The Winnipeg Jets are rumoured to be active today as it is the trade deadline, meaning that last year could be repeated. If you can recall, the Jets swooped in out of no where and acquired the surprisingly available Paul Stastny from the St. Louis Blues. Can they do it again? Will they do it again?
Needs
The Winnipeg Jets have many needs. One that arose with the injury of Josh Morrissey last night was help on defence. They have also been looking for help up front as there has been a lot of struggles with scoring five on five. Rumours have long connected the Jets with Mark Stone; the prize of Trade Deadline Day.
Forwards
While Stone has been mentioned for a long time in connection to the Jets, Marcus Johansson was recently connected to the Jets by one of the beat reporters. While the Jets have some problems up front, the defence seems to be a bigger issue and needs to be addressed first if they are making trades.
On another note, Ottawa Senators reporter Bruce Garrioch said that the cost for Stone starts at Jack Roslovic and Logan Stanley. Roslovic is a lot, but Stanley has not done much in the AHL and moving him as a part of a package for Stone would not be a bad thing.
When it comes to Johansson, Corsica is down, but from what I can remember he is not that bad, just not great. If the Jets trade for him, hopefully they do not give too much up in the process.
Defence
The newest need that has been thrust into spotlight with the injury to Josh Morrissey last night, but the need on defence has always been higher than the need up front. The problem is, there are not a lot of defenders available that will help the Jets. Cam Fowler is available, but he is fairly meh at best and someone like Cody Ceci is just plain bad. You could look at Jordie Benn, but he is a great third pairing guy and not much more.
The Jets might be best shoring up their defence with someone for cheap, but based on the injuries it might be best for the Jets to admit that they will not contend this year and hold onto their pieces for another year while making minor trades like Nic Petan for something.
The trade deadline can be anything and there has been a lot of chatter around the Jets this season. However, injuries in the eleventh hour could change everything and leave the team not able to do much because the defence is such a mess without Morrissey and Dustin Byfuglien.
Whatever happens, today should be a fun day that includes James Duthie doing random things to entertain people because nothing is happening and at least one trade that comes out of no where. Even if he goes elsewhere, it will be interesting to watch the Mark Stone sweepstakes from afar after the months of rumours and speculation.
