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Trade Deadline Moves, Heinola, & Line Combinations

The Winnipeg Jets are contemporary off of an enormous 4-2 win on the road over the Central Division-leading Colorado Avalanche, which noticed Kyle Connor rating twice and Josh Morrissey internet the game-winner in what was one in every of Winnipeg’s most full performances of the 2023-24 marketing campaign.

At 15-8-2, and precisely 25 video games via the season, now is an ideal time to reply some hard-hitting questions from Jets fans on Twitter. You requested the questions, and I’ll reply them on this version of the Jets month-to-month mailbag.

Is the Current Setup of the Top Two Lines Sustainable? – @BartelZach

This is a good query, and it’s one which I believe Rick Bowness and the teaching workers will probably be contemplating for the approaching months. As presently constructed, the highest line options Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele, and Nikolaj Ehlers, and the second line consists of Cole Perfetti, Gabe Vilardi, and Alex Iafallo.

According to Money Puck, the highest line of Ehlers, Connor, and Scheifele is presently holding a 58.1 p.c anticipated targets share. Their Corsi % is 56.9 p.c, and they’re outscoring their opponents 3-1 at even-strength. The eye check strains up with these spectacular numbers, because the Jets’ high line has repeatedly generated probabilities off the frenzy and within the offensive zone.

Rick Bowness Winnipeg Jets
Rick Bowness, Head Coach of the Winnipeg Jets (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI through Getty Images)

Is it working proper now? I’d say sure. Is it sustainable? I believe there’s a totally different reply there. The top-line trio of Connor, Scheifele, and Ehlers have been dynamic offensively, and out-chancing their opponents at even power, however whether or not or not that can sustain is one thing to watch. As for Iafallo, Perfetti, and Vilardi, it appears as if they lack chemistry and a “speedster” on that line, which typically limits their offensive upside.


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If the second line is ready to set up chemistry collectively over the following couple of weeks, and the highest line’s analytics proceed to be above 50% within the main classes, I don’t see why it may well’t be sustainable in the long term. These gained’t be the strains for each recreation for the remainder of the season, however on the absolute minimal, it’s a top-six mixture that they know can work in a pinch.

What Type of Move Would You Like to See Done on the Trade Deadline? -@ShortLynxYT

In my opinion, for those who check out the Jets’ present roster, they’ve two clear wants. One is the second-line centre place, which has been a wholesome rotation of Perfetti, Vladislav Namestnikov, and Vilardi. If a type of gamers are in a position to win that job and be dependable sufficient come Trade Deadline season, then that want possible goes away. But in the meanwhile, it’s a necessity nonetheless.

Related: Winnipeg Jets’ 3 Early-Season Trade Targets

Their different clear want, in my view, is a top-four right-handed defenceman. Dylan DeMelo and Neal Pionk are presently holding down these positions, they usually have had strong seasons, however to compete towards groups just like the Vegas Golden Knights, Dallas Stars, and Avalanche in a playoff collection, I believe they’ll have to bolster their back-end.

Immediately, the Calgary Flames come to thoughts as an possibility to suit each of these wants. Elias Lindholm can be a stellar possibility for the second-line centre place, and Chris Tanev would bolster the Jets’ defensive analytics on the top-pairing with Josh Morrissey.

Chris Tanev Calgary Flames
Chris Tanev, Calgary Flames (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

Loads can change between now and the Trade Deadline, but when the Jets need to be aggressive, there will probably be loads of choices in the marketplace to fill these wants. Last yr, they traded for both Nino Niederreiter and Namestnikov, which have each turned out to be unbelievable strikes.

Related: 3 Takeaways from Jets’ Nino Niederreiter Extension

Options for trades will turn out to be increasingly clear as we inch in the direction of the deadline, as sure groups start to fall out of a playoff place. If no play convincingly wins that second-line centre function that could possibly be an attention-grabbing spot to have a look at, together with the explanations I discussed so as to add a top-four defender.

With Ville Heinola Coming Back in a few month, What Do You Want the Jets to Do With the Defensive Log Jam? – @ArtticRunner3

The simple reply to this query is that we’ve got one other full month to evaluate the battle for the depth defensive positions. The powerful reply appears at waiver eligibility, and the gamers within the race for these spots, and brings us to the conclusion that both Ville Heinola will keep it up his season within the AHL with the Manitoba Moose, or somebody needs to be moved.

Nate Schmidt’s days as a Winnipeg Jet appear numbered, given he has been wholesome scratched in three straight video games for the likes of Logan Stanley and Declan Chisholm. However, having a crew tackle his $5.95 million per season contract can be a tricky ask and one that’s unlikely. That brings us to Chisholm and Stanley, who’ve each appeared good at instances, and each appeared younger and inexperienced at different instances.

Ville Heinola Winnipeg Jets
Ville Heinola, Winnipeg Jets (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)

Stanley possible has extra perceived worth on the commerce market, making him the choice in the event that they had been to discover a commerce. If they resolve to convey Heinola as much as play him within the NHL lineup, and attempt to ship one of many defenders via waivers, Chisholm possible has a barely greater likelihood of passing via.

Since the query is asking what I’d do, it could be to start out Heinola within the AHL for a couple of weeks earlier than buying and selling Stanley for an asset in return. There is an opportunity that Chisholm would get claimed with defensive accidents piling up across the league, and if they’re to commerce one in every of them, Stanley’s worth on the open market is probably going greater. Heinola would even be the sixth defenceman with no rotation as soon as wholesome, if it had been as much as me after all.

It’s a tricky state of affairs, however Heinola earned NHL motion together with his play within the preseason. A choice must be made and it doesn’t must be made for an additional month, nevertheless it appears most certainly that Heinola will begin his season within the AHL, and as soon as he’s wholesome sufficient to maneuver as much as the NHL lineup, both Chisholm or Stanley will probably be traded or waived. Loads can change between every now and then, so it is a query price revisiting within the new yr.




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