With Grabner going to the Devils the rumours are going into overdrive now ahead of Monday's trade deadline line and by all account the Jets Kevin Cheveldayoff is in the thick of things.

Darren Dreger and both Bob MacKenzie have suggested that Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff has been in on the talks for Grabner as well as Rick Nash and Derrick Brassard, the latter confirmed by Nick Kypreos as well. While some liked the idea of Grabner simply because he could do PK, scores and can play a fast game others see the need for a centre as a better use of assets.

In some ways there is no wrong decision only one that is better than the other, but all are still a gamble. Looking at the Jets depth at the centre position it looks like this:


Scheifele
Little
Copp
Hendricks

Lowry, Perreault and Roslovic can all play C as well as Wheeler.

It's that bottom pair that draw the concern, less so with Copp when given the right line mates.

Adding a Brassard would push Copp down in all likelihood and could push Hendricks up to the press box. For some that's fine but the question remains about head coach Paul Maurice and how he relies on Hendricks for his general presence on the ice and roster. This is not to suggest there is a divide between coach and GM but the acquisition of Brassard does force a change in dynamic.

What should be noted is that the Ehlers, Little, Laine combo does not work for whatever reason you want to use- but it does not work. Adding a Brassard who compares to Little as a solid second line centre would then make the Jets lines look like this in theory

81-55-26
85-18-52
27-Brassard-29
Lowry-Copp-Tanev/Armia

Hendricks
Petan (he's gone right?)

That right there is a pretty formidable roster and having two 20 goal scorers on your third line is, as some would say, rather ridiculous in terms of depth. The gamble here is does Brassard solve the problem of being the right centre between Ehlers and Laine?

The above lines are simply just a swap of two players as they stand now but there could be variations.

85-18-29
27-Brassard-52

or

27-18-52
85-Brassard-29

Of course this scenario assumes the Jets really want Brassard and if so that's great but he comes with a headache- one more year at 5 million. It's not an insurmountable headache but it is one that has to be address either partially at the deadline or after the season/postseason in the summer.

If the bonuses are added in as we have heard the Jets have just over 1 million in hard cap space so moving a player out or having Ottawa retain some salary can help but that increases the price. The Jets have Ehlers deal kicking in with Little's raise plus a Trouba, Morrissey, Hellebuyck, Tanev, Lowry, and Petan contract to manage. Sure they gain some space with Matthias and Enstrom's deal's expiring but that won't save much.

Looking at this another way- it's time to spend for the right player, but that spending includes sending assets to make room too. Both Myers and Mason could be dealt in the offseason to make room clearing almost 10 million in cap space too but that won't be easy with Mason if he is still suffering from the effects of a concussion.

It's a tricky dance but one that can be done and hopefully the Jets are scouting the various players they covet like mad because there is risk to this kind of move.

However is there another option? Is there some one not seen by anyone- much like the Tlusty and Stempniak deals of three years ago? Some would say that Maroon who has not practiced and missed a game due to some injury is also being hunted but as of yet the Jets have not yet been directly linked.

So who is it?

Brassard
Nash
Marron
Other?

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