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Jets Trade Deadline Preview Part 2 |
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Jets Trade Deadline Preview Part 2
In the first piece on what the Jets might do at the trade deadline there was a look at a variation on SWOT analysis to understand where the team is versus risk versus what they might do to improve. However instead of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats the categories were as follows: health, depth, strengths, weaknesses.
Understanding those variables and considering current information and rumour it stands to reason that the Jets might make a move for a depth centre/forward and probably an LHD. The bigger question is who might that be?
Some of the factors that come into play are that the Jets, while well positioned with cap space now, will not have the same luxury come next season and with Ehlers’ and Little’s new deals kicking in. Add in that Morrissey, Hellebuyck, and hopefully Trouba have new deals and what can be spent at the traded deadline that could be carried into next season becomes a bit limited compared to ‘hey the Jets have almost 30 million in pro-rated cap space they can use!’
It is important to understand this variable because it likely shapes and limits some moves that while might be attractive as a roster addition are not in the team’s best longer term interests. Thus at the start of this speculation let’s remove any players that have a contract that goes into next season.
Forwards/Centre
Without putting anyone in priority here are some players, their contract value and relevant numbers to consider.
Tomas Plekanec- Cap 6m Salary 5m Age 35 4g 12a
Plekanec could likely be at the end of the line with the Habs and by almost all logic the team should be sellers. Plekanec would certainly shore up the team with experience . He has a total of 87 post season games with a total of 16 goals and 33 assists.
Valtteri Filppula - Cap 5M Salary 5m Age 33 9g 9a
Filppula has some serious experience with 152 playoff games and two Stanley Cup final appearance. Is he the player he once was? No but his experience is a lot like that of Mikeal Samuelsson who Mike Gillis brought in to Vancouver to help the team.
Derek Ryan- Cap 1.4M Salary 1.4M Age 31 9g 14a
Ryan seems like the kind of player that would play into the Chevy’s wheelhouse, affordable, relatively under the radar and some what decent on a team that can’t seem to put it all together. The thing that Ryan lacks is playoff experience so he would simply be a cheap depth move. One thing that might work against him is his listed size is 5’11” and 170lbs.
Brian Gibbons Cap 650k Salary 650k Age 29 12g 11a
If Ryan was an affordable depth signing Gibbons is even better but still has the same challenges-only 8 games with Pittsburgh for playoff experience and still could be seen as undersized at 5’8” 161lbs. Also if the Devils are fighting for a spot he’s likely not going anywhere for this budget conscious team.
Mark Letestu Cap 1.8m Salary 1.8m Age 32 8g 8 a
Looking at anyone from the Oiler seems risky but Letestu has been a stalwart for them during the lows and last year’s high season. He does bring some playoff experience from four different teams with 30 games and 6g and 9a in that time. Again he’s affordable depth and should likely be available given the Oilers situation.
One of the problems with looking at UFA lists is that any chance of a ‘hockey deal’ becomes limited due to the rental concept when acquiring a player set for being a UFA. There are also players that might be good fits for Winnipeg but are on rivals that would certainly not want to help the Jets. All of St. Louis, Minnesota, and Anaheim have players that would fit the estimated Jets criteria but it’s very doubtful these teams find a trade without something else that is extremely unexpected happening.
That being said I’m going to throw one random player out.
Patrick Sharp- Cap 850k Salary 850k Age 36 6g 7a
The one time Winnipegger would cross a lot off the Jets need list for a depth forward and while a RW he has played C in the past. He has a connection to the city and the Chicago-Winniepg trade connection is still strong apparently. He also has a ton of playoff experience which would be his primary value. Would the Blackhawks do it? What would it take 3rd round pick?
Defence
The Jets are seemingly set with enough skill and depth on the right side but the left after the top 3 is suspect. With one injury on the left side there could be problems too.
Ian Cole- 2.5m Cap 2.1m Salary Age 28 2g 5a
Cole has long been rumoured to be on the move this season and he could fir the Jets needs simply because of his experience: two cups in the last two season. That alone could likely be enough to make the Jets interested. Cole may not be dynamic enough but he brings something only one other Jets player has-playoff success.
Jason Garrison 4.6m Cap 2.5M Salary Age 33 0g 1a
Garrison was a casualty to the expansion draft after playing three season for the Lightning where he played 222 games for them. While a true stay at home guy he has the right variable of salary versus cap and bring some playoff experience too of 48 games with 40 being in the last two season. Recently recalled and activated by the Golden Knights it will be interesting to see if he’s made available come the trade deadline. Does McPhee need him long term for their run? Maybe but he could also be showcasing him right now because he’s got inquiries.
The defence scenario is a difficult one to gauge simply because there are so few options available as LHD coming up as UFA and from a team that might make a deal with a rival. That being said defence is the position that teams will sometimes make a sacrifice for with their principles to acquire and spend.
Again though so much of what the Jets can do depends on who is available the close they inch to the trade deadline and just like the 2014-15 season, I suspect Chevy will make moves closer to the deadline than earlier. To do so earlier would suggest there is a flaw in the group and there really isn’t unless it’s a flaw exposed through injury.
There’s also no reason to panic until Scheifele returns either as if his injury does not heal well and there is no indication of that happening, depth from within can be used if a deal cannot be made. I would expect moves to happen but with that comes the need for roster space that happens at the deadline as Chevy will be adding not subtracting to this group.
Winnipeg Jets Blogger •Winnipeg Jets Writer • 
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