After a long time of futility, the Winnipeg Jets finally look pretty good. They haven’t won a playoff game since I was in diapers (92-93), which is the only statistic that makes me feel young.
The Winnipeg Jets have been retooling and drafting some impressive young players. But the Jets aren’t a perfect team. They should make the playoffs, yes, but they could improve.
Should they try to improve and mortgage some of the future? No, the best days of this team are ahead of them. They shouldn’t go out and try to make a blockbuster. They should trade for Toronto Maple Leafs forward Dominic Moore, however.
There aren’t many indications that Toronto would want to trade Moore, but he’s not exactly the kind of guy you can’t let go for a modest return. The Winnipeg Jets have had solid play in net from up-and-comer Connor Hellebuyck, and they’re tied for third in the league in scoring.
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They are third in power play percentage, as well. The Jets have few holes, which is prime time for a minor upgrade where you can find it.
Teams don’t win in the playoffs without great special teams, and the PP is doing its job. The penalty kill, however, is 20th in the league at 79.5%. That needs to improve if the Jets are to finally win a playoff series. Enter Dominic Moore.
Moore has a long-standing reputation as an elite defender, even despite his age. The Jets are currently running out a fourth line of Mathieu Perreault, Matt Hendricks and Joel Armia. If they won’t play Marko Dano, for whatever reason, they can still improve.
Perreault is a great depth player, and Hendricks is basically a poor(er) man’s Moore. Moore is a slight upgrade on offense for the fourth line, and can even play the wing if necessary in place of Armia, and would get key penalty killing minutes.
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He is a well above-average faceoff man, with a 48% Corsi at about ten minutes a game. He brings plus intangibles and extensive playoff experience. Making the playoffs should be goal number one for a young Jets team, and Moore can help them get there and stay there.