The Winnipeg Jets are shopping a young winger around the NHL to get some help at centre and on defence according to Frank Seravalli at TSN. Seravalli is no Bob McKenzie, but few are and the idea that the Jets are willing to trade good players who plays a position of strength for the Jets to a team for a player who fills a hole in the lineup. That is just good roster management.
As per @frank_seravalli on this morning's Big Show @TSN1290Radio when TSN's Trade Bait list comes out this week expect both #NHLJets Laine & Ehlers on it as the team is evaluating the best way to address the holes in their lineup…
— Jim Toth (@JimTothSports) August 31, 2020
The issue is the Jets will probably not get the best value on return shopping Patrik Laine and Nikolaj Ehlers, but Kyle Connor. I know, I know. I can hear you saying “but Cara, he has scored 40 goals recently, you do not give that up”; and you are correct. However, I do not want the Jets to just give Connor away. I want them to trade him for a better player. A bonafide young first line centre or star defenceman.
The reason I would trade Connor is he needs to play with Mark Scheifele to be effective. His value has never been higher and if the Jets can capitalize on that to shore up their top defensive pairing or get a proper second line centre, they would be getting fair value. This would mean targeting players that either seem to be on the outs with their teams or a team that needs more offense. You can use Connor’s ability to drive offense as a way to entice teams to trade for Connor.
The Jets should be looking for a mutually beneficial trade like Seth Jones for Ryan Johanson all those years ago. Both the Columbus Blue Jackets and Nashville Predators traded from positions of strengths to fill a need and both teams ended up better for it. This is the type of trade the Jets are looking for and Kyle Connor probably has the best overall perceived value to make it happen.
