Jets at a Crossroads: Time to Sell, Build, and Look Ahead
“Do something!” a fan shouted from the stands at Canada Life Centre last Saturday, cutting through the third-period silence as the Jets trailed the Red Wings 3-1.
It was a moment that captured the mood across Winnipeg - frustration, confusion, and a growing sense that this season has slipped away. By the final horn, the Jets had surrendered two more goals and dropped the game 5-1 to a surging Detroit team.
For a franchise that lifted the Presidents' Trophy not long ago, the fall has been jarring. Now, with the Olympic break on the horizon and the playoffs looking more like a pipe dream than a possibility, the question isn’t if change is needed - it’s what kind.
And that brings us to Kevin Cheveldayoff. The longtime general manager - known around the league as "Chevy" - has a decision to make.
The trade deadline is fast approaching on March 6, and the Jets are staring down a harsh reality: they’re not going anywhere this season. According to TSN’s Darren Dreger, the front office is still “focused on winning,” but with just a few games left before the break and the team sitting well outside the playoff picture, that focus might need to shift - fast.
After Tuesday’s 4-3 win over the Devils, MoneyPuck gave the Jets just a 6.7% chance of making the postseason. That’s not a hill to climb - that’s a mountain.
And even if Winnipeg somehow went on a heater and snuck in, they’d likely draw the Colorado Avalanche in the first round. The Avs, with only seven regulation losses in 51 games, are a juggernaut.
The Jets might not fear them, but let’s be honest - that’s a brutal matchup for a team that’s struggled to find consistency all year.
So what’s the smart play here? It’s time to sell.
That might sound harsh, especially for a team that looked like a contender not long ago. But the standings don’t lie.
The Jets are closer to a lottery pick than a playoff berth, and with high-end prospects like Gavin McKenna, Ivar Stenberg, and Keaton Verhoeff projected near the top of the 2026 draft, this is the kind of opportunity that can reshape a franchise. Finishing just outside the playoffs and missing out on that kind of talent?
That’s the worst-case scenario.
The blueprint should be clear: move veteran pieces, create space for young talent, and stockpile draft capital. That doesn’t mean a full teardown, but it does mean being realistic about where this team is and where it needs to go.
Logan Stanley, Jonathan Toews, and Cole Perfetti are names that could draw interest from contenders looking to bolster their depth. Others like Luke Schenn, Gus Nyquist, and Vlad Namestnikov could be valuable add-ons in those deals or fetch mid-to-late round picks on their own.
And then there’s the youth movement. Elias Salomonsson should be in the lineup every night from here on out.
The 20-year-old defenseman has the kind of upside that makes you think long-term, and the best way to accelerate his development is by giving him NHL minutes. Same goes for Danny Zhilkin, who’s been a fixture in the press box, and Isaak Phillips, who’s bounced between the Jets and Moose due to injuries on the back end.
These are the guys who need to play. Whether they help the team win a few games down the stretch or simply showcase their value for future trades, the benefits are clear.
This isn’t about waving the white flag - it’s about being strategic. The Jets aren’t going to fix this overnight, but they can start building the foundation for next season right now. That means giving young players a runway, making smart moves at the deadline, and maximizing every asset they’ve got.
The fans are restless. The building is quiet.
The playoffs are slipping away. It’s time for Chevy to act - not with desperation, but with purpose.
The sales should start now.