The Winnipeg Jets are doing all they can to make a move in the Central Division, the toughest division in the NHL based on the standings. They may be in the most pressure to pile up wins over the next three months considering the turmoil that may occur in the offseason.
Winnipeg has two unrestricted free agents, Dustin Byfuglien and captain Andrew Ladd, after this season, and Mark Scheifele and Jacob Trouba are restricted free agents. Failure to retain these key players could result in the beginning of a painful rebuilding process for a team that already has to deal with being in a small market.
Who will Winnipeg keep? The Jets are near the top of the league in salary cap space heading into the offseason, and they certainly have the potential to do some more damage after making the playoffs for the first time since relocating from Atlanta. The problem is that if GM Kevin Cheveldayoff cannot sign all four players, then does he keep the leadership or the younger talent? Or does he keep a mixture of both?
Ladd is in his final year of a five-year, $22 million contract that Cheveldayoff made at the beginning of both his and the franchise’s days in Winnipeg. He has had at least 45 points each season (including 46 in a lockout-shortened 2012-2013 season) and led the team last season with a career high 38 assists and 62 points. Negotiations have revealed that the 30-year-old may be looking for a six-year contract of about $39 million.
Byfuglien has been one of the main reasons why the Jets are considered a big, tough squad. At 6’5, 260 lbs, the big defenseman has already been a target for a blockbuster trade following the All-Star break. He is currently on a five-year, $26 million contract that he received in Atlanta’s waning year as a franchise. He has been one of the highest scorers among Winnipeg defensemen (partly because he sometimes plays as a forward in emergency situations). His asking price has hovered around $7 million annually for six to eight years.
Several teams have asked for a potential trade, with the loudest teams being the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Islanders. The Islanders have been looking to trade Travis Hamonic to Winnipeg, Hamonic’s hometown. If Byfuglien is a part of the trade package, which has also rumored to include defensemen Tyler Myers and RFA Jacob Trouba, then the Jets could receive a lot of young talent in return. The recent injury of New York defenseman Johnny Boychuk could have a serious impact on the trade, since Byfuglien would be a perfect replacement for losing Boychuk for an extended period of time.
With expiring contracts coming up fast, Winnipeg’s direction is up in the air. A sharp trade would most likely result in a tough rebuilding year, but it could make the Jets a consistent playoff threat with a plethora of young talent. That could put the Jets in a desirable situation that the Florida Panthers are currently experiencing. That, combined with retaining their restricted free agents and captain, could be enough to help the Jets climb the ladder in the division in the years to come.