Shot at Stanley Cup means Jets need to go all-in at trade deadline

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This article was published 07/03/2024 (577 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

SEATTLE — The clock is ticking and one by one, available players are being crossed off the list of potential additions for the Winnipeg Jets.

As Friday’s 2 p.m. CT NHL trade deadline is quickly approaching, there’s a wave of anticipation over whether or not the Jets are going to take another swing — or two — to augment a roster that’s already been improved after the arrival of centre Sean Monahan.

That pre-emptive strike in early February can’t be ignored, no matter what happens next, but it’s natural to wonder if Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff is simply lurking in the weeds — either waiting for the prices to drop or to see if he might be able to swoop in late and pick someone up who wasn’t believed to be available in the first place.

Now, there’s always the risk of missing out on your prime target if you wait until the very end, but there’s nothing like a deadline to bring two teams together.

Given their place in the NHL standings — tied for top spot in points percentage in the Western Conference with the Vancouver Canucks going into Friday’s rematch with the Seattle Kraken — the Jets are operating from a position of strength as a legitimate contender.

“It’s a lot better than being on the other end of things,” said Jets defenceman Brenden Dillon. “When you’re adding… you just feel like you’re going for it, that you’re ready for a stretch run because we know we’re going to need more than 22 or 23 guys if we really want to get to where we want to go.

“Especially when you see your competition adding and making changes, you’re hopeful that your team is going to give yourself the best chance to compete for the Stanley Cup.”

The Jets are a very good team that currently sports a record of 39-17-5.

The depth at all positions has been well documented and any team that has elite level goaltending has a chance to do special things once the Stanley Cup playoffs begin.

Are the Jets deep enough to pile up 16 wins over four series and climb to the top of the mountain this June?

That’s the question Cheveldayoff and his management team are sorting through as the hours and minutes wind down.

“The situation we’re in, we’ve got a really good team here,” said Monahan. “Whether or not we add a piece or not, I don’t think it’s going to affect the group. We’re deep and guys can step up if there are injuries and stuff like that.

“Whenever you’re on a team that is looking forward to going on a long run, you’re excited to see what kind of stuff happens.”

Monahan has been a perfect fit for the Jets, contributing in numerous areas since his arrival.

Can the Jets find a right-winger to skate alongside Monahan and Nikolaj Ehlers?

That seems like an area that could still be upgraded, especially since the health of Gabriel Vilardi, who is set to miss his fourth and fifth consecutive games this weekend with an undisclosed injury, remains a bit unsettled.

Even if Vilardi isn’t going to be on the shelf for an extended period of time, it’s not difficult to make the case the Jets could use someone like St. Louis Blues forward Pavel Buchnevich, who can play either wing, provides plenty of offensive punch and has one more season at US$5.8 million on his current contract.

Buchnevich, who turns 29 next month, has five seasons as a 20-plus goal scorer — including 24 goals and 48 points in 60 games to sit second in team scoring.

He’s got speed, skill and some size (6-1, 196 pounds) to go along with 20 playoff games (one goal, 12 points).

With reports that Blues GM Doug Armstrong would consider retaining 50 per cent of Buchnevich’s contract in an effort to drive up the asking price, the Jets are left to decide if they’d be willing to meet the steep ask?

That would mean potentially moving the 2025 first-rounder and likely a significant prospect or roster player, likely a forward.

Having already sacrificed the 2024 first to get Monahan, the move comes with risk, but that’s the cost of doing business.

The Jets are stocked relatively well, both in terms of draft-pick capital and several other players at the professional level who would be of interest to teams in the seller category.

When it comes to projected cap space for Friday, cap friendly and puck pedia both have the Jets with roughly $5.7 and $5.8 million, though roughly one million of that would be reduced for bonuses that will likely need to be paid out.

That means there is some wiggle room to bring in a player with a significant salary — or two players who make more than close to the league minimum.

To be clear, this isn’t about keeping up with the Joneses, though it’s impossible to not look at what the Vegas Golden Knights, Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars and Edmonton Oilers — among others — have already done and not conclude it will be harder to get out of the Western Conference than it would have been just a few days ago.

This is about seizing an opportunity, to push all the chips into the middle of the table because it’s the right thing to do.

Chances to chase the silver chalice with a wide-open field don’t come around very often and that’s why the Jets shouldn’t be content with adding to the fringes of the roster.

An overhaul isn’t required either — if the Jets add some championship experience in someone such as Buffalo Sabres defenceman Erik Johnson, who won in 2022 with the Avalanche, was the first overall pick in 2006 and has 55 games of playoff experience on his resume, it would make some sense — whether he’s on the third pairing or the next man up in the No. 7 role.

There are a number of other third or fourth-line candidates or complementary wingers that can be added as well.

While it’s always important to remember the splashier deadline deals don’t always translate directly to success, that shouldn’t prevent Cheveldayoff from making one if the right player ends up being available.

That’s not to say a rental player (someone on an expiring contract) should be a priority, unless it’s someone the Jets believe they can sign (like Vladislav Namestnikov at the 2023 trade deadline).

Getting someone with term probably makes the most sense, given the competitive window the Jets are in and since the raises to both Connor Hellebuyck and Mark Scheifele kick in next fall.

There’s never been a more opportune time to be all-in — and that’s why Friday could end up being a defining moment in Cheveldayoff’s 13-season tenure.

ken.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca

X: @WiebesWorld