The NHL’s trade deadline is set for March, but many insiders feel all the heavy lifting is going to get done before the Olympic roster freeze next month. Locking in on the Winnipeg Jets, the team has gone from first to worst in the league, and there’s going to be multiple changes made to the roster.

GM Kevin Cheveldayoff isn’t looking to rebuild or blow it up. It’s been a bad year, there’s no denying that when you’re 15-20-4 heading into Saturday’s action. The Jets have 34 points, worst in the NHL, and it’s crazy to think they won the President’s trophy last season. Regardless, injuries to key players including goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, among other things have caused this downfall. 

Trade talks are heating up in Winnipeg, here’s three players listed as prime trade candidates:

Logan Stanley

The towering Logan Stanley is having a career season, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. The 27-year-old 6-foot-7 blueliner has scored seven goals in 39 games, good for fourth on the team, and he’s chipped in with six assists, for 13 points. Stanley’s playing 16:15 a night, which is also a career high, and he’s never shy to sacrifice his body, landing 67 hits, and blocking 43 shots. Stanley’s in a contract year, and is set to earn $1.2 million AAV this season, without holding trade protection. The Jets would be wise to sell high on Stanley, there’s several teams interested, and a Stanley Cup contender could be getting a huge boost for their back end. 

Jonathan Toews

Considering the layoff, Jonathan Toews has been pretty solid for the Jets this season. He’s a wizard in the faceoff circle and is still very sound defensively, so playoff-bound teams will see him as the perfect third-line center for a deep playoff push. Toews has chipped in on offense, with three goals, and 12 points in 39 games. The 37-year-old Toews makes $2 million against the cap, and if he doesn’t want to be traded, he won’t be, as he holds a full no-movement clause. But, one destination that would be fun to watch is Toews reuniting with Patrick Kane, and joining the first-place Detroit Red Wings for the playoffs. 

Luke Schenn

Schenn is no stranger to being traded, and especially in-season, so look for the right-handed bruiser to be given a list of teams to consider, and a trade to materialize ahead of the deadline. Schenn provides a stay-at-home right-handed defender who hits, blocks shots, fights, and does what he can to stay with the pace of the game. He was recently scratched in Toronto against the Maple Leafs, which would have been his 1,100 career NHL game, and it apparently left a very bad taste in Schenn’s mouth, so don’t be surprised to see him work with the Jets to find a new home before the Olympics.

Photo credit: James Carey Lauder-Imagn Images