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- There's been an awful lot of smoke around the Winnipeg Jets lately.
- Multiple reports suggest the Jets are looking at a major roster overhaul in the summer, with many of the core pieces expected to be made available.
- A growing belief is taking hold in management that the current Jets core may have gone as far as it can. Despite four consecutive playoff berths, this year's inconsistency has pushed the team towards starting anew.
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- A growing belief is taking hold in management that the current Jets core may have gone as far as it can. Despite four consecutive playoff berths, this year's inconsistency has pushed the team towards starting anew.
- Chief among the names in the rumour mill are franchise players Blake Wheeler, Connor Hellebuyck, Pierre-Luc Dubois and Mark Scheifele.
- Schiefele, in particular, is believed by many to be playing his last games as a Jets. Rumblings have suggested Schiefele himself may be open to a change of scenery, and the Jets may be ready to cash in on their star centerman while at the height of his powers.
- Schiefele, in particular, is believed by many to be playing his last games as a Jets. Rumblings have suggested Schiefele himself may be open to a change of scenery, and the Jets may be ready to cash in on their star centerman while at the height of his powers.
- Captain Blake Wheeler is another name being bandied about, but his age and contract make it a difficult trade to work out.
- Fairly quiet but growing whispers around Connor Hellebuyck have suggested the player may be frustrated with the situation and ready for a change. If he were to be moved, it would be a huge loss for the Jets. Every attempt is expected to be made to make it work out in Winnipeg.
- Pierre-Luc Dubois is an interesting one. Having just been acquired last year in a blockbuster trade for Patrik Laine, Jets management is rumoured to be highly motivated to keep him in town for as long as possible. But Dubois is a pending RFA with arbitration rights and is rumoured to be eager to land in a big market at some point. Keeping him long term will not be easy, nor will it be inexpensive. There will be plenty of interest if extension talks sour this summer.
- Out of the names listed above, it feels like Schiefele is the most likely to move this summer. It's shocking to hear when any franchise forward becomes available, let alone a number one center with a reasonable cap hit and term left on his deal. Many people scoffed when his name first surfaced, and perhaps rightfully so.
- But there has been so much smoke around Schiefele for the past several months that I'd say a trade is more likely than not to happen at this point. Winnipeg aren't under any pressure to trade him right away, but there are sure to be plenty of suitors this offseason.
- And that's all without even getting into the future of Head Coach Dave Lowry, who could be on the chopping block as well. Lowry was thrust into a difficult situation when Paul Maurice unexpectedly stepped down mid-season.
- All signs a pointing towards a pretty monumental offseason in Winnipeg, who are just one of many teams looking to make seismic changes.
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