Winnipeg Jets Trade Rumors: Jacob Trouba Update

Winnipeg Jets Trade Rumors: GM Kevin Cheveldayoff in No Rush to Move Restricted Free Agent Jacob Trouba. Jets General Manager is Reportedly Sticking True to His Asking Price of a Similar Quality/Age Defender and Won’t Budge

Until the situation is resolved, these Winnipeg Jets trade rumors will continue to be a distraction (even if the team insists it’s not). The Jets host the Bruins on Monday night in their third game of the season, and the organization is yet to address the elephant in the room.

A few weeks ago, Jacob Trouba‘s agent, Kurt Overhardt went public with a trade request for his client after it became apparent that the two sides would fail to reach an agreement. For those who were unaware, Mr.Overhardt is the same agent who represents Kyle Turris, and went through the trade request debacle down in the Desert a few years back.

The Coyotes were more than happy to make Turris wait, almost seemingly making an example out of him. Arizona was reportedly concerned that it would send the wrong message for other players to follow suit – sounds familiar doesn’t it?

Sad thing though. Winnipeg isn’t Arizona. They were able to lock down Dustin Byfuglien, Mark Scheifele, and Blake Wheeler to long-term contracts. So, this whole notion that fulfilling a trade request makes Winnipeg an unattractive place for free agents, or makes the GM look soft or easy to take advantage – that couldn’t be any further from the truth.

So, while Kevin Cheveldayoff spitefully makes Jacob Trouba sit on the sidelines and wait, he’s only hurting himself and his players.

What happens if the Jets narrowly miss out on a playoff spot – how do you explain that to fans? It sounds like the asking price is a player that could help right now. What if that player is the difference between a few extra points in the standings?

Trouba Point of View

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In Trouba’s case, the 22-year-old right-handed shot wants to play his natural side that got him to the NHL. Unfortunately, the Jets are forced to use him on the left-side with Dustin Byfuglien and Tyler Myers in the mix.

It sort of rubs me the wrong the way when I hear people mutter things along the lines of suck it up and earn your spot. You don’t draft an elite right-winger with the intention of making him play the off-wing. Just as you don’t invest a 9th overall pick on a defenseman who will be asked to play an uncomfortable, unfamiliar side.

The fact is, most teams would love to get their hands on a premium right-handed shot. Most teams can barely dress two in their top four. Here the Jets have a rare luxury with three. Why is it Trouba’s fault that Kevin Cheveldayoff went and acquired Tyler Myers? And why can’t the giant ex-Sabres defender assume the left-side, while the younger guy (Trouba) settles in and gets comfortable?

We need to stop pointing the finger at Jacob Trouba. At this point, he’s the victim. All he wants is an opportunity to flourish and succeed; not be forced into a situation that could ultimately hurt his career.

Winnipeg Jets Trade Rumors: Reported Asking Price

The reported asking price still hasn’t changed. Cheveldayoff is looking for a similar quality defenseman (preferably left-handed) around the same age. It doesn’t make sense, as we wrote a little while back. If anything, this feels like nothing more than a grudgeful tactic to ensure Trouba is punished (for some reason?).

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What happens when you ask for something similar in return? Absolutely nothing. Just look at how it worked out for Garth Snow or Steve Yzerman attempting to move Travis Hamonic or Jonathan Drouin.

Here’s the one thing no one is talking about though: If the Winnipeg Jets acquire that stud 21-22-year-old defender in return, they force themselves into a 4-4-1 protection list scheme in the expansion draft.

As it stands, they could protect Toby Enstrom (no-movement clause), Dustin Byfuglien, and Tyler Myers, with their other emerging top four defender Josh Morrissey being automatically exempt. This allows Winnipeg to protect seven forwards opposed to four – the difference between protecting Alex Burmistrov, Marko Dano, Adam Lowry (among many others).

Next: 5 Biggest Surprises to Start the New Season

Hypothetical Deals

HNIC’s Elliotte Friedman reported that several teams have called about Trouba, including Los Angeles, Detroit, Arizona, and others. As mentioned the asking price is a non-starter since it would include names such as Jake Muzzin or Oliver Ekman-Larsson. If the Jets are willing to bend (which they will have to do in order to get a deal done), an offer from interested teams should look a little something like this:

Winnipeg trades D Jacob Trouba to Arizona in exchange for D Connor Murphy, F Tobias Rieder, and F Conor Garland

Winnipeg trades D Jacob Trouba to Detroit in exchange for F Gustav Nyquist, D Joe Hicketts, and 2017 2nd Round Pick

Winnipeg trades D Jacob Trouba, F Drew Stafford (UFA rental), and G Ondrej Pavelec (UFA rental – 50 percent contract retained) to Los Angeles in exchange for F Tanner Pearson, F Kyle Clifford, D Brayden McNabb, 2017 1st Round Pick, and 2018 1st Round Pick