The offseason is in full swing. With the draft approaching and free agency right around the corner, the rumour mill is churning quicker and quicker. The draft projections are in full swing, and now the trade rumours also begin to swirl. Today we focus on the Winnipeg Jets. The Jets could be involved in a trade and it involves stat centre Mark Scheifele.
Winnipeg Jets Centre On Trade Market
Rumour: Hockey Talk Daily reports that the Winnipeg Jets are Shopping Mark Scheifele
Things could be taking a turn for the worst in Winnipeg. First, they missed out on the hiring of Barry Trotz, but it looks like they could be headed for a rebuild or a possible retool. Pierre-Luc Dubois has reportedly said he wants to test the market when it’s his UFA time. Mark Scheifele is the biggest trade chip at their disposal and could be on the move this season.
Why A Team Should Make The Trade
Mark Scheifele is a centre that can be the franchise centre of your team. The nine-year veteran has a lot of hockey in the tank. Throughout his career, he has tallied 230 goals, 347 assists, and 577 points. Entering this offseason, he is coming off one of his better seasons. In 67 games for the Jets, he scored 29 goals, 41 assists, and 70 points. He was a point-per-game player averaging 1.04. In the last five seasons, he hasn’t had point totals lower than 60 and his highest came in 2018-19 with 84. The centre will be highly coveted in the trade market.
Winnipeg Jets Trade Options
Montreal Canadiens
This should be a no-brainer decision. General Manager Jeff Gorton has multiple draft picks at his disposal. While he won’t part with number one overall in this year’s draft, he has the ammunition to make this work. The term already boasts Nick Suzuki and to help form a 1-2 punch down the middle would be huge for Montreal.
Washington Capitals
The Winnipeg Jets could trade the centre out of the conference. The Washington Capitals have a need for the position. While star centre Nicklas Backstrom underwent a possible career-ending surgery the need for a centre is there. In free agency, it is highlighted by Colorado Avalanche center Nazem Kadri and Florida Panthers centre Claude Giroux, but pairing Scheifele alongside Alexander Ovechkin could be fun for a few years.
