Winnipeg Jets focused on building strong team, make tough cuts -NHL Preseason Update
The 2011-2012 National Hockey League (NHL) regular season is right around the corner and like other teams, who are in a difficult position to make substantial cuts from their preseason line-up, Winnipeg Jets are also faced with that tough decision to trim
the proper players, who obviously had high hopes with the newly relocated team.
There might not be a team in the North American major league like Winnipeg Jets, in which there are such high hopes vested in. Unfortunately, the time had come and Jets head coach, Claude Noel, was the man to announce the news to the few unlucky players
who would be heading back to the minor leagues, in this case to St. Johns with IceCaps.
Making the decision is hard on its own, but having to announce it to the players is another thing.
"Everybody is different", Noel said. "You have to help them. It's never an easy thing. I've been through it on both sides [as a player and a coach]. They're all mature about it. They know it's not personal. They handle it the best they can".
Winnipeg cut 20 players on Tuesday, September 27, including a number of veteran performers including Jason Jaffray, Mark Flood, Travis Ramsey, Kevin Clark, Marco Rosa and Shawn Weller.
Is Jaffray’s case, being a veteran is one thing but also familiar with the Noel, who formerly coached minor league team, Manitoba Moose, definitely is tough.
"We know them, and that is sometimes the disadvantage. For example, you might take a look at a younger player, a first- or second-year player that you don't know. He is new to the organization. He is a draft pick from Atlanta or ourselves that we don't
know” Noel added.
Seeing how the players perform during the next season with Winnipeg’s minor league affiliate in the American Hockey League (AHL) might just put them back on the roster the following season. Being a newly relocated franchise, it is at time hard to determine
which player must stay and which must go.
Players can still be reassured that next season will be a make it or break it season, regardless of playing in the major league or minors.
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