Jump to content
NHL'94 Forums

Winnipeg Jets


angryjay93

Recommended Posts

Winnipeg Jets


Team Overview: Although front loaded with superstars such as Phil Housley and Teemu Selanne, the Jets are not a premier team in the league. Their lack of depth and chemistry, chiefly at the forward position, allow opponents to key in on the speedy duo in an attempt to limit their damage. In the hands of a one on one specialist though, Housley and Selanne are as potent as any duo in the league.

Forwards: After Selanne, the pickings get mighty thin in constructing a solid line. Most of the forwards are hampered by some skill that severely limits their effectiveness and possible chemistry with Selanne. With that in mind, building a line with the Jets isn't so much about building a line to work with Selanne, its more about building a line to cover for Selanne since he is one of the more potent weapons in the game.

All Day Selanne:

Davydov-Selanne-Borsato

Evgeny Davydov: 6 weight, 4/4 speed, 4/4 shot, 3 sth & pass, 3/3 aware, Shoots: R

Evgeny Davydov is the man riding shotgun with Selanne, he is the only forward who has a chance of keeping up with Selanne's mad dashes because of his 4/4 speed. Pair that with a 4/4 shot and 6 weight, Davydov is actually a somewhat decent option because he can unload his right handed shot from his off wing and also lead an attack if the defense focuses too much on Selanne. The main issue with Davydov is that he just isn't very smart, he doesn't set up in the offensive zone too well, he isn't defensive minded, and his 3 passing leaves a lot to be desired.

Teemu Selanne: 6 weight, 5/6 skating, 4/5 shot, 4 sth & pass, 5/3 aware, Shoots: R

Let's face the facts, if Housley isn't carrying the puck up ice, Selanne likely will, and with good reason. With 5/6 skating and 6 weight, Selanne is able to slice and dice his way through some of the more stingy defenses in the league. Only true lightweights such as Don Sweeney, Gord Hynes, and Jeremy Roenick can knock down Selanne in the open ice. Selanne is also a pain to line up with the poke check due to his superior skating; he should really be the main puck handler in any and all situations. If he wasn't already dangerous enough, his 4/5 shot makes him a threat from just about anywhere inside the blue line, a valuable weapon that should keep defenses on there toes as he wont need to get on the door step to light the lamp.

Luciano Borsato: 4 weight, 3/3 skating, 2/4 shot, 3 sth & pass, 3/3 aware, Shoots: R

The most surprising element of this line is Luciano Borsato. Modestly skilled, 3/3 skating, 3/3 awareness, 2/4 shot, 3 passing, Borsato wont make his mark on the score sheet. Where he will make his mark is on defense, with 4 weight, Borsato is able to knock down most any 6 or heavier player on a consistent basis. This skill can't be overvalued; Selanne will typically be off making offensive charges, as well as Housley. What better option to have on the right wing than to have a player who can throw his weight around and help out on defense?

This is the most balanced line possible with the Jets for a one on one, deke specialist. While Alexei Zhamnov and Thomas Steen are more skilled than Borsato, neither are fleet footed enough to keep up with Selanne, nor will their puck handling and passing skills be needed because Selanne and Housley will be leading the rush so much.

Team Concept:

Davydov-Selanne-Zhamnov

Alexei Zhamnov: 7 weight, 5/3 skating, 3/4 shot, 5 sth & pass, 4/3 aware, Shoots: L

For those of us who are one-timing junkies and cant find success slashing through the other team with Selanne; this line will have to do the trick. Zhamnov is a skilled distributor of the biscuit with his 5 passing and stick handling; the trick though is finding a way to set up a one-timer with this combo. Zhamnov's 5/3 skating and 7 weight means he's fairly easy to handle, but an average straight line skater. Typically, once Zhamnov has entered the zone with the puck, Davydov is skating around aimlessly and Selanne has already skated through the prime one-timing areas and has to reset himself. With only a 3/4 shot, Zhamnov isn't quite dangerous enough in terms of skating or shooting to be a major goal scorer.

There is also the temptation to put Selanne on the wing and allow Davydov to be the center for one timers, but there are some inherent problems with that strategy. Selanne is not a playmaker, he is a goal scorer, due to his speed, the other forwards lag behind him and thus Selanne will be waiting around for them to catch up and set up, not a great way to run an offense. Also, because of Davydov's low awareness, he doesn't set up well enough to be a major one-timing threat. Lastly, by putting Selanne on a wing, its easier for him to get isolated on one side of the ice and become more predictable when it comes to attacking the net, keeping him in the middle allows him to use the whole ice more effectively.

Other Options:

Thomas Steen: 8 weight, 4/3 skating, 3/4 shot, 4 sth, 5 pass, 4/3 aware, Shoots: L

A second passing wizard, Steen suffers from the same exact problems as Zhamnov. Slow of foot, a tad bit too heavy for his skill set, and a non-intimidating shooter. It takes a very special touch to milk the offense needed out of Steen to offset his porous defense.

Stu Barnes: 5 weight, 2/3 skating, 2/3 shot, 2 sth & pass, 3/3 aware, Shoots: R

If Borsato goes down, this is the weight bug back up option. Probably best to steer clear of Barnes since he doesn't seem too interested in offense.

Forwards: (6.5/10)

Defense: Winnipeg provides a unique set of defenseman that can be used effectively in a myriad of ways, because of this though; it can be a bit tougher to find the right combination to get the most out of the team.

Balancing Act:

Numminen-Housley

Teppo Numminen: 7 weight, 4/3 skating, 3/2 shot, 4 sth, 3 pass, 3/5 aware, Shoots: R

Aside from being right handed, Numminen is really ideal as a LD, his 5 d aware and 4/3 skating is sufficient enough for him to be considered a solid defenseman despite his middling 7 weight. The great thing about Numminen is that he is in good position quite often, which is critical considering who his partner is. Typically, the idea of the defense with Winnipeg is to either use Borsato or Housley, who ever is in defensive position to either shove the opponent off the puck or guide them into a situation where Numminen is lying in wait to either pick off a pass or apply a quick poke check. The key to Numminen is to never use him on offense, he does have decent skills, but his presence is so vital to the defense, that it would be very dangerous to get aggressive with him.

Phil Housley: 6 weight, 6/5 skating, 3/2 shot, 6 sth & pass, 4/3 aware, Shoots: L

I'm not the biggest fan of Housley, furthest thing from it probably, but many more people love him than loathe him and thus he must be a recommendation. Housley is one of the more unique defenseman in the game with his 6/5 skating, 6 weight, 6 passing and stick handling. He can really push the pace of the game whether it be rushing the puck up the ice or sending a perfect laser type pass to a streaking forward. On the downside, Housley is a pretty lackluster defender, he has 4/3 awareness, not too often does a d-man have better offensive awareness. Furthermore, due to his offensive excursions, Housley will typically be well out of position and unable to help out on defense. Housley's only offensive weakness is his pitiful 3/2 shot, meaning he can only deke the goalie and sneak a slapper by some of the softer goalies in the league. Use Housley at your own discretion and hope that by putting him on the right side of the ice with Borsato, that Borsato will be able to cover him enough to not cripple the defense.

Physical Presence:

Bautin-Housley

Sergei Bautin: 6 weight, 3/3 skating, 3/1 shot, 3 sth & pass, 2/4 aware, Shoots: L

Sergei Bautin is cut from a similar cloth as Numminen; he is a steady, defensive minded defenseman who has an acceptable skill set. Bautin has average 3/3 skating, 6 weight, and 4 d aware. The main reason to go with Bautin over Numminen would be to get that extra little weight advantage on defense, but it comes at the cost of a little bit of skating and defensive awareness.

Say What!!!???:

Bautin-Numminen

The main complaint about Housley is that he is too fast to control on defense, this recommendation is tailor maid for users who don't like to use their defenders as offensive weapons. Bautin and Numminen are the best two options in respect to defense, why not put them out there together if that's all a user is looking for? Also, this allows a user to insert Zhamnov on the right wing because Housley wont be taking away from his touches. Although the Davydov-Selanne-Zhamnov-Bautin-Numminen isn't great in terms of gaining advantage through the weight bug, it can be an effective lineup for users looking to use a more traditional strategy.

Other Options:

Fredrik Olausson: 9 weight, 4/3 skating, 4/2 shot, 4 sth & pass, 4/3 aware, Shoots: R

A very unique player, Olausson brings a respectable offensive skillset to the table at a pace that may be a lot easier to handle than Housley's. He could be a great #2 man to Housley in an all out attack formation or the #1 O-dman with one of the bangers at his side. The weight is a bit of a concern, but Winnipeg isn't a very heavy team, so he should be ok out there.

Defense Rating: (7.5/10)

Goalie Zone:

Bob Essenssa: 3 weight, 4/4 skating, 4 puck control, 4/4/4/4 save, Catches: L

Bob Essensa is one of the more coveted middle-tier goalies in the game because he is solid across the board. 4/4 skating, 4 save ratings in all categories, and 4 puck handling. The only thing to be wary of is the crash the crease strategy, at only 3 weight Essensa has a tendency to get pushed back into his goal.

Goalie Rating: (7/10)

Bottom Line: Winnipeg has top end skill that can compare with most other teams in the league, if balance can be found in the other positions, then Winnipeg is a solid team. If the support players struggle, things can get ugly in a hurry.

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I believe that both Housley and Leetch are in the same vein when it comes to offensive-minded d-men like them. I think Leetch's got a little more speed than the programmers gave him credit for and he does posses a hard slaphot, nice awareness as well as great stickhandling and passing. IMO, they're comparable to each other and if you use them right you can surprise people with them, although the diferences between them do exist.

Zhamnov is a good distributor and has great passing, nice for giving it to Selanne, who's a pretty good shot for a burner. Davydov and Borsato can be desperating when an opponent doesn't expect much of them, so one or two hard slapshots can tell a different story.

Essensa is pretty good as a goalie; agile, quick, has great work with the stick and glove with excelent awareness and puck control to go along with them, but as AJ mentioned, his weight can be his weakness, since heavy guys can push him with enough force to get the puck into paydirt despite making pancakes out of them with a save attempt. Handle with care against human meteors like Lemieux or Lindros.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

As the current jets coach in gdl 6 i like to start off saying that the logo i use which is Evan's avatar is far superior to the current classic 94. I drafted Housley with my 1st pick and ended up benching him for chris dahlquist. Housley is an extreme liability but thisdefenitly a team that has it all and can win a classic cup

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Great writeup as always AJ. You know this is one of my favorite teams (though mainly for the retro look more than players).

They certainly don't have much depth, and you guys have mentioned just about everything important (Borsato is an excellent choice). But, you did leave out 1 major component to this team: Olausson.

Olausson on D is an excellent replacement for Housley for those who feel he's too fast and offensive minded. I would suggest Olausson-Numminen for a good starting defensive pair.

Also guys like Tkachuk/Eagles can be good to throw in when your team isn't working just to change the momentum. I would typically start Borsato-Zhamnov-Davydov on forward since Selanne is usually out of sync with the guys on this team.

Keep up the excellent writeups! I love these things.

-Evan

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

Weight Bug Fix Analysis

Things don't change a lot for the Jets with the weight bug fix, except that Borsato finds his place on the bench again.

Forwards

Selanne is still an elite player.

Zhamnov and Steen, at 7 and 8 weight, don't really change. They may be a little bit more useful now just because your opponent's defense will be heavier now, and have a harder time connecting on hits.

I think Davydov is still an option, since he's still a faster skater and better shooter than Zhamnov or Steen.

There is one surprising option on this team if you really need some hitting power up front: Mike Eagles is one of the very few players in the game with a 5 in checking. Coupled with his 7 weight, he has a 9.9 overall checking effectiveness. His low weight will make him a relatively quick player, despite his 3/3 skating. Unfortunately, his 2s with the puck will not help you score goals.

Defense

You may see Olausson's 9 weight and think he'll make a good D. You'd be wrong: he has a rating of 1 in checking, making his total checking rating a pathetic 6.4.

Stick with Housley and Numminen.

If you really need a checker, try Igor Ulanov, who has 9/3 checking (8.9 total) and 4 Defensive awareness. His 2/2 skating might be too slow, though.

Edited by smozoma
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Pretty good view, smoz.

Now, if only AJ delights us with another team... :rollseyes:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...
  • 5 years later...

CB Notes

Forwards

Evgeny Davydov: Regardless of the CB implications, Davydov is essentially a must start player because aside from Selanne, he is the only forward on the roster with 4 speed. Evegeny will likely have a tougher time getting close to the net which may put more pressure on Selanne and Housley to carry the load in the puck handling department.

Teemu Selanne: Maintaining his place in the argument as a top 5 player in the game, Teemu probably actually benefits a tiny bit from the CB check despite only having 6 weight. With his elite skating, Selanne is primed to knock some of the super light weights such as Fleury and Roenick around as that 6 speed will allow him to knock his foe around from a greater distance than the average player.This previously mentioned elite skating will also aid Selanne in dancing around the bigger defenders in the league and keep him from getting too banged up. Selanne is still the heart of this squad, if not perhaps relied upon more.

Luciano Borsato and Stu Barnes: This pair of weight buggers have likely seen their best days go by as they will look like raw meat to a larger player with a big CB check on his mind. Neither has the requisite offensive talent to warrant being torn to pieces for the majority of the game.

Alexei Zhamnov and Thomas Steen: With most of the Jets forwards dealing with downgrades in effectiveness, icing one of this slick passing duo almost becomes compulsory. The trick is getting one of these agile middleweights to mesh with the frantic style of Selanne which is never an easy job.

Mike Eagles: 7 weight, 3/3 skating, 2/2 shot, 2 sth and pass, 2/4 aware, Shoots: L

Eagles has some flex in Blitz league due to his 5 checking allowing him to bully players within his weight class. Under classic rules, Eagles would only merit consideration if Steen and Zhamnov are both unavailable since those two are superior checkers when their advantage in agility is considered.

Keith Tkachuk: 10 weight, 3/2 skating, 4/3 shot, 2/2 sth and pass, 3/3 aware, Shoots: R

Our first true CB checker is a bit underwhelming but he may just have a place on the wing as an opportunistic scorer. The speed is a major issue, especially on the wing but the Jets don't really require their wingers to be much in the way of puck carriers. If Tkachuk can swoop in and clean up some of the trash created by Housley or Selanne then he may be able to justify his spot in the lineup. I cant endorse him fully but it would seem worthwhile to experiment with him before letting him rot on the bench.

Kris King: 10 weight, 3/3 speed, 2/2 shot, 2/2 sth and pass, 2/4 aware, Shoots: L

The fastest of the three Kings in the game, Kris King is a bit more mobile option than Tkachuk and seems to be the inverse of Barnes on the Jets bench. There likely wont too be many instances where icing King will be optimal, but it is something worth keeping in the back of ones mind.

Defense

Teppo Numminen: Discretion is sometimes the better part of valor. While Numminen has some new found checking ability against anyone with 5 weight or less it would probably be best to continue to play a passive poke check game with Teppo as Housley may not be back from his offensive excursions to help support.

Phil Housley: Housley should be able to minimize the effect of any prospective CB checkers honing in on him with his fantastic skating. Defensively, Housley will be much of the same story unless the opposing team ices some heavyweights which Housley should be able to pick off with regularity.

Sergei Bautin: Many of the previous weight bug options around the league have lost a lot of their luster due to a lack of skill. Bautin doesn't fall into that group as he is plenty skilled to be an above average #3 defender who makes the occasional start. Just keep an eye on those big fast heavyweights such as Esa Tikkanen and move the puck to Housley or Selanne before its too late.

Fredrik Olausson: Unlike Eagles, Olausson actually picks up a little bit of checking power as his pathetic 1 check rating doesn't hurt his ability to CB check. The extra offensive talent and CB check versatility could allow Olausson to sneak into the line up over Housley.

New D-Pair: Housley-Olausson

If it's critical to have a CB checker on the ice then Olausson is probably the preferred option over any of the forwards previously mentioned. Freddy will be on his natural right side and will be able to use his skill set to its fullest potential. Numminen's weight is much closer to Housley and he isn't quite as skilled as Olausson. Over time this could become the preferred Jets pairing in the community.

Bottom Line

Winnipeg has always had a bunch of chemistry issues within their forward ranks and none of them have been alleviated. The defense has improved slightly which should help them when goals are at a premium. Winnipeg continues to sit outside the upper echelon of teams and it is up to the user at hand to get the most out of the Selanne and Housley duo.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

First off, being new to the forum (but not the game itself), I'd like to say that this forum has enhanced immeasurably my enjoyment of NHL '94, and this is one of my favorite places on the Internet. Well done, folks.

Having recently started using Winnipeg, I wanted to share a couple of observations.

Housley is, I think, more of a liability than an asset. Sure, he's fast and can keep up with Selanne, but man, he is *always* out of position, which is a huge pitfall when playing fast teams (Dallas, Vancouver) that can really generate and capitalize on breakaways. On top of that, to describe his shot as mediocre would be generous.

Bautin, I've found, stays in his zone and protects the goal quite well. With he and Numminen in the back, I can bench Borsato and bring in Zhamnov, whom I have found to be a fine counterpart to Selanne. Sure, Selanne is a bit too fast for him to always keep up with, but he is still able to contribute in terms of setting up some one-timers and, yes, shooting. His shot is average, but not garbage, and most teams seem to not pay so much attention to him; as a result, he usually winds up with a goal or two for me. I drag Housley out when I'm behind, desperate, and want a lot of offensive options, but that usually means bringing Borsato on to shore up the defense, and he offers little beyond not being fat.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

One thing in Housley's favour: He's a huge offensive threat. I got smoked by him in the Classic league. Speed is generally considered the most important player skill in the game, and offense usually wins in 94

Link to comment
Share on other sites

First off, being new to the forum (but not the game itself), I'd like to say that this forum has enhanced immeasurably my enjoyment of NHL '94, and this is one of my favorite places on the Internet. Well done, folks.

Having recently started using Winnipeg, I wanted to share a couple of observations.

Housley is, I think, more of a liability than an asset. Sure, he's fast and can keep up with Selanne, but man, he is *always* out of position, which is a huge pitfall when playing fast teams (Dallas, Vancouver) that can really generate and capitalize on breakaways. On top of that, to describe his shot as mediocre would be generous.

Bautin, I've found, stays in his zone and protects the goal quite well. With he and Numminen in the back, I can bench Borsato and bring in Zhamnov, whom I have found to be a fine counterpart to Selanne. Sure, Selanne is a bit too fast for him to always keep up with, but he is still able to contribute in terms of setting up some one-timers and, yes, shooting. His shot is average, but not garbage, and most teams seem to not pay so much attention to him; as a result, he usually winds up with a goal or two for me. I drag Housley out when I'm behind, desperate, and want a lot of offensive options, but that usually means bringing Borsato on to shore up the defense, and he offers little beyond not being fat.

Well said. It comes down to the type of game you personally prefer playing. It's all risk vs reward. If you put Housley in your lineup, you must skate it with him a lot, draw people in, set up plays. Otherwise you don't take advantage of his enormous skill-set. If you want a defensemen to usually be in position (feeling of reassurance), Phil is not the guy. Against an opponent who has fast skaters and moves the puck fast, you may often find yourself yelling at him(ex. "stay back"!, or "what the __ are you doing" ?) and giving up lots of odd-man rushes.

As for Zhamnov, he's a must in my book considering his great stickhandling, agility and passing.

Edited by Uncle Seth
Link to comment
Share on other sites

First off, being new to the forum (but not the game itself), I'd like to say that this forum has enhanced immeasurably my enjoyment of NHL '94, and this is one of my favorite places on the Internet. Well done, folks.

Having recently started using Winnipeg, I wanted to share a couple of observations.

Housley is, I think, more of a liability than an asset. Sure, he's fast and can keep up with Selanne, but man, he is *always* out of position, which is a huge pitfall when playing fast teams (Dallas, Vancouver) that can really generate and capitalize on breakaways. On top of that, to describe his shot as mediocre would be generous.

Bautin, I've found, stays in his zone and protects the goal quite well. With he and Numminen in the back, I can bench Borsato and bring in Zhamnov, whom I have found to be a fine counterpart to Selanne. Sure, Selanne is a bit too fast for him to always keep up with, but he is still able to contribute in terms of setting up some one-timers and, yes, shooting. His shot is average, but not garbage, and most teams seem to not pay so much attention to him; as a result, he usually winds up with a goal or two for me. I drag Housley out when I'm behind, desperate, and want a lot of offensive options, but that usually means bringing Borsato on to shore up the defense, and he offers little beyond not being fat.

Yes! Pompous Picard this is the best 1st post ever. I wholeheartedly agree. You're my new favourite man

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

I personally enjoyed my 1st experience with Winnipeg using Davydov, Selanne, Zhamnov, Housley, Numminem. I would swap Numminem and Housley which would give you slightly better coverage on D with Teppo covering for Phil.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 9 months later...

I'm still surprised to read these negatives on Housley.

He is a defensive liability in terms of, he's not always at his post. But w/ that speed, agility &&&& 6 STICKHANDLING, he's tough to get the puck away from & even if he's not at his post, he's still out there somewhere.

To me, the key to Housley is he does offer an opening for another team to attack, so it's important to not lose possession of the puck once you get it. Because with a few careful passes, you can get the puck to him or Selanne and then should have plenty of more opportunities to score than your opponent will get if you have the puck more.

And NHL94 is nothing more than getting more scoring chances than your opponent as much as it is giving up less chances. The principal math works in both directions, whether its a 3-2 win, 4-3 win or a 7-6 win, the overall plus to the team Housley in your lineup adds is worth it.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...