The Winnipeg Jets are shaping up to be one of the more active teams ahead of the NHL trade deadline, and it looks like one move could be on the horizon sooner than expected.
At the center of the chatter is veteran defenseman Luke Schenn. The 36-year-old blueliner is on an expiring contract and has reportedly drawn interest from playoff contenders, including the Toronto Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers-two teams looking to bolster their depth and add some playoff-tested grit to the back end.
Schenn hasn’t been a major fixture in Winnipeg’s rotation this season, averaging just under 14 minutes of ice time per game. That’s not a knock on his ability as much as it is a reflection of the Jets’ deep defensive corps.
With younger and more mobile options ahead of him on the depth chart, Schenn has found himself in more of a supporting role. But that’s exactly the kind of role he’s carved out a niche in over the past few seasons-and one that still holds value for teams gearing up for a long postseason run.
What Schenn brings to the table is no secret: experience, physicality, and a no-nonsense approach in the defensive zone. He’s not flashy, and he won’t light up the scoresheet, but come playoff time, having a steady hand on the third pairing or as a seventh defenseman can make all the difference. And with the trade market for depth defensemen heating up-especially after Rasmus Andersson was moved to Vegas-Schenn’s name is climbing the list of available, reliable options.
TSN insider Chris Johnston confirmed that interest in Schenn is very real, noting that Winnipeg appears open to moving him. “They have a lot of defensemen, and it’s pretty clear that Luke Schenn is one of the pieces they’re dangling,” Johnston said. “He’s another player I could see dealt relatively near term.”
Schenn’s journey over the past year has been a winding one. Last season, he started with the Nashville Predators before being traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in a package deal that included forward Tommy Novak and brought Michael Bunting and a fourth-round pick back to Nashville. Not long after, the Jets acquired Schenn in March, giving up a second- and fourth-round pick to bring him in as part of their playoff push.
Now, less than a year later, Winnipeg could be looking to flip him again-this time with the goal of recouping a mid-round draft pick, possibly a fourth-rounder. Toronto, in particular, makes sense as a landing spot.
The Leafs have been hit with injuries on the blue line and know Schenn well from his previous stint with the team. His familiarity with the organization and ability to step into a depth role without much ramp-up time make him a logical target.
For Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff, the decision is straightforward on paper: move an expiring asset and get something in return rather than risk losing Schenn for nothing in free agency. But it’s also a balancing act.
Winnipeg is still in the playoff hunt, and depth on defense is a luxury that can quickly become a necessity down the stretch. If the right offer comes along, though, it’s hard to imagine the Jets passing it up.
Schenn may not be the headline-grabbing name of this year’s trade deadline, but make no mistake-he’s the kind of player who could quietly make a big impact for a contender. And with the deadline approaching, it looks like his time in Winnipeg could be coming to a close.