Winnipeg Jets Have Some Prospects To Dangle As Trade Bait

The Winnipeg Jets have gone from the best team in the NHL last season to the worst this season. A big part of that is because of the lack of scoring outside of four players (the top line and Josh Morrissey). Something has to be done as this is a team that is built to compete right now, not in the future.

There haven't been any trades yet, but that is where the Jets are headed. Darren Dreger said, "(Cheveldayoff) has assets, Brad Lambert's a nice player, Ville Heinola, those are pieces he'd consider trading, but maybe they're gotta dig a little bit deeper on the trade front."

Lambert hasn't played very well in the AHL this season, nothing compared to what he was able to accomplish in his first two seasons. But he only played four games for the Jets and scored a goal. The 22-year-old former first rounder needs to either get put in the top-9 of the Jets or be dealt for someone younger than 30 who will.

Heinola's injury history has been unfortunate and a big reason why the Jets have seemingly passed him over. The 24-year-old has continuously put up strong seasons in the AHL and hardly got a chance in the NHL. He has yet to receive one this season. It doesn't feel like there is ever going to be a place for the defenseman who is coming out of his developmental age and would do better with an actual chance on another team lacking younger defensemen.

Dreger shouldn't be talking about Cole Perfetti or Morgan Barron when speaking of digging a bit deeper on the trade front. If anything, the veterans have to go as many have not played well enough to warrant the ice time they're receiving. It is an interesting time for the Jets who have to manage a lot right now and if they want to get back in the playoff race, have to do something quickly.