NHL Trade Grade: Paul Stastny makes Winnipeg Jets contenders
The most surprising trade of the NHL trade deadline saw the Winnipeg Jets finally get their center in Paul Stastny
Leading up to the NHL trade deadline, everything was going against the Winnipeg Jets. They tried hard to get Ottawa Senators center Derick Brassard, but the Vegas Golden Knights saw them as a threat and made sure he got to the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Toronto Maple Leafs outbid them for Tomas Plekanec and the Nashville Predators ensured they wouldn’t even get Mark Letestu. However, the Jets found a crown jewel in Paul Stastny.
It’s funny how they got him. If I would have told you in November the St. Louis Blues would be sellers, you’d assume a village had lost its idiot. Throughout their entire existence, the Jets have been the team no one wants to go to. Stastny waived a no-trade clause to go to Winnipeg, which is exciting.
Both teams did pretty well in this trade, but let’s grade their performances.
Jets
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I love this trade so much for the Jets. Winnipeg really needed to upgrade at center. They would have been fine without Stastny, but “fine” doesn’t win you Stanley Cups. Stastny immediately gives the Jets the holy grail – three scoring lines.
Most likely, he’ll slot in as the third line center to start. Stastny could move up to the second line center role. But considering the Jets were looking to upgrade their third forward line, it’s fair to assume that’s where he’ll be.
Stastny is in the midst of his eighth consecutive full season with at least 40 points. Even in the 2012-13 lockout-shortened season, he was still on pace to pass that milestone with 24 points in 40 games.
Stastny is a productive center who can also be thrown to the wolves defensively and still come out on top. This gives the Jets’ top two forward lines more opportunities in more ideal offensive situations.
Winnipeg gives up a first-round pick to get Stastny but considering their depth and their roster, they’re not going to miss that pick too much. The prospect they gave up is Erik Foley, who has nearly a point per game in the NCAA. He likely wasn’t going to be a difference maker for the Jets thanks to their outstanding depth.
Grade: A+. Way to go, Winnipeg. You’re no longer a joke. The Jets are legitimate Stanley Cup contenders and their top nine forwards should frighten everybody.
Blues
For the second straight season, the Blues are surprising sellers. But this year, it’s far less of a surprise. The Blues were in the midst of a six-game losing streak entering Monday. Rather than try to keep up with the ultra-competitive Central Division, St. Louis made their future better by trading a pending free agent in Stastny.
Getting the first-round pick is huge for the Blues because they gave one up to get rid of Jori Lehtera’s deal and get Brayden Schenn from the Philadelphia Flyers. The conditions of the first-round pick all but guarantee it will be a 2018 first-rounder. Meanwhile, the conditional 2020 fourth-round pick depends on the Blues signing Foley, who has yet to sign his entry-level deal.
Ideally, St. Louis should have gotten a little bit more for Stastny. The Blues probably should have seriously listened to offers before the center market dried up. But considering the circumstances, St. Louis did pretty well.
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Grade: B-. Imagine what the Jets could have gotten if they had shopped Stastny more aggressively. That said, getting a first-round pick for a rental is a good move. And Foley’s a pretty nice lottery ticket to have for a retooling team like the Blues.