I'm not here to say that Cheveldayoff may be recognizing that the window of opportunity for the Jets to win the Stanley Cup may be closing. There are going to be some difficult decisions that the team will have to make this summer regarding a handful of young players, and I don't think another spring with nothing to show for their work in the playoffs will be good enough for the players or the fans. In saying that, the Jets shored up a couple of key areas where they needed some help.
In his first move of the day, Cheveldayoff called up the Rangers and acquired Kevin Hayes in exchange for Winnipeg's 2019 first-round pick, forward Brendan Lemieux, and a 2022 conditional fourth-round pick should the Jets win the Stanley Cup. In getting Hayes, the Jets get the big centerman who can pass as well as he shoots while playing a solid 200-foot game. In giving up a fourth-line player and the Jets' first-round pick - likely a late-round pick - Cheveldayoff didn't alter the makeup of his team aside from reducing the number of dumb penalties his team may take.
A second trade that seemed to polarize fans on social media, Cheveldayoff picked up centerman Matt Hendricks from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for a 2020 seventh-round pick. I have to admit that this move took me by surprise as well, but it's fairly clear that this move is less about Hendricks playing on the ice and more about what Hendricks brings to the team off it. The guys loved having him as part of the Black Aces last season for his presence around the locker room, and it seems that will be his role once again this season.
In a move that can be only described as merciful, the Jets finally traded Nic Petan so that he no longer finds himself in the Winnipeg press box. The only problem, it seems, is that he could find himself in a new press box as the Jets swapped him to Toronto for forward Par Lindholm whose best work is done as a defensive forward. Lindholm's acquisition appears to be a depth move as it's unlikely he'll supplant anyone off Winnipeg's fourth line at the moment, but NHL-experienced bodies who play a solid defensive game in the playoffs are players all teams covet.
With the likelihood of Josh Morrissey missing significant time after leaving the game against Arizona with a visible shoulder injury, the Jets went and acquired a couple of left-shooting defencemen to fill the void. Cheveldayoff gave Jason Botterill a call, and when he hung up the phone the Jets had acquired little-used defenceman Nathan Beaulieu for a 2019 sixth-round pick. Beaulieu played well in Montreal before he ran into some poor play and injury trouble in Buffalo, and the Jets are hoping that he can find the game he showed in La Belle Province as he'll likely slot into the lineup immediately.
In getting some left-shooting defensive depth, the Jets went out and picked up Bogdan Kiselevich from the Florida Panthers for a 2021 seventh-round pick. Kiselevich is seen more as a defensive defender who has shown some solid play in his own zone with the Panthers. The Jets had pursued the Russian defencemen this past summer when he made it known he was looking for an NHL job, and it seems Chevy finally got his man after this trade.
And in a final move, the Jets made a minor-league move in acquiring Alex Broadhurst from Columbus - a tram that was rapidly approaching the maximum NHL contract limit with all their deals - for future considerations. If Columbus sees a number of their unrestricted free agents walk, there's a strong possibility that Broadhurst could be the future considerations for which he was dealt.
So how did it go, you're asking? Well, if Dustin Byfuglien and Josh Morrissey return in March, the Jets suddenly have a pile of options and a ton of depth on the blue line as they prepare for a long playoff run. While Sami Niku and Tucker Poolman haven't been forgotten, there are sorts of options with Ben Chiarot, Dmitry Kulikov, Joe Morrow, Beaulieu, and Kiselevich all able to play on the left side. Injuries shouldn't hamper this team's blue line if they get into a war with the likes of Nashville, Vegas, or San Jose.
The depth that Winnipeg added up front to support the twelve men that Paul Maurice rolls out there every night certainly won't wow anyone, but both Lindholm and Hendricks will give Maurice a solid effort every night while being great guys at practice. They won't make highlight reels, but they will bring their lunch pails every day to help make this team better.
However, let's not forget the centerpiece that Cheveldayoff brought in as Kevin Hayes should make his linemates better. He is an excellent passer, a skill he developed on a line with Hobey Baker Award-winner Johnny Gaudreau at Boston College. Since arriving in the NHL, he's been refining his game as an exceptional two-way centerman who will put in the work in the defensive zone as much as he will in offensive zone. Hayes won't be on many highlight reels nightly, but his skill set should fit nicely in Winnipeg's system.
If I'm handing out a grade for Kevin Cheveldayoff's work today, I believe it earns him a B+ depending on how the defence pans out. There's no denying that getting Hayes without dismantling his current roster was a savvy move while his depth moves cost him very little with the chances of being rewarded being higher. Seeing those chances come to fruition will be the challenge now for the both the coaching staff and the players, but if the Jets get a push from Beaulieu and Kiselevich on the blue line, you can turn that B+ into an A for Chevy.
It was a good day for the Jets on Monday. Now the work begins.
Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!
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