Logan Stanley’s Future in Winnipeg Looks Murky as Trade Deadline Looms
As the NHL trade deadline inches closer, the Winnipeg Jets find themselves at a crossroads with a couple of their blueliners-most notably, Logan Stanley. The 27-year-old defenseman is drawing interest across the league, and with no contract talks reportedly on the table, his days in Winnipeg could be numbered.
Stanley, a towering presence at six-foot-seven, has long been seen as a depth piece with upside. But with the Jets looking to retool their roster ahead of next season, his future with the team is anything but certain. According to TSN’s Darren Dreger, there have been no discussions around a contract extension, which only adds fuel to the trade speculation swirling around the former first-round pick.
While Stanley brings size and reach that teams covet on the back end, his trade value is likely modest at this stage. A mid-to-late round draft pick-think fourth or fifth round-seems like a realistic return. That might not sound like much, but considering where Stanley stood in the organizational pecking order earlier this season, even a mid-round asset could be seen as a win for Winnipeg.
For context, defenseman Carson Soucy was moved earlier this season from Vancouver to the Islanders in exchange for a third-round pick. While Soucy has a more established track record, that deal sets a rough benchmark for what a team might pay for a physical, stay-at-home defenseman like Stanley.
The Jets are also fielding calls on veteran Luke Schenn, another pending free agent. But between the two, Stanley looks like the more likely candidate to be moved-or at the very least, not retained when the offseason rolls around.
With Winnipeg aiming to stay competitive in the Western Conference, the front office faces a delicate balance: shuffle the roster to prepare for the future without compromising the team’s current playoff push. Stanley’s situation is a clear example of that tension. He’s a player who still has tools that could be valuable in the right system, but in Winnipeg, the writing may already be on the wall.
As the deadline approaches, keep an eye on Stanley’s name. He may not headline the trade board, but he’s a player who could quietly shift to a new home-and give the Jets a small but meaningful return as they look ahead.