Player audio from the MTS Centre (Blake Wheeler & Paul Postma)

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The skate moved over to the MTS Centre today:

Jets: There were 17-19 guys on the ice today. In fact it is easier to list the guys who were not on the ice than those who were on including Antropov, Ponikarovsky, Kane and Wellwood.

Blake Wheeler: – Playing in Germany. Why he chose that league. How the NHL and DEL compare. His style of play. Lockout finally ending. A condensed schedule. Having the Euro game advantage.

Paul Postma – Being on a one way contract. Playing in St. John’s. Working with IceCaps head coach Keith McCambridge.

To listen to the answers to the above click here.

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Player audio from the IcePlex (Little, Slater & Bogosian)

Not surprisingly it was a media storm at the IcePlex following news that the CBA had been resolved;

Jets: Olli Jokinen, Tobias Enstrom, Jim Slater and Bryan Little. Zach Bogosian was skating for the first time but remains separate from the other players until the CBA is ratified.

NHL: Ryan Garbutt (Dallas Stars)

Bryan Little - Importance to starting season well. Ensuring you get enough rest. Getting into game shape. Does a shortened schedule favour the Jets? Benefit of having teammates who played in Europe. Expecting negative fan reaction?

Jim Slater - Getting ready for the season. Challenges for a shortened season. Message for fans. Was lockout worth it? Will players have to win back fans or will they just come back? Expectations as to when deal will be ratified. How difficult will it get to be in game shape? Different levels for different players. Does shortened season help Jets with playoff push? Expecting negative fan reaction?

Zach Bogosian - First skate since August. Where is he in terms of recovery. Timeline for injury. Has lockout been different since he was still a member of the team. Good to have hockey back. More difficult to be patient? Biggest challenge dealing with the injury? How will it impact his slap shot? Talk about the injury specifics. Was new CBA worth pain and suffering? His skating timeline. Was he experiencing any pain while holding the stick?

To listen to the answers to the above click here.

 

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More players returned to the IcePlex:

Jets: Andrew Ladd, Chris Thorburn, Olli Jokinen, Tobias Enstrom, Jim Slater and Bryan Little.

Andrew Ladd - Was the CBA worth it? What does he like? Potential to squeeze middle of the road (salary) players. Winners & losers? Looking ahead at schedule. Can Jets benefit from short schedule? Grind of travel in the East. Why didn’t realignment get put into play? How does Jokinen add to chemistry? Jets special team modifications. Concerned about key players (Pavelec, Kane and Byfuglien) on this team. Expectation that rest of team will be showing up soon. Asked about Byfuglien’s conditioning.

Chris Thorburn - What has the process been like for him? Did he think it would take this long? What he did for past few months. Skated with his old Jr. team in Michigan. What his thoughts are on the schedule. Dealing with a small camp and no exhibition games. Is he in better shape than had schedule began in September? Excited for the Jets chances? What is he expecting from the fans? Will Jokinen have an influence on the room? Thoughts on his line. Keeping busy during lockout. Saying goodbye to Atlanta. Ups and downs of the CBA negotiations. Advantage guys who played in the AHL and European might have.

To listen to the answers to the above click here.

 

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The Jets number one netminder was the focus of attention today at the IcePlex as Winnipeg media had their first opportunity to talk to the Jets since his summer drunk driving revelation.

Ondrej Pavelec – Apology for his drunk driving. He was scared. Didn’t disclose to anyone but his parents. Didn’t disclose to his agent Allan Walsh. Spoke with GM Cheveldayoff. Did he speak to the Jets at the time of the incident. What was Jets message? How were his teammates? Message to young people. Lucky nobody got hurt. Does it impact his driving? Can he put it in the past? Playing in Europe. How many games can he play? Does he expect to hear from the fans about the drunk driving incident? Comfort level after signing long term contract. Poor stats in Europe.

To listen to the answers to the above click here.

 

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Once again a new group of players joined the group already at the IcePlex:

Jets: Dustin Byfuglien, Ron Hainsey, Al Montoya, Grant Clitsome, Andrew Ladd, Chris Thorburn, Olli Jokinen, Tobias Enstrom, Jim Slater and Bryan Little.

Ron Hainsey – His experience as a CBA rep for the team. Concerns how his role could impact future in the game. Should people be concerned about his focus? How he practiced during the lockout. Talks about his level of conditioning. What was it like being in the negotiating session with Mark Chipman in the room. Thankless job being player rep. Message to fans. Any reason to think we won’t be in this position in 8 to 10 years? Does he expect to receive the brunt of fan ire?

Dustin Byfuglien - Conditioning question. How did lockout impact him? Practicing in Minnesota. Another conditioning question. Using a green hockey stick. Better shape then if camp had started in September. Training regiment change at all? Does team need attitude change? Resolution of his court matter. Jets chances this year. What is he expecting from fans. Does Pavelec’s DUI impact relationship with teammates? Expectations for himself.

Al Montoya – Why Winnipeg? What was it like walking in the room for 1st time? How does he feel? How hard was it to wait during lockout? How much does he expect to play? Playing for next contract. Are Jets a playoff team? What he did during the lockout. Can the city live up to the what Toews said it was? Options other than signing in Winnipeg. What makes a successful goalie tandem?

To listen to the answers to the above click here.