NHL Rumors: Jets & Red Wings Talking Trade

Winnipeg Jets defenseman Luke Schenn plays the puck during 2026 game.

The Winnipeg Jets and Detroit Red Wings are getting linked as potential trade partners, and it sounds like real conversations, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman. 

On 32 Thoughts: The Podcast, Elliotte Friedman said he was told the two clubs could have a “match,” even if the framework is still fuzzy. 

The Winnipeg Jets are sitting at 22-25-7, while the Detroit Red Wings are 32-18-6 and clearly in a position to shop for upgrades.

Luke Schenn looks like a clean deadline fit

If Detroit wants a safe, playoff-style add, Luke Schenn is an easy guy to connect the dots on. 

He is a right-shot defenseman, he plays a heavy game, and he has two Stanley Cup rings. This season, he has one goal and 6 points, a -9 plus/minus rating, 127 hits, and 50 blocked shots in 40 games. 

There’s also smoke that he would be open to a move to a contender, per David Pagnotta via The Fourth Period. With Detroit’s cap flexibility, they can take on money without blinking, and PuckPedia currently lists them with $33M in cap space and a wild $59M in deadline cap space.

Logan Stanley gives Detroit size, term potential, and a real angle

The other name that keeps coming up is Logan Stanley, and the appeal is obvious if Detroit wants to change the feel of its blue line. 

He’s 6-foot-7, he’s 27, and he has produced 8 goals and 17 points this season, which has smashed his previous career-high in goals. Prior to this season, Stanley had scored just one goal in each of his five NHL seasons. 

This year, he also holds a -3 plus/minus rating, 66 blocked shots, 86 hits, and is averaging 16:35 time on ice per game.

Unlike a pure rental, Stanley’s age makes him the kind of piece you can actually keep around if it clicks, and that matters if Steve Yzerman is looking for a long-term fit with the team, instead of pure rentals.

From Winnipeg’s side, the trade deadline is March 6, and with their season trending in the wrong direction, moving a defense piece to a deep-pocket buyer like Detroit is the kind of move that can kickstart turning a tough year into future assets. 

Photo Credit: Terrence Lee-Imagn Images