Winnipeg Jets' 'Most Valuable Trade Chip' Named

The Winnipeg Jets unexpectedly find themselves 11 points back of a playoff spot as we head out of the Olympic break this week. It's been one disappointment after another this season for last year's Presidents' Trophy winners.

They will be sellers at the trade deadline. But according to insider Nick Kypreos, what he calls the Jets' "most valuable trade chip", Cole Perfetti, might not even be available on the market.

Perfetti is another two years away from being UFA eligible, so the Jets need to think about his future and decide if he's worth a long-term extension soon. For now, he's not on my (trade) list, but is a name I'm watching closely heading into next week.

Perfetti will be a restricted free agent this summer after finishing up his two-year bridge deal at a $3.25 million AAV.

The former Top 10 pick (#10, 2020 NHL Draft) is having a hugely disappointing season, with just six goals and 18 points in 42 games. His ice time is at its lowest since his 18-game rookie trial five years ago, at just 14:40 average TOI per night.

This all comes off an 18-goal, 50-point season last year that began to show his potential, and a 19-goal season before that. He definitely has big upside, but he's starting to test the Jets' patience.

The question of whether Winnipeg would be ready to move on from Perfetti after this one bad year has been lingering for a while. At the end of January, insider David Pagnotta opined, "I started hearing Cole Perfetti's name out there a little bit, I don't know how much of an appetite the Jets have in moving him, I don't know if they wanna give up on that just yet."

Winnipeg's other in-demand player at the deadline will be towering defenseman Logan Stanley, who's having a breakout year. But his availability, as we shared this week, is also in question.

The Jets and their deadline plans will be an intriguing situation to watch, indeed.