The Winnipeg Jets have had a very underwhelming season up to the Olympic break. They are 11 points out of a playoff spot and some injuries and a lot of poor performances from players have caused them to be in this position.
Josh Morrissey is one of the Jets who have had another strong season and was selected to Team Canada, where he got injured and missed the second game. It’s yet to be determined whether the injury is bad or not, but it could impact the rest of the Jets’ season.
While many would count the Jets out with 26 games to go and 11 points back of a playoff spot with five teams to jump to get in, I don’t think they’ve thrown in the white flag just yet as they haven’t sold anyone off. If Morrissey’s injury proves to be bad and he misses time, you can seemingly close the book on the season.
David Pagnotta said, “With respect to Josh Morrissey’s (injury) status…if he’s going to be out for an extended period of time, I think that just solidifies Winnipeg’s position going into the trade deadline.”
Winnipeg should have already considered selling what they can after the events of this season. The core should absolutely stay intact as they carried the entire team all season. But some depth has to be changed around. It’s no secret that it isn’t easy to bring free agents into Winnipeg, but they’ll try. The area that the Jets will be expected to upgrade is through trades, whether there’s players in, players out, or they trade players for assets now and acquire some in the offseason.
For a team like the Jets with enough players that are becoming UFAs after the season, moving them, giving the young players a chance, and still feeling like they could have a chance at inching towards the playoffs, seems like the best option. Upcoming UFAs include Tanner Pearson, Kole Koepke, Jonathan Toews, Gustav Nyquist, Luke Schenn, Logan Stanley, Colin Miller, and Eric Comrie.
The Jets may try to re-sign Stanley after the season he’s had, but he also holds some trade value for the same reason. The only logical move, even if the Jets win all their games ahead of the trade deadline, is to go this route to a certain degree.
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