Breaking down the Winnipeg Jets ahead of NHL Trade Deadline Day.
Deadline approach
The Winnipeg Jets will be: Spectators or Sellers
Pending free agents
Unrestricted: 8 | Restricted: 13 | See full list
[teamleaders league=”nhl” team=”wpg” season”2014″]
Jets overview
It has been a weird season for the Winnipeg Jets, who limped to a 19-23-5 record by mid-January before firing head coach Claude Noel and completely turning things around.
The team is 9-3-1 since Paul Maurice took over and was playing its best hockey all season going into the Olympic break. But in spite of the recent surge, the Jets are still out of playoff position and the club’s early-season play doesn’t exactly inspire confidence in the possibility of a successful playoff run. This recent surge has been nice but no one is sure if it’s going to last.
The team is left with two options at the deadline: bolster the ranks to take a stab at one of the Western Conference’s wild card spots or sell off parts and look to regroup for next year.
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| Click player positions to see depth chart | ||
Areas to address
If the Jets were to make any additions at the deadline they would likely involve strengthening the defence and adding a depth forward or two. But it’s unlikely that the team would sell out its future for a top-six forward and perhaps unlikely that they will look to add any pieces at all.
Rather, the Jets will likely remain quiet at the deadline or move veterans and expiring contracts out of town. Andrew Ladd and Dustin Byfuglien have been mentioned in trade rumours around the league and even Olli Jokinen’s name has come up in recent speculation. The Jets have been so hot and cold this season that management will likely give it some time to see how things shake out after the Olympic break before making up their minds on a deadline strategy.
Possible trade chips
Andrew Ladd
Dustin Byfuglien
Olli Jokinen
Devin Setoguchi
