This is the third instalment of our Draft Decisions series, which takes an in-depth look at some of the biggest decisions facing each of the seven Canadian NHL franchises as we approach the NHL Draft on June 24.
Montreal | Ottawa | Toronto | Winnipeg | Calgary | Edmonton | Vancouver
The Winnipeg Jets’ NHL draft lottery luck has transformed the team’s outlook because, instead of selecting a prospect who might be ready to contribute in a year or two, the Jets now stand to snag a sniper who figures to make an impact as soon as the puck drops next season.
Patrik Laine at No. 2 overall is a no-brainer for Winnipeg. After that, things will get interesting, especially because the Jets also hold the 22nd pick thanks to the deadline deal that sent former captain Andrew Ladd to the Chicago Blackhawks.
Winnipeg—which also had two first-round picks last year and looks as though it heisted a gem with Kyle Connor at No. 17—was already in good shape before its lottery leap thanks to a bevy of quality young NHLers and a wonderful prospect pipeline that’s reaching a boil. With that in mind, would the Jets be willing to part with one of its up-and-coming studs in order to secure more immediate help? That’s just one of a few scenarios in play for the team.
1. Winnipeg selects Patrik Laine.
Let’s just get the obvious one out of the way. There’s virtually no chance Winnipeg passes on the opportunity to acquire a six-foot-four winger who often draws comparisons—however optimistically—to Alex Ovechkin. Laine was named MVP and best forward at the world championship in May, which is pretty stunning considering he’s only 18.
Our take: It says here he’ll score 28 goals as a rookie and cause much consternation amongst shortsighted Toronto fans who fret over the fact he outproduces Auston Matthews in Year 1.
2. The Jets trade Trouba.
The rumours are certainly out there, with the Colorado Avalanche thought to be the most interested suitor. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman has also mused about whether or not the Detroit Red Wings would be interested in trying to pry the Michigan boy loose and get him on their lackluster blue line.
Our take: Jacob Trouba is a restricted free agent and rumblings about his future in Winnipeg have been reverberating for months. There’s universal agreement that the Jets and GM Kevin Cheveldayoff would rather keep the 22-year-old, who has battled some injuries during his first three seasons, but is still seen as a potential stud. One thing working against a possible Trouba deal is the fact Winnipeg, while flush with impact forwards either already on the team or on the way, doesn’t have a ton of depth or pending help on the blue line. If they do move Trouba, there might have to be a defenceman coming back.
3. The Jets own the draft, trade Trouba with 22nd pick.
OK, now we’re talking! Sure, this is a long shot, but combine Winnipeg’s cornucopia of good young players with the fact the team is coming off a massively disappointing season and maybe Cheveldayoff—often painted as a conservative—feels compelled to swing for the fence.
Our take: When you do the math, you wonder if Winnipeg might require a three-team trade to get something of that magnitude done because, presumably, an organization that’s trading for Trouba needs help on the back end and can’t afford to surrender a defenceman to get him. In that case, maybe the Jets get a top-notch forward in return and flip him for their own blue line reinforcements.
4. The Jets trade down with the 22nd pick.
It’s not sexy, but there’s a logic to it.
Our take: With no third-round pick, the Jets are slated to go between No. 36 and No. 97 without making a selection. They could take Laine, then flip the 22nd pick for a pair of others. They could even try to pocket an extra 2017 second- or third-rounder to put in play before next year’s trade deadline should things go the way they hope on the ice.
