With the Olympic break behind us, the NHL is sliding back into chaos as the trade deadline approaches. And the Jets? They are in a strange place. Last year it looked like they were building to something big after taking home the Presidents’ Trophy. This year… not so much. It just didn’t click, and now they’re one of those teams that everyone expects to sell and reset a bit.
The Jets’ status at the trade deadline: Sellers
Let’s call it what it is: the Jets won’t make the playoffs unless something wild happens. Sitting at 22-26-8, with no actual momentum, and with a playoff chance of about five percent, it’s pretty clear where this is going. They have veterans with expiring dealsthey’re under .500, and there’s no real reason to go all in just to maybe sneak out. Selling is not giving up; it’s just being realistic about where things stand now.
Jets’ salary cap space
If there’s one advantage Winnipeg has going into the deadline, it’s money to play with. They have about $17.44 million in space, which is a ton this time of year. And because they haven’t used retention slots yet, they can get creative. Do you want to keep your salary to achieve a higher return? Simple. Want to help some other teams get a deal done and pick up an extra pick? Certainly. They actually have the space to do things other teams can’t, which puts them in a sneaky good position for a team that’s selling.
Jets trade chips
The Jets have pieces that teams will ask about. These are the three most likely topics:
Logan Stanley is probably at the top of that list. He’s a UFA, he’s having his best season and he’s huge. Big defenders who play well always get attention. It wouldn’t be shocking if multiple teams started circling.
Luke Schenn hasn’t had the smoothest year, but GMs like veterans who block shots and don’t complain about their roles. Someone always talks himself into a man like him.
Jonathan Toews is interesting. The offense has diminished, but he can still help in draws and in tight playoff games. If he is open to waiving his clause, there will absolutely be teams calling.
Gustav Nyquist doesn’t have much of an appetite for it, but he’s still a deep scorer who could appeal to a contender looking for a low-risk addition.
What do they buy?
Looking ahead, it’s pretty clear what Winnipeg needs. Like many teams, they need a legitimate second-line center and more scoring help, especially in that middle part of the lineup. They hoped Toews could fill some of that void, but things didn’t turn out the way they expected. They need someone who can take the pressure off their top guys and spread the offense a bit.
The bottom line for the Jets
The Jets aren’t where they wanted to be, but this deadline is actually a chance to reset the entire picture. Move the right veterans, stock up, and suddenly next season doesn’t seem so far away. It’s not the exciting “big push” scenario that fans love, but it might be exactly what they need right now.
Related: Winnipeg Jets: Tough year, but big rebound on the way?
Discover more from NHL Trade Talk
Subscribe to receive the latest posts by email.
#NHL #Trade #Deadline #Primer #Winnipeg #Jets