Auston Matthews has wasted no time making life interesting under Jim Hiller.
Through six games with the new coach, Matthews already has two four-point outings. He had just one across two seasons under Craig Berube.
That alone doesn’t settle anything, but it’s enough to make you look twice - especially with those big nights coming against Nashville and Colorado, not exactly soft touches. The early read is pretty straightforward: Hiller appears to be giving skilled players a little more freedom to operate, and Matthews may be reaping the benefit by reading the ice and trusting his instincts more often.
That doesn’t mean Berube’s approach was wrong. His game plan leaned hard into structure, toughness and a north-south identity, which has value of its own.
But the way a coach wants the puck moving can absolutely change how often a star center gets to touch it in dangerous areas. The sample size here is tiny, and there are other moving parts too - linemates, ice time, power-play usage.
So this is less a verdict than an early snapshot of what a different system can do.
Elsewhere, Edmonton keeps chugging along. The Oilers are 4-0-1 after a 3-1 win in San Jose, and they had to work for it.
Tristan Jarry made 19 saves on 20 shots to pick up his first win of the season, while Mattias Ekholm, Alex Formenton and Vasily Podkolzin supplied the goals. Babcock said the Sharks didn’t leave much room, forcing his team to grind for everything it got.
He also dropped a few hints about what could be coming next. Zach Hyman is on pace to return Tuesday, which would be a welcome boost up front.
And rookie Owen Michaels may have done enough to stick around a bit longer after winning 10 of 12 faceoffs. Babcock told his group they’re going to get “a whole lot better,” and with Hyman nearing a return, this unbeaten-in-regulation start could still be the opening chapter.
As for the Connor Hellebuyck-to-the-Rangers chatter, that one got shut down in a hurry.
With Igor Shesterkin out for the season, the rumor mill immediately started connecting New York to Hellebuyck. Elliotte Friedman isn’t buying it.
The salary cap math is ugly, for starters - the Rangers would be locking up roughly $20 million in two goalies for years. Winnipeg’s ask is another obstacle, since the Jets reportedly want a goalie plus players who can help them right away.
That’s a tough fit for a Rangers team described as the league’s youngest, with prospects and futures to offer.
So for now, New York is looking inward. Dylan Garand will carry the load with Spencer Martin called up while Joonas Korpisalo remains out for another four weeks.
Friedman expects patience to win out, and a short-term veteran feels more realistic than a splashy trade. If the Rangers go that route, Jonathan Quick is a name to keep in mind - even if it would mean the 40-year-old Director of Goaltending Development coming out of retirement if asked.
In Other News...
Jets Get A Brief Reset Before A Weekend That Suddenly Matters
After a punishing run of five games in eight days, the Jets finally got back on the ice Monday with a little breathing room before the schedule tightens again. Winnipeg is using the brief reset to prepare for Minnesota, and the mood around the organization is a little broader than just the NHL club, with the Manitoba Moose also back at work after a two-game road swing that ended with a loss and a win before a weekend set against Dallas.
There was some scattered positive news beyond the main roster, too, as Jets prospects Owen Martin, Zach Wooten and Alexandre Taillefer each chipped in offense in recent CHL and NCAA action. For a team trying to manage the wear and tear of a heavy stretch while keeping an eye on the pipeline, those small developments matter, even if the bigger question still sits in front of Winnipeg as it heads into a game that suddenly carries more weight. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Practice Just Raised A Big Question Before Minnesota
After a two-day break, the Jets were back on the ice in Winnipeg on Monday with a few lineup clues beginning to emerge before their meeting with Minnesota. Josh Morrissey, listed as day-to-day after the injury he sustained against Colorado, was seen working with skills coach Matt Larke, a small but notable sign as the team tries to sort out its blue-line picture. Elias Salomonsson also took a step forward by ditching his non-contact jersey, even if he still stayed out of full-contact work.
Up front, the lineup tinkering continued as Winnipeg mixed things up at practice. Nino Niederreiter rejoined the group while Brad Lambert slid into the 13th forward role, giving the Jets a little more flexibility but also leaving one of the clubs biggest questions hanging heading into the Minnesota game: just how close they are to getting the full regular look back together. [Read more 🡒]
Stars Get A Timely Lineup Boost Before A Huge Colorado Test
Scott Arniel had little certainty to offer on Josh Morrissey, and for Winnipeg that is the kind of update that matters with the schedule tightening up. The Jets defenseman is still being described as day-to-day after sitting out the loss to Anaheim with an upper-body injury, leaving his status unsettled as the team prepares for its next game.
Morrisseys availability is especially worth watching because Winnipeg relies on him in all the usual ways, from moving the puck cleanly to handling heavy minutes against top competition. For a team trying to keep its footing, the difference between having him available and having to patch the blue line again could shape how much pressure the Jets are under when they step back onto the ice. [Read more 🡒]