WINNIPEG, MANITOBA
The bombshell that no one expected has been dropped: Shawn Matthias will not be on the Winnipeg Jets roster when the season begins in six days. After spending a few days looking over everything, Head Coach Paul MacLean and General Manager Sean Croft have made the decision to move on from the veteran forward. While neither the coach nor the general manager could be reached for comment, Shawn Matthias was.
"It's disappointing," said a dejected Matthias. "You work hard, you think you earn a spot, and then it is taken away from you."
Matthias has torn apart the AsHL since his demotion, which does the Winnipeg Jets no good. For a team that has tried throughout the entire offseason to build a team that can make some noise, this was not the way they thought this would play out. However, the numbers can not lie. In four preseason games this year, Matthias has no goals, no assists, and is a -4. He has taken four shots, and has thrown two hits. The Jets were 2-2 with Matthias on the squad.
Calle Jarnkrok however, has one assist in three games. He is a -2, and some have made the case that perhaps his promotion is a bit premature, but the Jets are also 2-1 with him in the lineup. He has thrown twice as many hits as Matthias has, and has taken almost as many shots. All of this has been done in less games. The Jets have said since the beginning, that no one was safe, and it seems as if they are staying true to that statement.
Matthias, in three games for St. Johns, he has two goals and four assists, and is a +6. The IceCaps are 3-0 since his arrival. Sources have reported that the Jets have shopped Matthias, and that Jarnkrok is not a lock to start the season in the NsHL should they move Matthias for another NsHL center, which is what they are looking for. If he isn't moved, then Jarnkrok will be a Jet for the season opener. The only question is whether or not Matthias can do enough to regain his spot on the team, should he not be moved.
Jay Trotter
Jet Fuel
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