As a matter of fact, on effort alone, that’s his greatest strength. There is no drop-off. He is just driven every day. It’s also part of his personality. If you catch him at the end of a tough game, he’s fairly wired. He’s probably a really good interview, but you might get barked at.

But he’s a really driven man. I’ve had some really good captains – Mats Sundin and Ronnie Francis. In terms of numbers, Blake’s not going to put up those kind of Hall of Fame numbers. But in terms of leadership and growth, he’s right there with those guys. He’s as good as a captain as I’ve had – and that’s out of great respect for those other two. That’s what people don’t know about Blake – and that may be a market thing. He’s all in. His fitness is off the charts. Every practice is like every game. And for a very intense guy, he showed a really great touch last year, understanding that we got young for two years in the prime of his career. He wants to win and he wants to win now, but he handled it as well as you possibly can.

Duhatschek: Given what the Dallas Stars have done in the off-season and with your moves, the Central still looms as a really tough division.

Maurice: We played well in our division last year, so we’re just going to have to keep it going.

Duhatschek: September always feels like New Year’s Day for those of us whose lives revolve around a hockey schedule. What are you feeling in terms of hopes and expectations, now that the new season is upon us?

Maurice: The best way to sum it up is, I’m at the practice rink and my office isn’t far away from where the players walk in – and when they walk past me, I simply count more men. I know the guy who walked by my door is going to get better. I saw him play last year and I understand him. There are a lot less question marks about what he can do today, so at the start of the year, I have a certain (higher) level of expectation for these guys. But we’re still – again – going to be a really young team so I know they can all get better too.

The Sporting News http://www.sportingnews.com/ca/nhl/news/patrik-laine-spent-summer-bulking-up-winnipeg-jets- /151b34arvp3je1lv338z7393cs

Patrik Laine spent summer bulking up for Jets

By Scott Billeck Contributor @ScottBilleck

WINNIPEG -- As Patrik Laine walked in front of a throng of TV cameras and reporters on Thursday, one thing quickly became evident.

An already-large young man had gotten even bigger since the last time he was seen in Winnipeg.

Laine, the Finnish phenom who scored 36 goals and 64 points in his rookie season last year with the Jets, was billed as a 6-foot-5, 206-pound 18-year-old prior to lacing up the skates for the first time in the NHL a year ago.

On Thursday, though his height hadn’t changed, the now-19-year-old definitely looked more broad after an offseason spent back home in Finland, working on a particular part of the game he pegged as needing improvement.

“I just want to battle harder,” Laine said. “You need to be able to possess the puck pretty well in this game, that’s why I wanted to have more strength coming into this year. The game is going to be so much faster all the time so trying to be faster so I can make more plays and make more room for myself on the ice.”

The second pick in the 2016 NHL Draft can check the strength box off his summer to-do list. He is certainly a more cut version of himself than he was back in April.

“I tried to a little bit, but I just want to be stronger and just try to be a better player,” Laine said. “It was just a lot of hours in the gym and off-ice workouts every single day and focusing on getting stronger and faster. Now, we’re going on the ice so let’s how that goes.”

The Jets took to the ice on Friday for on-ice testing, a day after they completed team physicals to kick off training camp in their seventh season after returning to Winnipeg in 2011.

Laine’s signature shot, one that helped him to a runner-up finish in the Calder Trophy race, hasn’t skipped a beat, which is perhaps impressive, given he doesn’t tend to skate much during the summer months.

“I don’t use that option a lot during the summer,” he said. “I was on the ice five (or) six times during the summer and they were like three or four weeks ago. I think there is a lot of time before the season to be on the ice and get that touch back. (I was) just trying to be a lot in the gym.”

Entering into his sophomore campaign, Laine said things are a little more familiar this year.

“It’s just easier. Obviously, on the ice, everybody knows you and what you are capable of, so that’s going to be harder, but the things off the ice are going to be a little bit easier,” he said. “I know what to expect and I know how to handle those things. I’m just super excited to be here again and get the season started.”

Not one to mince his words, Laine – despite all expectations levied on him by fans and media alike – only has one goal for this season.

“On my mind, there is only one goal and that’s the playoffs,” he said. “We didn’t make it last year and now there’s another chance and everybody is one-year older and has more experience about the league. I think now we have a good chance to make it to the playoffs, so that’s my only goal for this season.” www.winnipegjets.com https://www.nhl.com/jets/news/hendricks-teaching-matthias-new-tricks-off-the-ice/c-291106008 (INTERVIEWS INCLUDED)

Hendricks teaching Matthias new tricks off the ice The two teammates, along with Dustin Byfuglien, using training camp for team building by Mitchell Clinton @MClinton007 / WinnipegJets.com

WINNIPEG - Shawn Matthias may have a new off-ice hobby, thanks to new teammate Matt Hendricks.

"I hung out with Hendricks the other day and Big Buff, we went and shot some arrows, and I now have a bow. I don't know why, but I have a bow now," said Matthias. "I guess I have to learn how to hunt now."

Hendricks, 36, picked up the sport during his four seasons in Edmonton, before signing his one- year deal with the Winnipeg Jets on August 26.

"(He's) figuring out how to use it, and how to hit the bullseye. It's a lot of fun," said Hendricks. "It's something to kind of take your mind away from the game a bit, shoot some targets, and enjoy it. It's something you can pass down to your kids."

The Minnesota native is no stranger to getting his teammates out to have some fun away from the rink. While with the Oilers, he and seven teammates took a trip to CFB Wainwright, and participated in a number of military exercises.

"It just brings you closer together. You look at your teammates as someone you go to work with every day," said Hendricks. "The most successful teams, they're like brothers at the end of the day. As the season progresses, and you make your run to the playoffs, and you get into the playoffs, and you're battling for the guy next to you more than anything else. When you can build that kind of camaraderie early in the season, it can only propel you."

Hendricks' father served in the US Marine Corps, which led he and his fiancée to support a program called Defending the Blue Line during the 2008-2009 season.

The program has since expanded outside of hockey to baseball, soccer, basketball, and football, and aims to help military families with the costs associated with having their children in sports.

"One of my favourite things is when their parents come back from Afghanistan or overseas for their (rest and relaxation), we try to get them to a game," he said. "We try to get them four tickets for their significant other and their kids. honour them at the game, get them in the locker room, maybe get them autographs from their favourite players and such. It's the best feeling."

Head coach Paul Maurice was well aware of what Hendricks brought off the ice when he came to camp. But he saw the impact the veteran can have on the ice during today's skate. In fact, he divided up the jerseys in a way to put a young, "grinding" group together, and Matt Hendricks was in that group.

"If you closed your eyes and listened to one of the drills, it was real quiet at one end, and there was a lot of banging at the other, and that was the end Matt was in," said Maurice. "He worked in that practice from start to finish. He's that kind of pro. It's almost so old school, that all the players in that end realized that's what it takes to be a consistent pro in that bottom six hole.

"There's no sense playing there thinking 'I'm just waiting until the top six opens up.' If you take a program out, our top six is pretty young. There's nobody retiring any time soon. To play in that bottom six, it's more than just 'I'm a really skilled guy' or 'I'm a grinder.' It's the every day of it…. To play on that bottom six you have to be there every night. That's what he does."

With 521 games on his resume, Hendricks knows what it takes to be a pro. After shooting all those arrows in Edmonton, he's also the right guy to help Matthias with his new hobby.

"He told me he's taking me under his wing and teaching me how to hunt. I have the bow now, I just have to get all the camouflage gear, and all that fun stuff and try to pretend to be a hunter for a couple months here," Matthias said of Hendricks. "It's good though to have teammates like that that take you under their wing, and push your comfort zone and show you new things in life, and also embrace what's to offer here in Winnipeg. I love playing here, my fiance loves it here, and the guys are great. We enjoy our time here, and it's fun to try different things that you normally wouldn't." https://www.nhl.com/jets/video/fan-fest--kevin-cheveldayoff/t-277437442/c-52692803

FAN FEST | Kevin Cheveldayoff

GM Kevin Cheveldayoff joins Alyssa Jansen and Jamie Thomas on stage during Fan Fest https://www.nhl.com/jets/video/camp--nikolaj-ehlers/t-277437442/c-52683203

CAMP | Nikolaj Ehlers

Nikolaj Ehlers talks about his off-season training, his development over the past two years, and expectations entering the new campaign