The Winnipeg Jets had a bigger need for an impact defenseman a year ago. Every team in the league would improve with the Senators captain, but hey, the dream is over.
The Winnipeg Jets came up in Erik Karlsson trade rumors for the past couple years. The team could use a real star to boost their good farm system, and they would be contending while he was still in his prime (spoiler alert, they are and he is).
Also, the Jets had trouble with their own young defenseman, battling Jacob Trouba trade rumors. And would you look at that, Trouba still doesn’t have a long-term deal.
So it made sense to pair the two up, and think, “hey, the Winnipeg Jets have a really good, really young defenseman without a long term deal. They could easily use him as the headliner in an Erik Karlsson deal”.
And, y’know, it sounded good. Imagine a powerplay with Erik Karlsson and Dustin Byfuglien on the point. There’s one thing to note here: The emergence of Josh Morrissey makes Karlsson less necessary.
More from Analysis
- Winnipeg Jets vs. Blackhawks Round 3: 5 Things We learned
- Winnipeg Jets’ Connor Hellebuyck is the Best Goalie of the Last 5 Years
- A Patrik Laine Trade Redux Prior to Winnipeg Jets vs. Columbus
- Winnipeg Jets Doppelgangers: Look-A-Likes PART II
- Can Josh Morrissey of the Winnipeg Jets Actually Win the Norris?
They have a top pairing. But if they could trot out those three, plus Tyler Myers, that’s something special. That pushes the Predators blue line down a peg, I think.
Jacob Trouba still has a ton of value. But this won’t be happening. While the impending FA is a prime trade candidate, Karlsson has been reported as unwilling to sign with a team in the Great White North.
For whatever reason, he prefers South Canada, the country just to the north of Mexico. I’m not certain why, but hey, to each their own. I know it would’ve been awesome to see Karlsson on the Jets, but the dream is over.
Erik Karlsson killed the dream. So, where does he go? Hopefully not Vegas. They have the money. And the urge to stay good. That would be most unfortunate. I’m not here to speculate. The article above breaks it down fairly well.
I’m just here to let you know, Erik Karlsson will not be playing with the Winnipeg Jets. I’m very sorry. We’ve been covering this idea since I’ve been with the site.
RIP Erik Karlsson Trade Rumors. Well, they’ll still exist. And I still care where he goes. But it won’t be Manitoba. Maybe the Jets sign Trouba, maybe they don’t. It would be disappointing to lose him for nothing.
But even without Karlsson, they’ll be just fine this season. Byfuglien, Morrissey, Trouba, Myers. That’s a fine top 4. Even still, none of them have the offensive ability Karlsson does. I would predict the Jets to be the league’s highest scoring team if they added him.
They still could be, however. They still could be.