Today, in fact just now, an interesting conversation started in Twitter
Pete Tessier about the Leafs wanting to make a deal to improve their LHD situation.
My simple response was "Trouba is sitting there for the taking just have to pony up".
Now let's be clear here I'm not advocating trading Trouba but the longer he goes unsigned the more scrutiny will be applied to him regarding if he 'wants' to be in Winnipeg. Since his minutes have gone up he's been playing very good hockey and the team has benefited from this increase as well.
The problem is what happens next and that's where the hockey trade comes in. Should the Jets make one?
Trouba is the player any team would prefer to keep over the aging Byfuglien and somewhat of an enigma Myers (as it relates to his game). He's young, in his prime and poised to provide value for another 7-8 years so why trade him? The answer is the longer he is not signed the level of control shifts to Trouba and away from the Jets with the ultimate problem being him forcing a trade for pennies on the dollar in relation to his value, or leaving for nothing.
As the discussion went on it becomes clear that for the Leafs and Jets there are really only two types of trades, 'rental' and 'hockey' and to get the kind of player the Jets want, a LHD top 4 there has to be a hockey deal, just like there would be for the Leafs.
This is the risk reward scenario for the Jets as the inch towards a near certain playoff appearance this spring. They have a team full of youth with fine veteran pieces but very little playoff experience and a contract issue looming with their potential franchise defence man.
Should a sensible deal arise, and who knows where that might come from, should the Jets make that deal? More importantly, how would one evaluate the risk reward of making this move now?
Losing Trouba means the right side of the Jets looks like this:
Buff
Myers
Poolman
Should the return, and one would hope it does, include a LHD what does the left side look like?
Morrissey
?????
Kulikov
Enstrom
Chiarot
Now consider if either of Buff, Myers or Poolman are injured in the coming months where does that leave the team in depth?
Nogier would be the first RHD to be called up but what about rookie Sami Niku, the leading defence scorer on the team? Although a LHD could he play offside. If depth on the left were required it would be Melchiori. But the issue remains, there is not a lot of promising depth within the organization for defence.
Back to the 'hockey trade' idea is it something worth considering even with risks of injury or more to ensure that the left side is ready for what could be a playoff drive and the future? That's the other part of the equation that has to be considered too, what happens after this year?
Enstrom is a UFA and while content in Winnipeg will he accept a reduced salary and by how much? Does he even fit into the plans of the team going forward? Therein lies another reason why a 'hockey deal' could be worth doing, to get a jump on the competition for the future of the team. However, making this deal presents another challenge as adding a LHD bumps some one down and out that would like have to be either Enstrom or Kulikov.
The Jets are third in the league right now with 59 points and a 26-11-7 record. Why would any team make this kind of move to it's roster when in that position? They won't as it's not in Kevin Cheveldayoff's pattern to do so unless necessary- see Kane and Bogosian. However, part of the reason is the Jets likely never predicted themselves to be in this situation either. They are ahead of the schedule, at least as they and probably everyone else saw it this season.
Being in this position can help the issue of Trouba's contract situation and forcing a deal simply because a deep playoff run, or even a close, competitive yet short one, may change his perspective. Winning solves a lot of problems and as it it hovers around -40C with windchill in Winnipeg the only people complaining about the weather is a team that got beat 4-1 last Sunday.
There may be a 'hockey deal' in Winnipeg's future but it won't be this season. The Jets would have a different set of roster problems by adding a LHD this season. Maurice has stated he's had conversations with all defence about more minutes thus adding one now means the team would be pushing one out. It won't be Kulikov though and it's unlikely they would treat Enstrom that way either at this point. All the more reason why any move of this magnitude happens in the off season. The playoffs and what happens to the Jets will certainly dictate some of what Chevy does and can do but it might affect a certain player too and that's all because of winning. The Jets' success has bought Chevy some time to manage his looming contract issue and hopefully he uses it wisely.
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