Technically, we can’t classify the Winnipeg Jets’ biggest problem as “offseason unfinished business” because we don’t know if that will actually happen. But if trading Connor Hellebuyck is in the cards, it’s fair to say that all other concerns are overshadowed and heavily influenced by the size of this potential move.
Hellebuyck certainly got people’s attention when he said “what we did this year was unacceptable” while cleaning out lockers back in April. However, no one was really on high alert until the offseason, when it became clear that there was more smoke from this potential fire than many initially thought.
For more than two weeks now, we’ve been wondering if general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff can put the pieces together for a deal that would send the league’s 2025 MVP elsewhere. This project represented one of the pressure points on the deal, but it happened without an exchange.
Now comes the second day that will lead to big changes: the free agent market opens on Wednesday. There is no guarantee that if Hellebuyck does get dealt, it will be within the next day or so. But there’s a lot of ball in play in the NHL, and the clubs we know or suspect are interested – the Florida Panthers and Buffalo Sabers, among a few others – will likely be dealing with what’s next on their roster in the coming days.
In an ideal world, you’d think Cheveldayoff would want some clarity on the Hellebuyck issue sooner rather than later, as it would obviously impact other aspects of the business he’d have to deal with.
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If the departure of the franchise goaltender brings back the No. 2 center Winnipeg has always been chasing, Cheveldayoff’s hierarchy of needs will change.
As it stands, a general manager will have to weigh a lot of considerations when going out and trying to improve a team that fell out of the playoffs one season after finishing first overall in the NHL.
Finding top 6 forwards is definitely a priority. We’re usually more specific about this need since the Jets have had a 2C hole for a few years now – with the exception of some fleeting decisions like Sean Monahan. However, the equation changed a bit on draft day when highly touted center Viggo Bjork fell to Winnipeg with the eighth overall pick. The young Swede is not expected to be an immediate solution behind top man Mark Scheifele, but Bjork could make a significant contribution within 16 months for this team.
As always, the Jets will have to get creative here. We know that Winnipeg is not a traditional destination for UVA, and even if it were, the paltry list of available free agents – and especially centers – there makes it difficult to acquire significant assets with the stroke of a pen.
Since we raised him, has anyone thought about getting back together with Monahan? The Columbus Blue Jackets, who signed Monahan to a UFA in 2024, are the rare team with Hellebuyck-level questions themselves, as reigning Norris Trophy winner Zach Werenski’s future in Ohio has suddenly become a hot topic of discussion.
The Jackets have given no indication they’re planning a fire sale, but with the potential for a major roster shakeup, could Winnipeg consider re-acquiring a guy who was a dream – 13 goals in 34 games – during his brief tenure with the team? Monahan will turn 32 in October and has three years left on his contract with a reasonable average value of $5.5 million. Perhaps with big changes coming to Columbus, Monahan would welcome a return to the place where he thrived. If Björk is ready for prime time in the fall of 2027, Monahan could easily move to the wing.
Availability is always an issue for Monahan, but we go back to when we noted that Winnipeg needs to think outside the box when it comes to acquiring players. This could mean rolling a die or two.
Can the Jets convince Tomas Hertl to return to Manitoba if Vegas wants to cash him out? Depending on how things go for the Stars, could Winnipeg swoop in and trade 24-year-old forward Mavrik Bourque if there’s no room left for him in Texas?
As for UFAs, will they consider Anthony Mantha? The 31-year-old scored 33 goals last season and will surely be looking for a salary that will reward both himself and many of Manta’s players moving forward. Of course, Manta is known to be fickle, and there are fears that his produce will fall off a cliff once he secures his bag.
Additionally, a couple of candidates stand out when you look at their overall profile and consider past precedent. In 2024, the Jets signed Nino Niederreiter to a three-year contract that expires after the 2026–27 season. The Jets made a small one-year bid on Gustav Nyqvist last summer, but it fell through with one goal in 51 appearances for the Swede. However, the Jets could be seen sniffing around other unglamorous, experienced Europeans like Viktor Arvidsson, or a trio of potential former Wild players in Marcus Johansson, Vladimir Tarasenko and Mats Zuccarello.
All of these players see the potential for a larger role in Winnipeg than what’s available to them on other playoff-contending teams.
Speaking of the first two lines, Cheveldayoff will also have to talk to Cole Perfetti – 10th.th-general choice of 2020 – about the new contract. Perfetti is an RFA with a two-year bridge contract. Of course, both the organization and the player believed that when the last deal was signed in 2024, there would be complete clarity regarding the player’s future with the team by now. However, that’s not the case, and the Jets will have to talk to Perfetti’s team to find out what the next step will be.
Of course, in Hellebuyck’s situation we just have to wait and see. Until there is a solution, everything else will look like potatoes on the prairie.