The Jets finish off their 10 game home stand tonight at the Bell MTS Centre agains the Los Angeles Kings. The Jets are fortunate enough to have another opponent, just like the Panthers, who played the night before. Apparently the Kings got in late last night too after playing in Chicago if that actually makes any difference. It probably doesn't as the Kings are fighting for their playoff lives.

Currently the Kings sit 9th in the Western Conference just one point out of a wild card spot. They are a modest 6-4 in their last 10 games including the 3-1 win over Chicago last night. They have to be better and they know it.

Recently acquired Dion Phaneuf scored his second goal as a King last night as LA managed to hold off a wounded and struggling Blackhawks team. Expect some desperation from the Kings tonight and perhaps some early jump to put the pressure on the Jets who seem to rarely play from behind while at home.

Again, no expected roster or line changes for the Jets tonight and after scoring 13 goals in the last 2 games and 17 in the last three games why fix what isn't broken. Tucker Poolman has apparently been sent to the Moose, who are also on a home stand, so he can get a game in before the Jets head off on a 2 game road trip in St. Louis Friday and Dallas on Saturday.


The future

If you have not been paying close attention you might have missed both Wheeler and Scheifele trying to douse the flames of fan desire. It's not a bad move to be cautiously optimistic about what lies ahead come the playoffs but letting imaginations run wild is also a dangerous thing. There's no guarantee any team has success in the post season based not their regular season record but consider that if the playoffs started today the Jets would host Dallas and that reality becomes more apparent. It's also why Saturday's game is of such an interest to many.

That being said most fans and media are focusing on the impending trade deadline this Monday and what becomes of the Jets roster. In that regards there are three schools of thought as to what the Jets should do:

1. Leave it as is
2. Leave it but use some optimization processes
3. Add depth in key areas.

These are all valid options and given that Paul Maurice explained today that Tanev could be back next week and Lowry in March and that both will go on the next big road trip out east for six games. Maurice also mentioned drub could be back by mid March, thus the Jets could be inactive at the trade deadline.

It was also revealed via by Murat of the Athletic Winnipeg that the Jets only have about 1 million dollars in real cap space come the deadline as they expect to pay out approximately 4.2 million in bonuses this year. Better to have the cap space now for that than have it affect next year's amount give the new contracts coming. So what does that mean for the Jets come the deadline?

If the team falls into option number 3 then expect something to be leaving other than draft picks if a deal is made. It would be safe to assume given the idea of a rental that what is leaving is not huge, but what could be done?

The Jets top 9 looks like this in an ideal and healthy roster

Connor, Scheifele Wheeler
Ehlers Little Laine
Lowry Copp Tanev

Perreault Hendricks Armia.

If and when the roster gets healthy and it appears that it won't be until after the deadline then it matters not where Jack Roslovic is as the roster size limit disappears, teams just have to balance the salary cap. For many there would be an upgrade on Hendricks but that's not likely. Others would suggest a key RW could take Tanev's spot and perhaps that is where the longing for Zuccarello comes from, to see him line up opposite Lowry.

If a player like Grabner came in would the same option present itself? Probably because Tanev would seem to be the odd guy out simply because he works with Copp and Lowry does not make him a necessary player. It's take that line and a lot of patience for many to have time for Tanev as a roster player on the Jets.

Tanev could be expendable simply for a rental and that he can easily be replaced by a Roslovic next season.

What about defence? There is often a cry for help there but less so when Trouba is back and healthy but depth matters and the Jets have never had a truly healthy defence for any one season. The price set by Boston for Holden seems to be an amount the Jets could pay and would do so for the right player but there are so few that are on expiring contracts who are worthwhile players to acquire. The logical thought here is to look for a player that wants a chance and would not have an NMC/NTC and some one who is true depth that might be spending time in the press box. Where do you take minutes from when the D corps gets healthy?

If option 3 is your choice then how deep of an acquisition do you want Chevy to make? A Rick Nash/Vanek level rental or a Grabner level? If a conference competitor adds should Chevy match? A trade for the sake of trading in the Jets situation is counter-intuitive but adding to be better comes at a cost and it's not just what has to go to the other team- it's changing the dynamic of the roster and shifting minutes.

Last week Paul Maurice used a nice metaphorical image of him being worried about the trees and Chevy worrying about the forest. In this case it might be time for the Forest Service to ask the arborist which trees can afford to be cut because if Chevy can get a prime cedar he's going to have to make space for it one way or another.

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