Winnipeg Jets
The offer: Kevin Hayes, Sean Day, Neal Pionk, Tampa Bay’s conditional pick for Jacob Trouba
The Jets have been oddly stingy about money and term over the past few years in Jacob Trouba-centered contract talks. Trouba has been a workhorse defender for them, averaging about 22 minutes a night in Manitoba this past season.
At only 24 years of age, Trouba is only going to get better. He has an offensive arsenal that has only scratched the surface and an already elite-tier defensive game. Why would the Jets not give him the bag? Your guess is as good as his.
While the Jets might be able to survive with the center depth they have, the loss of Paul Stastny is going to hurt them a bit.
That’s where the Rangers come in.
Hayes would be a perfect fit in Winnipeg, a team built around big bodies and speed. The price to pay should be pretty steep, but who knows? The way the Jets value him is obviously wrong to begin with.
A deal sending Hayes with two upcoming defensive prospects who, especially in Pionk’s case, could thrive in Winnipeg’s system, along with the Lightning’s pick this year, is a hefty price for a rental. But if the Rangers can make this into a sign and trade, it would be well worth it.