Breaking Down Recent Trades Between Winnipeg Jets and NY Rangers

1. Jets Trade Jacob Trouba to Broadway for Neal Pionk and a First Rounder

As you know, by reading the last slide, the Jets gave up their 2019 first-round draft choice for Kevin Hayes. But only a few months later in June 2019, the Jets reacquired that first-round selection and Neal Pionk when they traded Jacob Trouba to the Rangers.

A couple of short days after this big trade, the Jets then went on to draft Ville Heniola with the 20th overall selection in the draft.

Neal Pionk has been extremely impressive and is arguably the Jets’ best all-around defenseman. In his three years with the Jets, Pionk has played in 184 games and has amassed 12 goals and 94 assists, and a plus-twenty plus/minus in those games. Pionk has also played in 12 postseason games for Winnipeg and has six assists in those games.

In that same timeframe, Jacob Trouba has played in 172 games with the Rangers and has 19 goals, 52 assists, and a plus-seven plus/minus. He has also played in three postseason games during that time and has one lone assist during those contests.

Then you look at the differences in both of these players’ contracts considering their stats. Last summer both of these players signed deals with their respective teams. Pionk signed a four-year deal with an average annual value of 5,875,000, while Trouba signed a seven-year contract with an AAV of $8,000,000.

Ville Heinola has not had the biggest impact with the Jets as he has only appeared in 21 NHL games since he was drafted, but he is considered one of the Jets’ top defensive prospects.

Since this trade, both teams made the postseason at the end of the 2019-2020 season due to the “COVID bubble playoffs”. Then during the shortened 2021 season, only the Jets made the postseason, while the Rangers missed out. This season the Rangers have been in a battle for the top spot in the Metropolitan Division and have a high probability to make the playoffs, while the Jets have a low probability to make the playoffs and are chasing the Western Conference Wild Card playoff spots.

Want your voice heard? Join the Jets White Out team!

Write for us!

After reviewing the past three trades, prior to the Copp trade, between Winnipeg and New York, it will be extremely interesting to see how the Copp trade plays out in the long run. Including if the Rangers sign Copp to a long-term deal this offseason? Can Morgan Barron make an impact with the Jets in the future? And what happens to the draft picks the Jets received in the trade, will the conditions be met for the Jets to receive those draft choices and what will the Jets do with those picks?

There is no doubt that this trade can have significant implications not only for the end of the 2021-2022 season and playoffs but for the futures of both of these teams.

Winnipeg Jets Fans: Who do you think will be the long-term winner of the Andrew Copp trade? Leave your comments below!