Winnipeg Jets trade targets: A defenceman and a center?

Be sure to check Betway to check out the latest Jets game day odds and bet on the NHL! Although the Winnipeg Jets would lose their third game in a row to the LA Kings on Tuesday night they played the right kind of game and were just on the wrong side of a shootout loss. It was also unfortunate the Jets would give up two two-goal leads in that game, but a 35-year-old captain from Slovene would have himself a game and score four goals against Connor Hellebuyck. Some nights you give it your all it just doesn’t go your way and that’s ok.  This team has had a good last four and half periods If they keep playing like that they are going to win games again.

It’s obvious the Jets have the skill in the top six to make that deep playoff push. They also have five of their six defencemen to make that push.  In the Jets’ bottom six, they are just missing a great third-line centerman or right winger.  You could move Adam Lowry to the left wing on the third line and have someone who could help get Lowry back into his scoring ways. Going 33 games without a goal is starting to get worrisome. The 29-year-old has been picking up assists but might need a change in line-mates and maybe even positions.

Lowry needs consistency and finding someone to team up with either as a center or as a winger. The Fourth line is fine how it is but the third line does need a kick in the pants to get going.

We’re going to Arizona to get a third liner. Bjugstad brings a veteran presence to the room a guy who can take faceoffs and win just shy of 50%. Playing with higher-quality players Bjugstad could give a boost to his already impressive numbers this season. For just 900k Bjugstad would be a high-quality addition for very little money.  With the cheaper contract, the Coyotes might ask for a little more when it comes to draft picks or prospects. Maybe a mid-tier prospect and a third-round pick in this year’s draft could get it done.

That’s it back to Arizona to pick at that carcass. This time Nick Schmaltz  Same thing only less good in the faceoff dot and can the right wing. He can play on the Jets’ third line or maybe even take over for Blake Wheeler. There are still three more years of term on his contract, which will have hit of 5.8 million against the cap. This season the 27-year-old forward has 18 goals and 41 points in 44 games.

 

All the Jets need for the forward crew is right in the division. The Chicago Blackhawks had a fire sale and might be looking to offload one more piece to build the future. Max Domi is having a good season offensively with a very bad team. The fact Domi is winning more than half of his faceoffs this season is interesting and again moves Lowry to the wing when needed. 18 goals and 49 points in 60 games isn’t too shabby. If Domi played primarily on the third line he would face lesser competition and could put up even more points. A three million dollar cap hit for the rest of the season he fits under the cap and could take the Jets to the next level.

As stated before the Jets have 5 of their 6 defencemen. The odd man out is Neal Pionk. I’ve been on him all season long. I like the guy he seems like a great dude but he doesn’t match what the Jets need right now and the Jets need a solid defender who can lock things down and give the Jets a true shutdown pair of defencemen.

He’s a bit smaller than most defensive defencemen but does play a smart game. He also shoots right-handed and is just 24 years old. He has just this year left on his contract which is a downside but is only going to cost the Jets 2.4 million. Could be a good fit with Dylan Samberg if you could let those two eat up about 16 minutes a night.

Another young right-shot shutdown defenceman. The bonus to Peeke is he is bigger than Fabbro is the same age and has two more years of term on his contract which only costs 2.75 million per year. He could be a good fit for both the middle and bottom pairings for the Jets.

Who do you want the Jets to add before the 2 PM deadline? Let me know in the comments.