With the #NHLTradeDeadline right around the corner, March 3rd. If the Winnipeg Jets want to make the Stanley Cup playoffs, they have some work to do with very little time left.
Whether these ideas are realistic or not, who cares. Let’s look at what the Winnipeg Jets could do to help bolster their club and become a Stanley Cup contender. To cover the “Know it Alls” to “Knows Nothings” and everything in between of the hockey world.
Prospects
I have zero intention of listing every Winnipeg Jets draft choice, so here are my top 10 (in no specific order) that may interest other NHL teams.
- Rutger McGroarty
- Brad Lambert
- Chaz Lucius
- Danny Zhilkin
- Nikita Chibrikov
- Declan Chisholm
- Dmitri Rashevsky
- Ville Heinola
- Domenic DiVincentiis
- Dmitri Kuzmin
Draft Picks
Just a simple list of draft picks in the next two NHL Entry Drafts the Winnipeg Jets own.
2023
- 1st (Winnipeg Jets)
- 3rd (Winnipeg Jets)
- 5th (New York Rangers)
- 5th (Winnipeg Jets)
- 7th (Winnipeg Jets)
In the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, Winnipeg owns all its original picks in rounds one to seven and hasn’t acquired any additional draft picks to date.
Players to Move
Here are my top-5 players to consider trading away to upgrade the team.
- Pierre-Luc Dubois (PLD)
This one is simple, with the Jets’ recent struggles and Dubois seemingly uninterested in committing to Winnipeg long-term. No better time than now to move him and shake this roster up?
- Neal Pionk
He’s too inconsistent.
- Logan Stanley
Do you trust him as a five-six defenseman come playoff time?
- Dylan DeMelo
Educate me on why he’s a valuable member of this team, please.
- Blake Wheeler
No longer the team’s captain. Plus, he’s not getting any younger. Trading him wouldn’t seem as far-fetched as when he wore the C.
Players to Target
We are getting to a point where the Jets could target anyone, and it might be considered a good move. My list of 15 players could help Winnipeg in the short and long term.
- Timo Meier
- Ivan Barbashev
- Nick Schmaltz
- Shayne Gostisbehere
- Jakob Chychrun
- Luke Schenn
- Max Domi
- Vladislav Gavrikov
- Boone Jenner
- Josh Anderson
- Brayden Schenn
- Tanner Jeannot
- John Klingberg
- Mattias Ekholm
- Jakub Vrana
Most Logical Trade Partners
Throw the overused narrative of not trading within your division out the window. My top-5 realistic trade partners Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff should call. It’s go time. Make a good hockey trade Chevy!
- San Jose Sharks
- Arizona Coyotes
- St. Louis Blues
- Nashville Predators
- Columbus Blue Jackets
Dream Scenario
What would my perfect post #NHLTradeDeadline lineup look like for Winnipeg?
- Kyle Connor – PLD – Timo Meier
- Nikolaj Ehlers – Mark Scheifele – Nick Schmaltz
- Ivan Barbashev – Adam Lowry – Filip Zadina
- Tanner Jeannot – Sam Gagner – Saku Maenalanen
- Josh Morrisey – Luke Schenn
- Vladislav Gavrikov – Shayne Gostisbehere
- Brenden Dillon – Nate Schmidt
- Connor Hellebuyck
- David Rittich
- Extras: Kevin Stenlund, Kyle Capobianco, Dylan Samberg
- IR: Cole Perfetti, David Gustafsson
With the help of capfriendly.com, this 23-man roster for Winnipeg would come in at $333 810 under the cap. Far fetched? Sure it is. The point here, though, is it proves the numbers can work, and some names floating around in trade rumors are attainable.
Now it’s your turn, #NHLJets and #NHL fans, to leave your two cents on what #GoJetsGo should do on #NHLTradeDeadline.
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