There's a problem in Winnipeg that is unrelated to the upcoming 2016 NHL entry draft and it has to do with a former Jets draft pick, Jacob Trouba. It's not a problem with him in terms of play or such but it does revolve around his contract status and whether or not he wants or should be a Winnipeg Jet in the future.
Let's make something clear- there is no indication that Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff is shopping Trouba around. That does not mean he's not getting requests or interest but it's coming to him not from him, at least that's what speculation and logic suggest.
The reasons why the Jets would entertain a Trouba trade seem puzzling given his skill, minutes logged and contributions to the team. He's the kind of player every NHL team should want so why would the Jets not want him?
The first answer is money. It was rumoured last year by Tim Cambell of the Winnipeg Free Press that Trouba was seeking close 7 million a season on his next deal- that's Drew Doughty and Erik Karlsson kind of money and Jacob Trouba is not either. He could be traded if the price to 'play in Winnipeg' is higher than it is in another market but is that the case?
No one knows and right now there has not been an inkling of information about contract status between the Jets and Trouba. The price will be a premium if it's long term and the risk could be arbitration if they do a bridge deal particularly if the rumours about Trouba not being happy in Winnipeg are true.
These are whispers and speculation but they exist. Trouble's brother was hired by the Jets, and Andrew Copp was seemingly 'fast-tracked' according to some to play on the Jets with his friend and fellow Michigan alumni Trouba. Before Trouba had moved to Winnipeg his father and family were brought to the city and shown around. Trouba went to the Taylor Swift concert at the MTS centre with the owner's daughter. There has been a lot of effort put in to Jacob Trouba liking the city of Winnipeg. Yet the whispers say he's not happy here or that maybe his family is not quite happy he's in Winnipeg.
So going back to last fall when it became know that Travis Hamonic wanted to be closer to home the immediate thought was to trade Trouba but did that makes sense from an organizational stand point? To have a great defence a GM needs to add players like Hamonic and not trade Trouba's to get them yet the debate on whether Trouba was expendable continued.
Right now it seems that the Jets again have a log jam at RHD with Byfuglien, Myers and Trouba while LHD looks like Enstrom Stuart and Chairot. One of those things is not like the other and while Trouba has played the left side it's believed he prefers the right. So how does a coach fit in those minutes for the three RHD? It's not easy.
The question many ask and answer is upgrading one for one via RHD for LHD an improvement? The answers are nothing but inconsistent conclusions and that's left many fans and media wonder who Chevy manages this situation. Let alone considering the next contract for Trouba.
So if you as a GM decide you are trading Trouba it's because of the following:
1.) He wants to move 2.) He will be too expensive 3.) You want value in case he elects for arbitration after a bridge deal and you have to really over pay 4.) You get an offer that makes sense.
Right now that rumoured offer is Matt Duchense. That seems fair right?
If Matt Duchense became a Jet how does that affect the depth chart for centres?
Duchense Little/Scheifele Lowry/Copp Petan/Burmistrov
It would simply move the log jam to a different position and perhaps complicate things even more when you consider that both Laine and Kyle Connor could be in the lineup next season.
It makes some one expendable no? That's a pretty big gamble to make when the team is in a process to go younger and would that process continue? If it is, it appears that Little would be the odd guy out simply based on age.
The question that comes to mind if this is a serious rumour is what could Bryan Little turn into? He has 2 more years on his deal at a very affordable 4.7 million and could be a great 2nd lice C on many teams but at what cost? Would a top 4 LHD be possible?
It's a lot of pie in the sky speculation but if the Jets are considering trading Trouba there has to be a plan in place to compensate the disruption of depth on RHD, lack of it on LHD and potential log jams in another position
Further more can Chevy find a team who has the cap space to pay Trouba and give value back based on his age too? Simply put, this might not be as simple as a one -or-one deal with any trading partner.
This is a risky move for sure and while many fans have expressed interest in moving Myers instead of Trouba how do you place a value, internally, on a player who loves Winnipeg vs one who doesn't? Then there is budget issues too.
The one thing that can be said of Chevy and the Jets is they stick to their plans, almost to a fault. While the the plan when drafting Trouba may not be unfolding in the way they forecasted it's certain they have a new one and it's likely formed from some learned experience with the last player who wasn't happy in Winnipeg and was an RFA looking for big money.