MINNEAPOLIS — It’s a bit of a chicken and egg debate: are the Winnipeg Jets playing poorly at home this season because the atmosphere inside Bell MTS Place has taken a noticeable nosedive, or has the in-game experience suffered because the on-ice product hasn’t given fans a whole lot to get excited about?
Both scenarios should be cause for concern within the organization.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/JOHN WOODS
Toronto Maple Leafs players celebrate a goal against the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday. Leafs fans in attendance had plenty to cheer for during the Leafs’ 6-3 win at Bell MTS Place.
The Jets have won just nine of 20 games in their own barn this season — a 10th “home” win came in Regina for the Heritage Classic — and they’ve lost five straight at home following Thursday’s 6-3 setback to the Toronto Maple Leafs, getting outscored 27-13 in that span. The Jets are on pace for their second-worst season in their not-so-friendly confines since the NHL returned to Winnipeg in 2011. The only other campaign in which they weren’t above .500 was in 2015-16, when they went 18-19-4 and missed the playoffs by a mile.
Throw in the fact the Jets finished last season with six straight defeats downtown — three in the regular season and all three in their first-round playoff exit to the St. Louis Blues — and it’s an even uglier recent stretch of hometown hockey. And a stark contrast from the not-so-distant past when the Jets routinely made life miserable for visitors, their boisterous boosters with the clever chants were the talk of the NHL and there was a good chance you could put two points in the bank nearly every time they dropped the puck around these parts.
All of which might explain why Bell MTS Place could be mistaken for the nearby Millennium Library many nights this year. The crowd has gone mild, and don’t just take my word for it. It’s a sentiment I’ve heard on numerous fronts, especially from people who haven’t taken in a game in a while and are surprised by the lack of buzz in the building.
Here in Winnipeg, there’s long been a belief that the game sells itself, that spectators are so knowledgeable about the sport that they don’t need extra bells and whistles to add to their enjoyment. Just watching the best players in the world do their thing is enough.
There are exceptions of course. Thursday night, for example, might have been the loudest it’s been all season, but that’s almost entirely due to the fact there were several Leafs fans in attendance who had plenty to cheer for. From “Go Leafs Go,” to “Freddie, Freddie” chants, I saw many Winnipeg fans up in arms over the hostile takeover.
But rather than begrudge the long-suffering local Leafs fans, I suggest it was great to finally have some life back.
The same could be said for last week, when Montreal Canadiens diehards “Ole Ole Ole’d” until they were hoarse as the bleu-blanc-rouge rolled to a 6-2 victory. Of course, it’s not every night a beloved Original Six squad rolls into town, so far too often the silence has been deafening.
JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES
Montreal Canadiens’ players celebrate a goal against the Jets during the first period of their game on December 23 in Winnipeg.
Rather than scold the fans, I’d suggest it’s on the organization to take steps to shake things up. As a beat writer covering the team, I get to visit buildings around the league. I’m two away from completing my NHL bingo card, with TD Garden in Boston next week giving me 30 of 31 rinks I’ll have been in. Only BB&T Center in Florida will be left.
One thing that stands out is how so many of these places go out of their way to make it a memorable experience for fans, regardless of the end result.
Here in Winnipeg, there’s long been a belief that the game sells itself, that spectators are so knowledgeable about the sport that they don’t need extra bells and whistles to add to their enjoyment. Just watching the best players in the world do their thing is enough.
I’m not sure that was ever true, but it’s especially not now when the novelty of getting the NHL back has long since passed, expectations for the team are extremely high, prices continue to go up every year and competition for disposal income and eyes on the product is as intense as ever.
The arena experience here at Pepsi Center in Denver is top-notch. Live music between periods. Cool graphics projected on the ice. Super Mario “power-up” music when they kill a penalty. Puppies! And, apparently, post-game fireworks. Oh, and a pretty good hockey team, too. pic.twitter.com/ThRX35Zigl
On New Year’s Eve in Denver, there was an incredible on-ice laser light show as the Colorado Avalanche were introduced, a staple for games there and in many other NHL cities. There was an adorable intermission segment where some of the cutest puppies you’ll ever see that are up for adoption were paraded before the people. There was a live band performing before the game and between periods, which I’ve seen in many other locales. There were blimps flying around and funny between-whistle contests and promotions. An eye-popping, post-game fireworks show capped it all off.
Sure, most folks in attendance wouldn’t have been happy that the Avalanche lost 7-4 to the Jets. But I suspect the majority went home feeling like they’d got their money’s worth. Win or lose — and lately, it’s been mostly the latter — I’m not sure you can say the same for Jets supporters these days.
Rather than take the fan base for granted, it’s time for the organization to start brainstorming ways to improve the overall experience and make the rink feel fresh and fun again.
Rather than take the fan base for granted, it’s time for the organization to start brainstorming ways to improve the overall experience and make the rink feel fresh and fun again. Jets management might want to start by paying attention to social media — and perhaps the online comments section of this column — for all kinds of helpful suggestions, rather than get their backs up.
The status quo simply won’t cut it anymore, and the end of an eight-year sellout streak earlier this season and the scattered empty seats you see during many games now should be Exhibit A.
Fortunately for the team itself, the Jets aren’t going to be eating a lot of home cooking in the next few weeks. They’ll play seven of their next 10 games on the road, where they’ve actually been very good this season, beginning this afternoon in Minnesota. That’s followed by stops in Montreal, Toronto and Boston on this trip, a return to Bell MTS Place for three, and then games in Chicago, Columbus and Carolina.
At 12-7-1, the Jets are on pace to surpass their season-best of 22 road wins, which they set last season. That alone is keeping them in the playoff race in the ultra-competitive Western Conference. Even just a .500 record in enemy territory, which is typically the barometer for success, would have the team well below the playoff line and in dire straits.
Until and unless they can get things sorted out at home, it’s incumbent on the Jets to continue being road warriors. Whatever the keys to success have been — not having last change, not sleeping in your own bed, hotel room service — they might want to find a way to bottle it up and bring it back to Winnipeg on the next charter.
Otherwise, these Jets are going to have plenty of time to try to get comfortable at home when the playoffs roll around in April and they’re on the outside looking in.
mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca
Twitter: @mikemcintyrewpg
Mike McIntyre Reporter
Mike McIntyre grew up wanting to be a professional wrestler. But when that dream fizzled, he put all his brawn into becoming a professional writer.
NEW YORK – Toronto Blue Jays reliever Chad Green and Canadian slugger Tyler O’Neill of the Boston Red Sox were named finalists for the Major League Baseball Players’ Association’s American League comeback player award on Monday.
Chicago White Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet was the other nominee.
New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge, Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani and Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. were named player of the year finalists.
The award winners, selected via player voting, will be named Saturday before Game 2 of the World Series.
Green, who missed most of the 2022 and ’23 seasons after undergoing Tommy John surgery, was a high-leverage option for the Blue Jays this past season and filled in at closer over the second half of the campaign.
The right-hander converted his first 16 save opportunities and finished the year with a 4-6 record, 17 saves and a 3.21 earned-run average over 53 appearances.
O’Neill, a native of Burnaby, B.C., also endured back-to-back injury-plagued seasons in ’22 and ’23.
After being traded to the Red Sox in the off-season, O’Neill set an MLB record by hitting a homer in his fifth straight Opening Day. He finished with 31 homers on the year and had an OPS of .847.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 21, 2024.
NEW YORK – Florida Panthers centre Sam Reinhart was named NHL first star of the week on Monday after leading all players with nine points over four games last week.
Reinhart had four goals, five assists and a plus-seven rating to help the Stanley Cup champions post a 3-0-1 record on the week and move into first place in the Atlantic Division.
New York Rangers left-winger Artemi Panarin took the second star and Minnesota Wild goaltenderFilip Gustavsson was the third star.
Panarin had eight points (4-4) over three games.
Gustavsson became the 15th goalie in NHL history to score a goal and had a 1.00 goals-against average and .962 save percentage over a pair of victories.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 21, 2024.
CLEVELAND (AP) — Deshaun Watson won’t finish the season as Cleveland’s starting quarterback for the second straight year.
He’s injured again, and the Browns have new problems.
Watson ruptured his right Achilles tendon in the first half of Sunday’s loss to Cincinnati, collapsing as he began to run and leading some Browns fans to cheer while the divisive QB laid on the ground writhing in pain.
The team feared Watson’s year was over and tests done Monday confirmed the rupture. The Browns said Watson will have surgery and miss the rest of the season but “a full recovery is expected.”
It’s the second significant injury in two seasons for Watson, who broke the glenoid (socket) bone in his throwing shoulder last year after just six starts.
The 29-year-old went down Sunday without being touched on a draw play late in the first half. His right leg buckled and Watson crumpled to the turf. TV replays showed his calf rippling, consistent with an Achilles injury.
He immediately put his hands on his helmet, clearly aware of the severity of an injury similar to the one Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers sustained last year.
As he was being assisted by the team’s medical staff and backup Dorian Thompson-Robinson grabbed a ball to begin warming up, there was some derisive cheers and boos from the stands in Huntington Bank Field.
Cleveland fans have been split over Watson, who has been accused of being sexually inappropriate with women.
The reaction didn’t sit well with several Watson’s teammates, including star end Myles Garrett, the NFL’s reigning Defensive Player of the Year, who was appalled by the fans’ behavior.
“We should be ashamed of ourselves as Browns and as fans to boo anyone and their downfall. To be season-altering, career-altering injury,” Garrett said. “Man’s not perfect. He doesn’t need to be. None of us are expected to be perfect. Can’t judge him for what he does off the field or on the field because I can’t throw stones for my glass house.
“Ultimately everyone’s human and they’re disappointed just like we are, but we have to be better than that as people. There’s levels to this. At the end of the day, it’s just a game and you don’t boo anybody being injured and you don’t celebrate anyone’s downfall.”
Backup quarterback Jameis Winston also admonished the uncomfortable celebration.
“I am very upset with the reaction to a man that has had the world against him for the past four years, and he put his body and life on the line for this city every single day,” he said. “The way I was raised, I will never pull on a man when he’s down, but I will be the person to lift him up.
“I know you love this game. When I first got here, I knew these were some amazing fans, but Deshaun was treated badly and now he has to overcome another obstacle. So I’m going to support him, I’m going to lift him up and I’m going to be there for him.”
The injury is yet another twist in Watson’s tumultuous time with the Browns.
Cleveland traded three first-round draft picks and five overall to Houston in 2022 to get him, with owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam approving the team giving Watson a fully guaranteed, five-year $230 million contract.
With a solid roster, the Browns were desperate to find a QB who could help them compete against the top AFC teams.
The Browns had moved on from Baker Mayfield despite drafting him No. 1 overall in 2018 and making the playoffs two seasons later.
But Watson has not played up to expectations — fans have been pushing for him to be benched this season — and Cleveland’s move to get him has been labeled an abject failure with the team still on the hook to pay him $46 million in each of the next two seasons.
Watson’s arrival in Cleveland also came amid accusations by more than two dozen women of sexual assault and harassment during massage therapy sessions while he played for the Texans. Two grand juries declined to indict him and he has settled civil lawsuits in all but one of the cases.
Watson was suspended by the NFL for his first 11 games and fined $5 million for violating the league’s personal conduct policy before he took his first snap with the Browns. The long layoff — he sat out the 2021 season in a contract dispute — led to struggles once he got on the field, and Watson made just six starts last season before hurting his shoulder.
Cleveland signed veteran Joe Flacco, who went 4-1 as a starter and led the Browns to the playoffs.
Before Watson got hurt this year, he didn’t play much better. He was one of the league’s lowest-rated passers for a Cleveland team that hasn’t scored 20 points in a game and is back in search of a franchise QB.
