Winnipeg Jets Reported Asking Price for Jacob Trouba Makes Little Sense
Winnipeg Jets D Jacob Trouba Requested a Trade Recently. Early Reports Suggest That GM Kevin Cheveldayoff Is Seeking a Similar Quality Defender in Return. Unfortunately, That Makes Little Sense.
Winnipeg Jets D Jacob Trouba made headlines recently when his agent, Kurt Overhardt, released a statement publicly stating that his client has made a trade request. The 22-year-old believes he plays his best hockey on his proper right side and wants to realize that potential. As it stands, the Jets use Dustin Byfuglien and Tyler Myers on the right side, forcing Trouba to the left side.
A day or so after the request, TSN‘s Gary Lawless reported that Winnipeg would be seeking a similar age/quality defender that shoots left-handed. If the reports are indeed true, it draws several red flags and screams mismanagement.
Why Reported Asking Price Makes Little Sense
Too Specific/Same Type of Player
Hockey analyst Bob McKenzie was the first to point out one major flaw in that plan. He says that any time a team is looking for something so specific, it makes any trade extremely difficult.
Let me give you a great example from last season. New York Islanders D Travis Hamonic requested a trade to be closer to home (Manitoba) and GM Garth Snow made it clear he was seeking a similar quality defender (same as Trouba). Nothing ever transpired, and why would it anyways? How many teams are looking to trade for stud young defenseman for one another?
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Both Dustin Byfuglien and Toby Enstrom own a no-movement clause making them automatic saves next June. If the Jets were to acquire another defenseman, they would be forced to use the 4 forwards – 4 defense – 1 goalie protection scheme to save Tyler Myers and the new arrival.
So the Jets can save their new d-man along with Myers but that leaves just four spots to protect Mark Scheifele, Blake Wheeler, Bryan Little, and (1) of Drew Stafford (UFA), Mathieu Perreault, Alexander Burmistrov, Chris Thorburn (UFA), Adam Lowry, Marko Dano, Joel Armia, Andrew Copp, the list goes on.
Just look at NHL expansion history. Teams generally take the route that allows them to protect the most players possible. Yet here in 2016, there are murmurs of a handful of teams that may need to use the 4-4-1 scheme opposed to 7-3-1. Wouldn’t you rather protect a total of 11 players opposed to nine Jets fans? Some of those forwards projected to be available would be a tough loss.
Money/Budget
Did we already forget that Winnipeg is deemed a budget team? They only have $6,919,209 dollars worth of cap space as of right now. Here we’re talking about adding another significant contract on top of that? Fact is, the Jets can’t afford their projected asking price (and that’s even if you factor in shedding a bit of salary). If anything, Winnipeg should be looking at ways to get closer to the cap floor.
It’s not worth Winnipeg’s time to spend to the cap ceiling until this team is a true bona fide Stanley Cup contender.
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Proper Formula to Hammer out a Deal
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This team is still (at least) a few years away from Stanley Cup contention. Wouldn’t it make more sense to target a defender who might begin to blossom a little ways down the road as others like Connor Hellebuyck and Patrik Laine enter their prime? That means finding someone who shoots left with less than two years of pro experience (automatically protected in expansion).
On a side note, that scenario would also allow for prospect Josh Morrissey to be given an opportunity for extra minutes/chance to emerge.
Truth be told, the Winnipeg Jets don’t have any pressing needs. They’ve drafted extremely well and have a plethora of quality prospects in the minors/junior. So why not add more pieces to that giant puzzle? Is the one forward (or even defenseman) you’d receive in a trade going to have that big of an impact in 2016-17? Add quality prospects, add more draft picks; that’s how you build a winner in today’s NHL.
Try to Include Pavelec
Winnipeg is still boasting a very crowded crease with Ondrej Pavelec, Michael Hutchinson, Connor Hellebuyck, and Eric Comrie. Even though we don’t expect the Jets to compete for a Cup, it’s clear that Hellebuyck gives this team the best chance to win on a nightly basis.
Holding onto Pavelec’s $3.9 million dollar cap hit ($4.75 million in actual salary) for the final year would be a mistake for GM Kevin Cheveldayoff. Forcing Connor back to AHL Manitoba would only stunt his development.
Therefore, the Jets must try to include Czech netminder Ondrej Pavelec in any deal that includes Trouba. Even if it means retaining part of his salary for the final year, it’s worth it. If they can’t find a taker, they can just keep him until another team loses their starter to injury.
Next: Jacob Trouba: Latest News, Updates, Rumors
Potential Targets Given New Parameters
Using our new parameters to hammer out a deal, let’s take a look at some potential targets and what a possible trade might look like:
Potential Defensive Targets:
Jakub Zboril (Boston Bruins), Haydn Fleury (Carolina Hurricanes), Chris Bigras (Colorado Avalanche), Joe Hicketts (Detroit Red Wings), Brady Skjei (New York Rangers), Travis Sanheim (Philadelphia Flyers), Travis Dermott (Toronto Maple Leafs), Ben Hutton (Vancouver Canucks)
How a Final Deal May Look:
Winnipeg trades D Jacob Trouba to Boston in exchange for D Jakub Zboril, F Ryan Spooner, F Seth Griffith, and 2017 1st round pick
Winnipeg trades D Jacob Trouba to Detroit in exchange for D Joe Hicketts, D Brendan Smith, and F Tomas Tatar