Boston Bruins: Could Winnipeg Jets Be Willing Trade Partner?

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WINNIPEG, MB – MARCH 14: David Backes #42 of the Boston Bruins and Dmitry Kulikov #5 of the Winnipeg Jets watch as goaltender Connor Hellebuyck #37 makes a first period save at the Bell MTS Place on March 14, 2019 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The Jets defeated the Bruins 4-3. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images) /

The Bruins and Jets appear to be likely trade partners. What are some trade options?

The Winnipeg Jets entered training camp with two big question marks in the forward group. Fortunately, the Jets answered both questions with new contracts for Kyle Connor and Patrick Laine.

Now, the Jets must solve another issue: a depleted defense corps. This one, however, requires more than a stroke of the pen to fix.

The Jets prepared for a season of change for the defense. They didn’t do much to retain Tyler Myers, who signed as a free agent with the Canucks. Also, the Jets traded Jacob Trouba to the Rangers for a first round pick.

What the Jets didn’t prepare for was the loss of Dustin Byfuglien. Byfuglien took a leave of absence from the team at the start of training camp as he contemplates retirement. As a right now, there’s no timetable for a final decision.

Then, Josh Morrissey, who suddenly became Winnipeg’s top defenseman, went down with an upper body injury. He missed the last game against Pittsburgh along with fellow d-man Dmitry Kulikov.

With Byfuglien out and Morrisey injured, the Jets’ defense is nothing short of a mess at the start of the season. This isn’t good news for a team with Stanley Cup aspirations.

According to Mike McIntrye of the Winnipeg Free Press, the Jets may need to consider outside help to solidly the defense. A trade seems like the only way for the Jets to bring in an impact defender who can help the team win right now.

Enter the Boston Bruins, who could be a great trade partner for the Jets.

BOSTON, MA – APRIL 19: Boston Bruins defenseman John Moore (27) starts up ice during Game 5 of the First Round Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Boston Bruins and the Toronto Maple Leafs on April 19, 2019, at TD garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Bruins have a deep group of defensemen

While the Jets are thin on the backend, the Bruins are quite deep. In fact, when everybody’s healthy, the Bruins have too many NHL defensemen on the roster.

The Bruins started all three games this year with the same six defensemen: Zdeno Chara, Charlie McAvoy, Torey Krug, Brandon Carlo, Matt Grzelcyk, and Connor Clifton.

This group looks set for the time being. Unless somebody goes down with an injury, expect these six defensemen to be in the lineup night in and night out. And, if somebody needs a game off, Steven Kampfer, with his 201 games of NHL experience, is ready to go.

Things will change once John Moore or Kevan Miller come back from injury. The Bruins will need an extra roster spot to activate either Moore or Miller.

They could place Kampfer on waivers to clear up a spot, but this becomes complicated if the Bruins activate Moore. Moore is on LTIR, so Boston will need to make sure there’s enough cap space for his $2.75 million hit.

Don’t be surprised if the Bruins look to trade one of their NHL defensemen if Moore or Miller come back healthy. Winnipeg could certainly use some veteran help.

Then there’s Boston’s group of prospects. Even with Chara’s retirement on the horizon, the Bruins organizational depth chart is loaded with left-shot defensemen. Jeremy Lauzon looks ready to play right in the NHL now, and Urho Vaakanainen isn’t far behind. Both players are currently in Providence. Jakub Zboril is there, too.

The Bruins could entice Winnipeg with one of these young defensemen. Or, they could trade a veteran like Moore and replace him with Lauzon.

DALLAS, TX – OCTOBER 3: Torey Krug #47 of the Boston Bruins skates against the Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Center on October 3, 2019 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Glenn James/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Torey Krug could be available

One player who may be of particular interest to Winnipeg is Torey Krug. Krug is on the last year of his current contract and will be a UFA this summer.

Boston obviously prefers to sign Krug to an extension. But, if Krug’s contract demands prove to be too high, don’t the Bruins have to consider a trade? They can’t afford to lose Krug this offseason for nothing.

Krug is exactly the kind of player Winnipeg covets. He can step right into the lineup and help lead the defense. He can take pressure off Morrissey and soften the blow of Byfuglien’s loss on the power play.

More importantly, Krug can provide leadership to a young Jets team. Winnipeg has a ton of talent with the likes of Morrissey, Connor, and Laine. The Jets lack a ton of experience, and this reared its ugly head in last year’s playoffs.

The Jets need an injection of playoff experience and character. They need somebody who’s played and excelled in big games. And, of course, they need some help on defense. Doesn’t this sound like Krug?

Again, the Bruins want to resign Krug. GM Don Sweeney said as much before the season started. However, if Winnipeg inquires, the Bruins have to listen.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 06: Nikolaj Ehlers #27 of the Winnipeg Jets skates against the New York Islanders at NYCB Live’s Nassau Coliseum on October 06, 2019 in New York City. The Islanders defeated the Jets 4-1. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Nikolaj Ehlers makes sense for Boston

Let’s say the Bruins decide to move a defenseman. What exactly would they want or need in return?

One of the biggest question marks this season for Boston is at second line right wing. The Bruins need to find somebody to consistently play alongside David Krejci and Jake DeBrusk.

Karson Kuhlman started there, but then Bruce Cassidy tried Brett Ritchie in that spot. Both players probably aren’t long-term solutions.

Nikolaj Ehlers is a Jets player who could fit in with Krejci and DeBrusk. Ehlers is a left shot, but he plays the right wing. He skates well and has great hands, and he’s only 23 years old.

Ehlers is a more than capable goal scorer. He scored 21 goals in only 62 games last season. He had 29 and 25 in the two years before. Ehlers is a solid five on five player, and he can play on the power play.

The Jets may find Ehlers expendable given their depth up front. Connor and Laine signed new extensions, and Blake Wheeler and Mark Scheifele are locked up as well. If Winnipeg wants to add a capable defender, Ehlers seems like the odd man out.

Ehlers has a cap hit of $6 million until the 2024-2025 season. The Bruins would need to send money back to Winnipeg to make any deal work.

Boston and Winnipeg could work around a Krug-Ehlers swap. Krug, even without an extension, may have more value than Ehlers, but Winnipeg could add picks or prospects.

The Bruins could also try to entice Winnipeg with Lauzon or Vaakanainen as the centerpiece of a trade. Or, if the Jets prefer someone with more experience, Grzelcyk could be an option.

Related Story. Should Boston extend Krug?. light

Either way, the Bruins and Jets seem to have what the other team needs. Winnipeg needs some help on defense, and Boston could use someone like Ehlers in the top six. Winnipeg, let’s talk trade.

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