The Winnipeg Jets are slowly getting injured player, by injured player back into their lineup, and it’s starting to pay dividends in the win column. The more players who come back, the more that will be forced to leave the Jets lineup, and Drew Stafford may be one of them.
I’m not just being hard on Stafford, a 20-goal scorer from last season. Look at the stats, and they speak a lot to what we are talking about. Through just 20 games in his season, Stafford has an atrocious one goal. The Jets needed him to be a 20-goal scorer again, and be a motivating piece in the Jets top six. That he hasn’t been. Andrew Copp, and Adam Lowry both jumped him on the depth chart, and now he’s found himself on the fourth line. Shawn Matthias, and Joel Armia will both slide into the Jets third line when they return, so if Copp, and Lowry are truly above Stafford, he, and Marko Dano may find themselves in the press box.
Certainly Stafford, a pending unrestricted free agent will not be looking to re-sign with the Jets in the off-season if they aren’t playing him where he wants to be played. To lose him for nothing would be quite unfortunate, all the more reason trade him while you can, and that means right after the trade freeze.
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The urgency is because if Stafford finds himself on the outside, looking in on a non-playoff team, his trade value will plummet to virtually nothing. Sure the Jets have unbelievable depth up front, but no playoff team is going to want Stafford if he doesn’t have a roster spot. The team must be willing to absorb his $4.25 million contract for the rest of the season. This price for a 20-goal scorer isn’t too pricey, but as a bottom-six role player, Stafford is way overpayed. What could the Jets get for their winger?
Each and everyday Drew Stafford’s trade value is falling more and more, but that doesn’t mean he still won’t bring a large return. If the Jets are looking into the future, maybe a second round pick could be fair value. If the Jets want an actual player in return, you’d have to believe they’d be asking for a top-six left shooting defenseman who has upside.
Whether the fit be in Chicago, Dallas, Montreal, Columbus, or somewhere else off the map, the Jets should consider all option with their winger. Drew Stafford and the Jets will both only have negative effects of eyeing each other in the press box.