It's almost 24 hours before the NHL trade deadline comes and as of yet the Winnipeg Jets have not made a move, nor have their chief rivals in the west either, those being the Nashville Predators and Calgary Flames. Both of those team are also linked to Stone but each probably has a different level of 'need'.
Let's take these three suitors and put them in order of need.
1. Predators- they have been to the finals, bounced in 2nd round and now looking to energize their team and chances to having another deep run. If you look at teams that have lost in the Stanley Cup finals few find their way back again soon and the Preds might be thinking their window is now and Stone gives them the best chance of being that much harder to play against.
2. Jets- having been borderline bad for almost two months yet still finding ways to win the Jets have been a team looking for the shot in the arm. They have contracts to deal with this off season and see this chance as part of their window to add before cap space is only a sliver. Adding Stone would make the Jets one of the most offensively loaded teams but does nothing to help the defence.
3. Flames- they are the most complete team in the west and are probably ahead of where they thought they would be this season, much like the Jets last season. They are dangerous but the worry is goaltending more than anything else. Adding Stone would be almost unfair and like the Jets they would be loaded offensively and the best by far in the west. Is that what they need or would solidifying their weaker areas be smarter than a big, costly splash?
Now the price. Its going to be high and for the Preds and Jets the importance of not diminishing your roster too much will be of huge importance. They want to add without hurting what they do well and it likely explains why Dorian and company have been at so many AHL games. However, the problem becomes the Sens will need to take back some salary to ensure they are cap compliant by end of season.
The return for both Duchene- Vitaly Abramov and Jonathan Davidsson, a first-round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft and a conditional first-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft...and Dzingel- Anthony Duclair and a second-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft and the 2021 NHL Draft from the Blue Jackets. Columbus got a seventh-round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft previously acquired by Ottawa from the Calgary Flames both load the Senators with picks and B level prospects plus Duclair but he is a player on the outs with head coach Tortorella.
For the Jets the equivalent there would be Petan and what prospects? It could be Stanley, Spacek, Suess, what about Virtanen or Vesalainen? It would seem unlikely that Samberg is moved but if Ottawa needs salary would they take Kulikov back and would the Jets want to dump him now before the playoffs?
This is probably why this deal, for any of the three teams, is taking so long because there are a lot of variables. The easiest thing could be to trade Kyle Connor and Kulikov and build off that but it defeats the point of maintaining your roster. Again, let's be clear that trading Connor is not something anyone wants to do butif there needs to be room to sign Stone who else gives Chevy that room? If the goal is to be better and you have to choose between Connor and Stone you take Stone and twice on Feb 24th 2019.
However, there is nothing linking Connor's name in anything it simply looking at the contract liability issue and assuming the Jets want to sign Stone long term.
It's gonna be a wild ride but if I had my guess I think the Jets will back down from the ask and let some one else overpay. I also believe that Chevy has about 4 options and perhaps talking to some one that no one knows about yet, just like last year.
Tonight the Jets take on the Coyotes after their convincing win over the Golden Knights. It's no secret that Patrick Laine unleaded some more of his pent up frustration by breaking the glass at the practice facility in greater Phoenix. With the 800lb gorilla off his back can the young Finn find his groove again and be the nightmare for opposition goalies?
The other fun aspect of Friday night was seeing Nik Ehlers gain the zone and lead drives to the holy ground in front of the net bring Connor with him for two goals. More of that please. Also what about the TLC line? Can they keep up what they did in Vegas?
It was good times for sure and relief for many to see the Jets play like they can. Now everyone wants to know if what happened is repeatable and sustainable for the final grind before the post season. Another dominant performance tonight would be fun to see as well as Brossoit shining.
The Jets will travel tonight I believe and wait out the trade deadline at home tomorrow before hosting the Wild on Tuesday.