NHL Trade Rumor: Winnipeg reaches out to Toronto about potential deal

As the Winnipeg Jets continue to struggle out the gate, their management team is calling around to see what it's going to take to upgrade their defense. With Dustin Byfuglien pondering his hockey career, and the departures of Tyler Myers and Jacob Trouba, the team's back-end is taking a pounding early on this season.

The Jets took on the Islanders on Sunday night and their best defenseman, Josh Morrissey got hurt in warm up and it left the Jets in a dismal situation. They had to put out Neil Pionk and Ville Heinola for over 23 minutes, and the results speak for themselves. Another loss, as the Islanders skated to a 4-1 win.

Jets GM, Kevin Cheveldayoff has been working the phones tirelessly to find an upgrade since the news of Byfuglien broke, and it appears his latest target may be the Toronto Maple Leafs. According to sources connected to the Jets, the team reached out to the Leafs to see what the asking price of Jordan Schmaltz and Ben Harpur currently is. Two depth defensemen for the Leafs, who are expected to see major minutes with the AHL Marlies. Harpur would provide the team with some toughness, as he lead the NHL in fights last season and stands 6'7.

No major upgrade indeed, however, the Jets are contemplating all options at this point, before their season gets out of hand. They have held talks with the Islanders as we know, however, the asking price of Nik Ehlers continues to be too much for the Jets.

At this point it feels like a depth move would transpire first, before anything of significance. Jets fans, who do you want the team to acquire? Is Nik Ehlers untouchable?