Trade Deadline Primer: Winnipeg Jets

With the 4 Nations Face-Off now complete, the trade deadline looms large and is less than two weeks away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league with the Winnipeg Jets.

Our Trade Deadline Primer series has saved the best for last. The Winnipeg Jets are at the top of the league entering March, after spending much of the season fighting for the best record in the league. Winnipeg’s success has been driven by first-year head coach Scott Arniel pulling the best out of the team’s tenured veterans. The Jets also carry plenty of cap space and draft capital, giving them the rare mix of roster stability and trade assets needed to go in any direction this deadline. How experienced general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff can use that ammunition to bolster the Jets lineup could define the team’s postseason aspirations.

Record

42-14-3, 1st in the Central Division

Deadline Status

Buyers

Deadline Cap Space

$11.52MM on deadline day, 0/3 retention spots used, 41/50 contract spots used, per PuckPedia.

Upcoming Draft Picks

2025: WPG 1st, WPG 3rd, WPG 5th, WPG 6th, WPG 7th
2026: WPG 1st, WPG 2nd, WPG 3rd, WPG 5th, WPG 6th, WPG 7th

Trade Chips

Winger Nikolaj Ehlers has been among the most acknowledged trade chips as the deadline nears. The 28-year-old winger is having one of his best seasons yet, with 18 goals and 51 points in 50 games this season making him one of three Jets scoring above a point-per-game pace. But while Cheveldayoff understands that he’ll need to separate feelings from business this deadline, it’s hard to envision Winnipeg parting with such a core piece of the offense.

Alex Iafallo seems much more expendable, on the back of a measly 19 points in 59 games this season. Iafallo hasn’t had the same stride since joining the Jets in 2023. His scoring fell from 36 points in his final year with the Los Angeles Kings, to just 27 last year – a mark he’s on pace to fall short of this year. With little scoring and an expiring contract, the 28-year-old Iafallo isn’t likely to make much of a splash on the open market. But the hope for better days outside of Winnipeg could be enough to base a strong offer around.

Winnipeg also has 24-year-old Rasmus Kupari and 26-year-old Morgan Barron on expiring restricted free agent contracts. Neither has performed to expectations this year, with just seven and eight points respectively. That lack of production won’t draw much attention, but young depth options could quickly become a commodity in this year’s shallow market.

Defenders Logan Stanley, Colin Miller, and Haydn Fleury find themselves in a similarly expendable role. None of the three have found their groove on Winnipeg’s third-pair this year. Miller and Stanley boast a plus-11 and plus-10 respectively – serviceable enough behind a red-hot Jets offense. Fleury also has a plus-four, though a seventh-man role has only awarded him 29 games. Even with sparce stat lines, the trio of veteran defenders could each be lucrative buys for teams struggling with blue-line depth.

The Jets won’t be deterred despite a lack of trade assets. They’ve made multiple lucrative acquisitions over the last few deadlines using only draft capital. Winnipeg acquired Sean Monahan for a first and third round draft pick and Tyler Toffoli for a second-and-third round pick at last year’s deadline. They also landed Vladislav Namestnikov for a fourth-round pick and Nino Niederreiter for a second-round pick at 2023’s deadline. All four players went on to make a mark in their minutes with the Jets – emphasizing that the Winnipeg’s biggest chips at this year’s deadline will be their five selections in the top-three rounds of the 2025 and 2026 drafts.

Team Needs

1) A Fourth-Line Upgrade – The Winnipeg Jets rank second in total goals and third in goals-per-game this season – but their fourth line has struggled to post consistent scoring. Top prospect Nikita Chibrikov has shown strong flashes, with three points in his first four NHL games – but the Jets may want a more confident upgrade as they prepare for an extended post-season. The Montreal Canadiens seem set to part with power forward Jake Evans, who’s in the midst of a career year with 11 goals and 27 points in 58 games. A buying team will need to be wary of Evans’ sudden spike in scoring this year, but his physical presence and finishing ability in front would both be upgrades over Kupari or Iafallo on the bottom line. Winnipeg could also find a niche role player like Seattle’s Brandon Tanev or Boston’s Trent Frederic to boost their physical presence, with scoring upside no worse than the Jets’ current options. Winnipeg could likely acquire any of the three options with the right package of draft capital.

2) Reliable Bottom Pair Defense – With a President’s Trophy chase and long post-season run ahead of them, depth will be the focal point of Winnipeg’s deadline. Superstar goaltender Connor Hellebuyck helps the team put offense at front of mind, but their blue-line could use a boost with Miller and Stanley posting less-than-desirable results. Sharks defensive-defenseman Mario Ferraro could be the lucrative buy Winnipeg is after. He’s on the trade block once again as San Jose looks to sell high on an impactful player entering his prime well before their next peak. Winnipeg could find a slightly pricier, and more experienced, option in Montreal’s David Savard; or swing for closer fences with Vancouver’s Carson Soucy. All three players bring low scoring and a defensive focus, but could find a strong groove in moving from a struggling offense to Winnipeg’s world-class group. Like their potential forward buys – Winnipeg could likely buy many of the market’s defenders with only a few draft picks.