Trade deadline looming

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This article was published 01/03/2024 (625 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

RALEIGH, N.C. — The clock is ticking and some of the top targets have already been taken off the board.

The contenders and the pretenders are ending up in the appropriate aisles, as for sale signs begin popping up in some markets that were hanging on the periphery of the playoff chase.

With less than a week before the NHL trade deadline next Friday afternoon, there’s no doubt where the Winnipeg Jets find themselves — with a roster that has them among the top teams in the Western Conference in terms of points percentage.

Although Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff has already made a preemptive strike — centre Sean Monahan in exchange for a first-round draft pick — that is an early candidate to fall into the “Ivan Barbashev/Vegas Golden Knights 2023” category as the most effective pickup this time around, there is plenty of belief he could have another move or two up his sleeve.

How big that might be remains a bit of a mystery — and could be until Cheveldayoff pulls the trigger.

Although the Jets depth up front and even on the back end has been well documented, a recent stretch has shown if the team wants to go on an extended run, it could probably use some reinforcements.

Especially after the secondary scoring has dried up a bit, which means the Jets could potentially be looking to add more of a middle-six winger than a fourth-line addition.

As for the blue line, the Jets have a more than capable group, but with the Dallas Stars adding Chris Tanev to the mix, it’s made the Central Division foe even more formidable.

“It’s something that every year, you look at it and say, ‘This is a team that’s proven that we’re a good team and proven that we want to make a long run,’” said defenceman Nate Schmidt, noting he’s not scouring the trade boards or looking at other rosters to see who might be available.

“I try not to be, truthfully. If you do, you get sucked into a rabbit hole. It’s an interesting time of the year. It’s fun for fans, it’s fun for teams to see what you’re made of and not until about two hours after the deadline is it actually over.”

Fellow Jets defenceman Brenden Dillon has been in the shoes of Tanev, waiting for the other shoe to drop as a pending UFA, hoping to land with a contender. This time around, he’s on the other side of the equation, waiting patiently to see what could be on the horizon in terms of additions.

“I’ve been fortunate where more often not, being on the teams that have been adding. Whether you’re adding a 13th forward or a backup goalie, any time that you’re adding, that’s just almost doubling down on the, ‘Hey, you’re having a good season and we believe in this group and we believe that we’re going to need this depth,” said Dillon.

“We know how much depth we have — four lines and all of our D, where if it’s like if we do stand pat, we’re doing pretty good and happy with where we’re at. If we do add, it’s like ‘we’re excited and we’re looking forward to it.’”

It’s not as simple as just adding the best two players available either. They’ve got to fit like Monahan has, not to mention fit under the salary cap.

“There’s a lot of things that go into it. Obviously you want to make your team better, but at the same time you don’t want to ruffle too many feathers or disrupt (things). This is the team that brought us to this point and for a GM to come in and make an abundance of moves, it doesn’t always rub the team the right way,” said Jets right-winger Mason Appleton.

“Everybody wants to win and do their part, but when you add a lot, whether it’s necessary or not, sometimes roles can change and guys have to settle into different spots and this and that. So, it’s a very fine line of what you want to add and how much you want to add of it.”

Jets head coach Rick Bowness has been through numerous deadline situations during his career and he’s taking a simple approach into this one.

“Yeah, I don’t spend a lot of time thinking about those things. I don’t. I just worry about the team we have now,” said Bowness. “My job is to keep this team dialed in and keep it focused day-to-day and game-to-game.”

There are two other things to consider for the Jets. They’ve already got Ville Heinola and Kyle Capobianco in the American Hockey League, so they have additional depth on defence.

With the likes of Dominic Toninato and Axel Jonsson-Fjallby with the Manitoba Moose, the Jets could be adding 2022 first-rounder Rutger McGroarty once the University of Michigan Wolverines season is complete, provided the power forward is ready to leave school and sign his entry-level contract.

Even with those options at the Jets disposal, here’s a detailed look at eight possible targets — five wingers and three right-shot defencemen — along with our two cents on each.

FORWARDS:

1. LW/RW Pavel Buchnevich, 28. St. Louis Blues (57 GP, 24G, 24A, 48 PTS)

The price would be steep, no doubt. But one worth paying in our eyes. Buchnevich is having a terrific season in St. Louis and could really bring another layer of danger to Winnipeg’s top six. You’d have Buchnevich and Kyle Connor — who would be tied for the current team lead in goals — to go along with fellow wingers Nikolaj Ehlers and Gabe Vilardi, plus Mark Scheifele and Monahan up the middle. That absolutely screams contender. A major bonus for the Jets is that you’d also have Buchnevich for another year, as he’s signed through next season at a reasonable US$5.8 million.

2. RW Vladimir Tarasenko, 32. Ottawa Senators (55 GP, 15G, 23A, 38 PTS)

A Stanley Cup champion (St. Louis, 2019) who is likely going to be moved given he’s on an expiring contract paying US$5 million and the Senators will be looking to get younger and deeper. He’s certainly not the player he once was, but there’s plenty to like about his game. Plus, he’d likely be highly motivated given he’s playing for his next deal.

3. RW Jordan Eberle, 33. Seattle Kraken (55 GP, 14G, 21A, 35 PTS)

A consistent performer who has also put up solid numbers in recent playoffs (six goals, five assists in 14 games with Seattle last year). Eberle, who is just five games away from 1,000 and is slated to face the Jets twice next week (Tuesday in Winnipeg and Friday in Seattle), is in the final year of his deal making US$5.5 million.

4. RW Anthony Mantha, 29. Washington Capitals (54 GP, 18G, 14A, 32 PTS)

The 6-5, 234-pound power forward is having a comeback season under first-year head coach Spencer Carbery. But as a pending UFA (US$5.7 million) and with his team unlikely to make the playoffs, a move may be the best option for everyone. The Jets have previously checked in on his availability, and he would certainly check off some important boxes.

5. RW Reilly Smith, 32. Pittsburgh Penguins (51 GP, 10G, 15A, 25 PTS)

One of the “Original Misfits” from Vegas, Smith is having a tough go of it in Pittsburgh and is a candidate to be moved, despite having another year left on his deal which pays US$5 million. That could also be appealing to Winnipeg, which often has preferred getting players with term rather than pure rentals. A champion last year in Vegas (14 points in 22 playoff games), Smith is versatile enough to play up and down the lineup and would bolster the top nine.

Honourable mentions: C Nic Dowd (Washington Capitals), RW Brandon Tanev (Seattle Kraken), C Tommy Novak (Nashville Predators), C Nick Bjugstad (Arizona Coyotes), LW Mathieu Joseph (Ottawa Senators)

DEFENCE:

1. Sean Walker, 29. Philadelphia Flyers (60 GP, 6G, 16A, 22 PTS)

There’s a lot of variables here, including the potential Walker could actually be re-signed by the Flyers (he’s a pending UFA making US$2.65 seeking a big raise and term) — especially since Philadelphia is currently in a playoff spot. If he does hit the market, there will likely be a bidding war now that Tanev has been shipped to Dallas. We know the Jets and Flyers have been scouting each other heavily this season. Will all that flirting eventually lead to something?

2. Alexandre Carrier, 27. Nashville Predators (56 GP, 4G, 14A, 18 PTS)

There’s plenty to like about Carrier, who can play a very effective two-way game and, as a pending UFA, is making US$2.5 million. Problem is, Nashville is red-hot and currently in a wild-card playoff spot, so perhaps they elect to just treat him as a “self-rental” — or even extend him down the road — rather than move him for a pick or prospect.

3. Matt Dumba, 29. Arizona Coyotes (55 GP, 4G, 5A, 9 PTS)

A miserable debut in the desert for the longtime member of the Minnesota Wild, who signed a one-year “prove yourself” deal for US$3.9 million last summer. It hasn’t gone well as his game has really fallen off, but perhaps a change of scenery would help. Problem is, the Coyotes are reportedly seeking a first-round draft pick. Good luck with that. If the cost were to be lowered, you wonder if the Jets might be sniffing around for a guy who can both move the puck and move bodies with his physical style.

Honourable mentions: D: Adam Larsson (Seattle Kraken), David Savard (Montreal Canadiens), Jan Rutta (San Jose Sharks)

ken.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca

X: @WiebesWorld

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

X: @mikemcintyrewpg