Jets stand pat before NHL trade deadline

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This article was published 01/03/2015 (3912 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

He made some calls and kicked some tires, but in the final few hours before the NHL’s trade deadline Monday afternoon Winnipeg Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff backed away from last-minute wheeling and dealing.

The deadline came at 2 p.m. Monday with the Jets GM not making any more trades to add to their recent list of transactions, which includes:

• Trading Evander Kane, Zach Bogosian and goalie prospect Jason Kasdorf to the Buffalo Sabres for Drew Stafford, Tyler Myers, a late first-round draft pick and prospects Brendan Lemieux and Joel Armia on Feb. 11th;

• Dealing two draft picks – a third rounder in 2016 and a conditional sixth-rounder this year – to the Carolina Hurricanes for Jiri Tlusty on Feb. 25th;

• Landing Lee Stempniak from the New York Rangers on Sunday for Carl Klingberg on Sunday.

“The guys have played their hearts out to this point,” said Cheveldayoff after the deadline.

“I’m really proud of this group that competes in the Jets uniform and I’m really looking forward to moving forward. I tried to address some of the holes and the needs that we had because of injury or because of situation and circumstance and I feel comfortable moving forward that we’re a better team that we were a few days ago. It’s going to be an exciting race to the finish.”

Cheveldayoff did say he spoke to the agent for forward Michael Frolik, an unrestricted free agent on June 30, but no new deal was finalized. The team’s management also weighed the pros and cons of adding another body to the room after being busy in the last month.

Ultimately, Cheveldayoff’s decision to stand pat before the deadline was confirmed after a chat with coach Paul Maurice.

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“At some point in time you have to say, ‘OK, this is our group. This is who we’re moving forward with,’” said Cheveldayoff.

“At a point today I picked up the phone and had one last conversation with Paul. I said, ‘Are you comfortable with where we’re at as a group and the depth and the players we have in St. John’s potentially to come in?’ And he said, ‘Yup. Let’s go.’

“That’s pretty much all I needed to hear.”

Ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @WFPEdTait

Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff :

1 p.m. update:

Noon: Jets Coach Paul Maurice’s post-practice press conference:

11 a.m. update:

10 a.m. update: