The Winnipeg Jets are trending toward seller status as the 2026 NHL trade deadline approaches, with a faltering offense, a frustrated core, and key pieces drawing interest around the league. The combination of a prolonged slump, a crowded Central Division, and several movable contracts has shifted the conversation in Winnipeg from pushing for a playoff spot to reshaping the roster ahead of March 6.
Winnipeg sits near the bottom of the Western Conference with an 18-22-5 record and 41 points through 45 games, leaving the club outside the playoff picture and facing a steep climb in the second half. The Jets have scored 125 goals this season, ranking in the lower tier of the league in goals per game, and their margin for error has shrunk despite strong stretches from Connor Hellebuyck in previous years.
From a market perspective, sportsbooks view the Jets as long shots in the Stanley Cup race. As of mid-January, Winnipeg’s Stanley Cup futures sit around +2200 at some major operators, slotting them well behind the top contenders. Those odds reflect both their current place in the standings and the expectation that the roster may be weakened, not strengthened, by deadline moves.
That long-shot status ties into broader trends in fan engagement as well. Bettors who already use sports betting apps or even online casinos tend to approach the Jets as a speculative futures play rather than a true favorite. The combination of trade uncertainty and inconsistent performance makes Winnipeg more attractive as a seller’s story than as a sleeper Cup pick.
Hellebuyck’s Slump Highlights Jets’ Slide
Connor Hellebuyck’s struggles have underscored the Jets’ problems over the past month. The veteran goaltender is 11-12-4 with a 2.57 goals-against average, but his .899 save percentage is well below his career average of .917. Tonight’s win vs the New York Islanders snapped a 10-game winless streak that saw last year’s Hart Trophy winner go 0-6-4 with the Jets effectively falling out of contention. The Jets have leaned heavily on him for years, and when he goes winless over a lengthy stretch, their thin offensive support becomes glaring.
Injuries and workload have also played a role. Hellebuyck missed time earlier in the season, and the Jets have not consistently insulated him defensively or on the scoreboard. Winnipeg’s inability to generate secondary scoring has forced tight, low-event games, and once their goaltending dipped from elite to merely average, the losses piled up quickly.
Cheveldayoff Open For Business
Against that backdrop, general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff has signaled a willingness to listen to a wide range of players, not just pending unrestricted free agents. Winnipeg is willing to consider “hockey trades” that bring back players with term and reshape the roster rather than simply stockpiling picks and rentals. With the Jets already drifting out of contention as mid-January hits, rival teams view Winnipeg as one of the most likely Western Conference sellers before the deadline.
The 2026 NHL trade deadline is set for Friday, March 6, at 3 p.m. ET. Leading up to that date, activity typically ramps up in the final two weeks, and the Jets are expected to be in the middle of that action. Their mix of physical defensemen, veteran forwards, and a young center with upside gives Cheveldayoff several paths to pursue.
Nino Niederreiter
Niederreiter stands out as a logical trade piece. The 33-year-old winger carries a $4 million cap hit through next season and does not hold trade protection, which makes him easier to move than many veterans at similar salary slots. His six goals and 17 points in 44 games are underwhelming, but he remains a proven NHL winger with size, experience, and a track record of secondary scoring.
For the Jets, moving Niederreiter would create cap flexibility and open a roster spot for younger forwards. A hockey trade for a player with term or a different profile could help rebalance the lineup. Contending clubs in need of middle-six help and playoff-tested depth could see him as a buy-low target if Winnipeg is willing to retain a small portion of salary or take back money in return.
Logan Stanley
Logan Stanley has built one of the more intriguing trade cases on the Jets’ blue line. The 27-year-old, 6-foot-7 defenseman is in the midst of a career-best offensive season with seven goals and seven assists for 14 points in 44 games, while also piling up 89 penalty minutes. He does not have any trade protection and carries a modest cap hit of $1.25 million as a pending free agent.
Stanley’s size, reach, and willingness to play with an edge give him a distinct profile that could appeal to playoff teams seeking a physical presence on the third pair or as depth. His offensive uptick this season suggests some growth in his puck game, but his value still lies in his frame, physicality, and penalty-killing ability. Winnipeg could leverage that interest and convert him into futures or a younger, more cost-controlled defender.
Luke Schenn
Luke Schenn is another name to watch on the Jets’ blue line. The veteran right-shot defenseman is in the final year of a three-year contract that carries a $2.75 million cap hit and is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. Schenn has one goal and four assists this season and remains known for his physical play, shot blocking, and dressing-room presence more than his point production.
Schenn has already been scratched for notable games this season, which has fueled speculation that he would welcome a move to a contender where he can play a more defined depth role. Winnipeg could retain part of his cap hit to make a trade work under the ceiling for a cap-tight team. Given his playoff experience and reputation as a stabilizing presence, he should draw interest as a third-pair or seventh-defenseman rental.
Brad Lambert
Brad Lambert is the most intriguing non-roster piece in Winnipeg’s potential trade portfolio. The 21-year-old center has appeared in four NHL games this season, registering one goal and averaging just over nine minutes of ice time per night. He has spent most of the year with the AHL’s Manitoba Moose, where he continues to develop but has expressed frustration about his limited NHL opportunities.
Lambert is in the second year of his entry-level contract, which runs through the 2026-27 season, and remains a legitimate prospect with speed and offensive upside down the middle. However, Winnipeg’s current roster and timeline may not align with his desire for a full-time NHL role, and the team has granted his agent permission to seek a trade back in late November.
The organization recently reassigned him to the AHL to make room for returning veterans, a move that could also help showcase him to other teams. A change-of-scenery deal involving Lambert could bring back an NHL-ready young player or a package of future assets.
Jets’ Outlook
With the deadline set for March 6, the Jets have a few weeks to decide how aggressive they want to be, but the direction appears clear. A faltering offense, a frustrated star goaltender, and several tradable contracts have positioned Winnipeg as one of the most likely sellers in the league. Niederreiter, Stanley, Schenn, and Lambert all sit on the watch list, and substantial changes to the Jets’ roster look more like a question of when than if.
