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The Winnipeg Jets Best Option at Center is Obvious

By Kyle McCarthy

WINNIPEG, CANADA - NOVEMBER 23: Adam Pardy #2 of the Winnipeg Jets checks Paul Statsny #26 of the St. Louis Blues along the boards during third period action on November 23, 2014 at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Lance Thomson/NHLI via Getty Images)
WINNIPEG, CANADA - NOVEMBER 23: Adam Pardy #2 of the Winnipeg Jets checks Paul Statsny #26 of the St. Louis Blues along the boards during third period action on November 23, 2014 at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Lance Thomson/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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Well, the Winnipeg Jets go into the off-season with one glaring spot to upgrade: the second-line center.  That is an obvious spot for an upgrade because the Winnipeg Jets know the upgrade.

The Winnipeg Jets traded for Paul Stastny at the deadline this past season to bolster their chance of winning the Stanley Cup. While they ultimately fell short of this goal, it was a good deal. And Stastny was pretty damn good for Winnipeg.

You can bemoan the loss of first round pick and Erik Foley, if you’d like. But they didn’t sell out, and they didn’t trade anyone from the NHL roster. They got better! Unfortunately, Stastny was a rental, as he’s now a UFA.

We’ve taken a look at trade options from New York and Carolina, a thing we’ll continue to do across the NHL. But for my money, I think the best option, that’s also readily available, is a Paul Stastny reunion.

I mean, that goes with the assumption that John Tavares will likely take his talents elsewhere. A deal somewhere in the the $10mm a year range and Tavares’, well, preferences, likely take Winnipeg out of the running. Maybe it’s a pipe dream I’ll break into at some point. For now, however, we’ll just ignore it.

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First and foremost, we know Stastny has no aversion to playing in Winnipeg. He waived his no-move clause for a chance to win and play in Manitoba. That chance to win is still there, and the two are better off with one another. It’s  easier said than done, however.

Stastny is not without question marks, though. He’s 32 and a long term deal is always going to be a problem. Also, he clearly is not the offensive player he showed the promise of being in Colorado.  His career high in girls came in his rookie season, at 28 tallies.

Stastny hasn’t hit 60 points since his Colorado days, either. But! Last year was his highest point total, 53, since 2013-2014, since that last season with the Avs. That’s a good sign. Maybe he grew tired of failing in the playoffs with St. Louis.

Maybe he couldn’t be ‘the guy’, anymore. In Winnipeg, he isn’t going to be the guy. But he’s an excellent passer, and throwing him between Laine and Ehlers will absolutely make any capable passer look good.

Six goals and fifteen points are the big numbers here. That’s what Paul Stastny did in the playoffs with the Winnipeg Jets. He’s always been a solid playoff performer, but this was a fair bit above that.

His shots per game numbers took a huge dip, but since his shot percentage almost doubled, his production stayed steady. Is that a mirage? Perhaps. But with two linemates more talented than he is, the focus is on them. That gives him a chance at better looks.

Look, Stastny isn’t perfect. And neither is offering him a long-term deal. The shooting percentage spike is definitely not all legit, but maybe a little bump would make his numbers really, really good.

Next: Off-season Trade Options - NYR

A center depth of Stastny, Mark Scheifele, Andrew Copp, Adam Lowry, Bryan Little and a little Jack Roslovic / Mathieu Perreault in a pinch is a lot of depth with some high-end upside. For now, they’re just the former. I, personally, think Stasnty is a fine addition to make them both. But there will be fierce competition for his services.

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