Team: 2023-24 Winnipeg Jets

Initial Creation Date: Apr. 28, 2023

Published: Apr. 29, 2023

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

According to literally everyone in the jets organization right now, THEY ARE NOT REBUILDING. But they may be forced to if helly isn't willing to sign. That said, id take my chances and try to ice a competitive team and see what happens. A little success probably convinces both helly and scheifele to re-sign.

I know dach for dubois seems unlikely based on what MTL fans and rumours say. But we don't really have any concrete evidence saying that MTL is the only team Dubois would go to. The only thing we have is his agent saying it's a potential destination of choice for Dubois. Everything else, Dubois has called fake news twice now. I built a trade similar to the Trouba trade a few years ago. Trouba wanted out, and NY was at the top of his list (not necessarily the only team though). The jets got a top 4 rookie defenseman in Neal Pionk and a 1st then. If MTL wants him now, it might take something similar unless Chevy is willing to take futures or a 3rd team gets involved to get Winnipeg something they need now back (unlikely). One thing we can all likely agree on is Dubois is a 1A centre option. Trouba is a top pairing RD. Both have similar if not identical value. Dach just broke out as a top 6 forward (mainly getting production as a winger, but also playing C) and Pionk had just broken out as a top 4 d-man (playing the hardest mins). Therefore, the pionk and dach comparison is also there. That being said, I give dach more value simply because of his draft pedigree whereas pionk was undrafted. To balance out, I took an early 2nd (37 oa) instead of the 19 oa the rangers paid (rather large drop off but balances it out in my opinion). The value is there, whether MTL is willing to pay is another issue, since it is a two-steps-forward, one-step-back type thing. Personally, if I'm MTL I'd do it. Dach hasn't proven he can be an NHL centre yet (FO% and track record), wheras dubois is an established bonafide 1A centre. Dach ceiling is likely where dubois is now, wheras dubois can still grow. Finally, one thing I get super mad at chevy for is not locking down positions of need before the team got good. Once you have an established team, it becomes much harder to fill holes, like the jets struggled with the 2C role until dubois came in (and now cant fill in the Laine role, though its less of a concern). I think its important than MTL locks down the top 2 centre positions and build from there, and I bet they see it the same way. The rangers were still rebuilding when they made a play for Trouba because they know how hard a big top pairing RD is to come by. They didn't wait a year and risk losing not getting him or overpaying in FA.

NOTE: I wrote all of this simply to avoid a bunch of comments from MTL fans saying they won't move Dach. Believe it or not, it's a real possibility and probably the first piece Chevy asks for in a potential trade. Whether MTL management is willing to do that or not is a different question and honestly, not up to us so it's rather pointless to debate. That said, i know I'm going to have MTL fans here commenting on that exact thing. Just letting you know, I've said everything I want here, and I've heard your side too. You will achieve nothing by making the "MTL isn't moving dach for dubois" or "MTL will just wait a year" comments.

Onto the next trade, I tried to build something that would fit St.Louis's tricky situation. They are retooling? Gearing up for another run this offseason? Im not sure, and honestly no one is until this offseason passes. They have some nice pieces, but if they want to speed up the retooling process, they need to make cap space. Parayko is the most rumoured name out there right now and apparently there was significant activity around him last TDL with EDM being close until they went with ekholm instead. So, i used the ekholm trade as a comparable. Barrie was included more as a cap thing, but blues fans are saying they need someone to take on parayko's heavy mins in return. Therefore, I went with dylan demelo (which may or may not be something chevy is willing to do). Demelo can probably net a first on his own right now, which makes his value more than a cap move like barrie. Next, there was Reid Schaefer (former first) and a late 1st. Instead of Schaefer, I included chibrikov who I think is a better prospect. That said, the jets have many comparable prospects with only lucius, lambert, and mcgroarty being better prospects than Schaefer. So take ur pick blues fans. The cream of the jets proverbial crop that is comparable to Schaefer is chibrikov, Rashevsky, and Zhilkin (likely in that order). Next, since the jets did offer a better player in demelo than barrie, i didn't quite add in a late 1st (partly cause the jets don't have one) rather adding the early 2nd rounder from MTL. I could honestly add in more picks or pieces, to top it off but i think this is a good comparable. The jets have way too many NHL ready defencemen like stanley or chisholm so id be willing to add them too. Some lower end bottom 6 forward prospects are also possible like gustafsson.

But as I said, I think the framework is definitely there. In summary:
Parayko = ekholm = Barrie + 25+ oa + Schaefer (former late 1st) + 4th = Demelo + 37 oa + chibrikov (former mid 2nd but better than Schaefer imo).

The rest is pretty simple. Wheeler is still an effective player and valuable with money retained. Comrie didn't really work out in BUF but I'd take him back in Winnipeg and also want a 2nd for wheeler. The Schmidt trade is troubling simply because idk schmidt's value. Considering he was traded out of VAN for a 3rd and is now playing better hockey you would think his value is a 3rd. But that contract looks expensive. Therefore, i added a 3rd to instead balance out what i think he might be valued at. Also added in a Stanley for Comtois trade. Not sure if that's something the ducks would be interested in. Otherwise, I would just move Stanley to the highest bidder. Chisholm for Brown is just a move to bring in a serviceable 7D.

I also have brad lambert making the team if he can put on some muscle. The kid looks like a complete player in Seattle which is why he was sent down in the first place.

Thanks for listening to my TED talk. Comment away

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