Welcome to the month of June, where 30 of the 32 NHL teams are in their off-season preparing for the 2025-26 season. With the NHL draft coming up in around 3 weeks followed by NHL “free agent frenzy” day on July 1st, there’s still time for teams to prepare for these crucial days. The Jets have plenty of unrestricted and restricted free agents to manage prior to free agency, but one thing that’s for certain (that’s no secret) is that the Jets will be in the market for a 2nd line centre. With a projected $25 million in cap space, the options are there, and today I ask the question if Matt Duchene (a pending unrestricted free agent) would be a good short term fit as the Jets’ 2nd line centre.

According to Sportsnet’s “Top 12 UFAs of 2025“, Matt Duchene is ranked as the “8th best” free agent. While there hasn’t been any rumours about the Jets being interested in signing Matt Duchene, I think the fit could (and should) be there for the right price. If Nikolaj Ehlers gets a new contract with the Jets, a 2nd line of Ehlers, Duchene and Cole Perfetti could be quite dynamic. Duchene will be 34 on July 1st, and his previous salary cap hit was only $3 million. After the Stars signed Wyatt Johnston and Mikko Rantanen to giant extensions, Duchene will be looking for stability on his next deal. Duchene has stated that he’d “love to stay and make it work” in Dallas, but the Stars may have other plans after another Western Conference finals exit.

Duchene’s career has been quite fascinating since he was drafted 3rd overall by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2009 NHL entry draft. His first 2 seasons with the Avalanche were very productive, but the rest of his time in Colorado was up and down on a team that only went to the playoffs once after his rookie season. The “prime” years for Duchene were spent in Ottawa for 2 seasons, Columbus for 23 games and 4 seasons with Nashville before spending his last 2 seasons with Dallas. The 2021-22 season was when Duchene “rejuvenated” his career, posting a 43 goal, 86 point season. Last season Duchene had his 2nd best scoring season, collecting 30 goals and 52 assists for 82 points. Despite Duchene struggling in the playoffs, there’s still lots in the tank for Duchene for at least another 3-4 good seasons.

So what would it take for the Jets to consider taking a chance with Duchene over other 2nd line centre options? Duchene’s speed and good faceoff skills, along with his leadership skills and scoring abillity are all things the Jets need in that role. Giving a player who has 891 points in 1138 games a place to call home for the next 3-4 seasons (for the right price) is something Duchene would want, especially for a team that is in a “win now” mode. Duchene doesn’t want anymore “one year prove it deals”, but rather a place to finish his successful NHL career, and the Jets could fit just that. A 3 year deal for a total of $16.5 million would fit the Jets off-season budget, and would leave them with enough room to make other essential off-season transactions. Matt Duchene, a future Winnipeg Jet? Still unlikely at this time, but an option that the Jets should at least consider as a short term fit as the Jets’ 2nd line centre for the next 3 seasons.