Three trade predictions for the Winnipeg Jets

The Winnipeg Jets are a few pieces away from being a Stanley Cup-contending team. There are still flaws in this line-up but with the asset management that Kevin Cheveldayoff has done and the multitude of injuries that plagued this team in November and December, the Jets can go out and get those pieces and still be left in a half-decent situation when it comes to Jets futures.

I would overpay for a rental on Timo Meier. The guy already has 31 goals and 21 assists in 56 games. He’s a right winger who is having a career year. There are three options of lines he could play on. Look at Ryan O’Reilly in Toronto he’s probably going to be a 3rd line center out there imagine having Timo Meier as your third-line right Winger he could play first, second or third-line right wing and it would be a great spot for a Swiss right winger. No matter the line he’s still probably going to score close to 45 goals by the end of the season.

Meier also adds an extra player to the power play. On the second unit power play, Meier has 13 goals and six assists this season. The Jets’ power play has been awful in the last month or so, and has fallen to 16th in the NHL. Dating back to Jan.22 when the Jets took on the Philadelphia Flyers, the Jets have gone 3/28 on the power play. Rick Bowness during practice on Feb. 18 would start to change up the power play with the lack of goals lately from the special team.

You also add in the fact that he has played with Nikolaj Ehlers in the WHL with Halifax Mooseheads who were called a dynamic duo by some. There is also an added physicality to the 6’1 forward averaging about two hits a game and occasionally taking faceoffs.

Knowing that the Jets will most likely only use Meier as a rental this year I would hope the Jets give up only three maybe even four assets to get the deal done. The Jets should offer Logan Stanley, Jansen Harkins or Ville Heinola, the Jets’ first round this year a conditional second next season if the Jets make the Stanley Cup Finals, this year’s first and Brad Lambert. It does feel like an overpayment I will admit, but the Jets window is small you might as well sell the farm to attempt to win it all and I think that conditional second-rounder is the final piece to get this trade done.

James Van Riemsdyk isn’t your first choice when adding a middle six-forward group. He comes in at hefty 7 million dollars.  For a guy who has only scored nine goals this season, he’s not the big sexy add that you think would be a good add for this team, especially at that price point. But when you add to the Jets but the potential is there for him to be a solid addition to the Jets forward group.

Van Riemsdyk would be a guy who you bring to light a fire under the ass of Cole Perfetti. This isn’t a moment to rip on the Jets rookie but someone who has been around like JVR might be a good influence on young Perfetti. The chance Perfetti could find himself on the third line with Adam Lowry and Mason Appleton might open up some scoring for them.

The left-wing veteran forward has been with both the Flyers and the Toronto Maple Leaf throughout his career. So there’s not a whole of playoff success there. Van Riemsdyk will bring another leader voice to the club and he will be fishing for pucks deep in the zone. Who knows he might find his scoring grove again and be a dark horse great player in the playoffs.

For JVR, if the Flyers could find a way to retain 3 million dollars and the Jets are willing to send over a second in 2024 and a B+ prospect or maybe a straight-up hockey trade involving Neal Pionk no money retained for the 33-year-old NHLer.

 

If Kevin Cheveldayoff wants to score a player for the long term who can grow with the club Andrew Peeke might be the guy. The 24-year-old just signed a two-year  2.75 million dollar contract extension. He’s a right-shot defender who stands in at 6’3 and 210 pounds. This would be a guy who could fit onto the second pair with Brendan Dillon and it would be a full shutdown pairing for the Jets.

Over the last season and a half, Peeke has played an average of 21 minutes a night. The guy has been playing up against competition which is too much for his talent. If the Jets can have him play with a solid defender like Dillion or even Dylan Samberg the guy might start to excel.

If Columbus wants to move on from this young player who could be a force to be reckoned with  and the Jets should swing for a young, right-shot, cheap defender in Andrew Peeke. He would be replacing the chaos of Neal Pionk. He’s still a good player but he doesn’t match this current Jets system.This is a money saver move. If I’m totally honest I want to see Peeke and Samberg playing a significant role together on the back end.

Sportsforecaster.com describes Peeke as “At 6’3″, he has the size to be an effective shutdown defenseman as he enters the prime of his career. He can move the puck well and has the reach to break up plays before they can become dangerous. Is not much of an offensive presence, but should grow into more of a physical force in his own zone as he fills out and gets stronger.”

This might not be a trade that many people would see coming or even really see a need for when they first see it. This is a trade that will help the Jets both today and in the future. I think this would take a Logan Stanley or Ville Heinola and a third-round pick.

 

Ultimately my line up would look like

Ehlers-Schiefele-Meier

Connor-Dubois-Wheeler

Perfetti-Lowry-Appleton

Barron-Stenlund-Gagner

 

Morrissey-DeMelo

Dillon-Peeke

Samberg-Schmidt