Everyone is now counting the days as the trade deadline gets closer. As we approach the deadline, plenty of trades and rumors have started to surface. For the Winnipeg Jets, there haven’t been any trades yet, but numerous rumors have surfaced about potential players they could trade for. Let’s take a deep dive into the most recent reports.

The Fourth Period listed a variety of players the Jets have been “linked to,” with Philadelphia’s Ristolainen being one of the key names we’ll discuss in this article.

The Jets have always had an eye on Ristolainen, even back during his days as a Buffalo Sabre. However, I don’t fully understand why the Jets would have interest in him, as he is more of a third-pair defenceman—which is something the Jets already have plenty of. He isn’t the type of player who will “wow” you on the ice, particularly when it comes to his 5-on-5 play. He is what you’d expect from a third-pair defenceman.

Ristolainen signed a five-year, $25.5M contract with a cap hit of $5.1M per season. His contract will expire at the end of the 2026-27 season, when he will be 32 years old.

Mike Matheson is an interesting player in my eyes. He’s super talented and performed well last season with the Montreal Canadiens. Prior to that, Matheson was consistently good for 30-35 points a year, which is solid, especially considering his salary is below $5M—a total steal.

Do I think the Jets should pursue him? Simply put, yes. But do I believe they’ll actually get him? Probably not. I just don’t see Montreal trading away a player who’s not only performing well but also playing a big role in mentoring their rising star, Lane Hutson.

Matheson signed an eight-year, $39M contract with a cap hit of $4.875M per season with the Canadiens back in 2017. His deal expires at the end of the 2025-26, when he will be 32 years old.

Dumoulin would be a fantastic veteran presence for the Jets. Not only has he played over a decade in the NHL, but he also won two Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2016 and 2017. His defensive game is solid; he doesn’t generate many points, but he plays his position exceptionally well, and he could slot into a third-pairing role here in Winnipeg. That said, since Logan Stanley seems to be getting special treatment from the Jets organization, Dumoulin may not get much playing time, which is unfortunate. Still, he wouldn’t be a bad pickup.

Dumoulin signed a two-year, $6.3M contract with a cap hit of $3.15M per season with the Seattle Kraken last season. He is now playing for the Anaheim Ducks, and his contract will expire at the end of this season when he will be 33 years old.

Now we’re talking—a centerman. This is something the Jets NEED right now. In my opinion, Nelson is an undercover superstar. What I mean by that is that people don’t realize just how great of a player he is. He’s a tall, veteran guy who can score goals in various ways. In the faceoff circle this season, he has a 53.5% win rate, which is exactly what you’d want from a guy like him. Acquiring Nelson would be a game changer for the Jets and would put them in a much better position to make a run at the Stanley Cup.

Nelson is signed to a six-year, $36M contract with a cap hit of $6M per season. He is in the final year of his contract and will be 33 years old when it expires.

If you’re looking for someone who will give it their all every night, Ferraro is your guy. While he may not be the best defenceman, he gives solid effort whenever he’s on the ice. To be fair, he’s probably the best defenceman on the Sharks right now, given that the Sharks are at the bottom of the league. However, they have a promising future ahead.

As for why the Jets would want him, I’m not sure. I don’t see Ferraro improving the team significantly, nor do I think he would make them worse. It just seems like a neutral move to acquire him.

Ferraro is signed to a four-year, $13M deal with a cap hit of $3.25M per season. His contract will expire at the end of the 2025-26 season, when he will be 27 years old.

Chevy has a lot of options to consider leading up to the deadline, but ideally, the Jets should focus on acquiring a center more than anything else.