The Winnipeg Jets and the Toronto Maple Leafs are both contenders. It would surprise nobody if either team won the Stanley Cup next season. But could these two become unlikely trade partners?
The Winnipeg Jets are in the market for a center. This is no surprise. This is probably the fifth article I’ve opened with that sentence. But still, the desire remains.
The Toronto Maple Leafs recently inked John Tavares to a huge deal. Auston Matthews, Nazem Kadri and William Nylander are all also listed as a pivot. Zach Hyman and Mitch Marner, too, but they’ve spent more time on the wing.
You only need four. And really, you risk wasting talent if you put a good youngster on the fourth line too long. But what can they do? Well, they can address another position of need with a trade.
The Maple Leafs aren’t subtracting from their NHL roster to add prospects. They’re looking to supplement. If the Winnipeg Jets are going to make a deal for one of their young forwards, it’s going to hurt. Most likely in the form of a defenseman.
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Jacob Trouba or Josh Morrissey are likely on the move if you want to see someone like William Nylander on the Jets. Matthews ain’t getting traded, that’s for sure. Obviously neither is Tavares.
Nazem Kadri could be an option, sure, but I would prefer seeing Nylander on the roster. For one, he’s six years younger. Second, he’s more of a pure passer. His defense isn’t bad, but it’s a little below Kadri’s.
Those are the two top options, here, unless the Jets want to see Marner or Hyman playing the pivot. I’m not giving up Morrissey or Trouba for those two, if I’m the Cheveldayoff.
This trade would absolutely hurt to do, no doubt. But in what way?
Jacob Trouba for William Nylander? Throw in some additional pieces on either side (probably Winnipeg’s) and that’s a framework. Not a good one, but it’s there. I’d rather trade Trouba, who is the better defenseman, than Morrissey because of the injury concerns.
I gotta be real here, I don’t love it. It’s a lateral move. Improve one part of the team, but at the cost of another. It isn’t like Winnipeg has a huge surplus of defensemen to trade from. You could aim for someone like Frederik Gauthier, but how’s that different from trusting your own prospects?
There’s players to like on Toronto (duh) and maybe the Canadian teams want to look out for one another and hope the Cup comes north of the border regardless, but I doubt they’re giving away players.
Next: The Jets Missed Out on FA
There’s a deal to be made here, if the two teams are bold enough. Me? I’m not bold enough on this one. Keep the defenseman, the offense is good enough. It doesn’t need improvement badly enough to give away a great young defenseman. S/O to commenter Sparrow Hawk for the idea.