In an unexpected move last Thursday Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff may have set the market for the trade deadline, or he may have sold at it's peak. One way or another he seems to have landed a very solid return for UFA forward LW Andrew Ladd. Does that mean he's done?

On paper it would appear so unless there's something we don't know about the team. The only thing that sticks out is having 2 #1 RD on the team and then a solid #2 after. The trio of Byfuglien, Myers and Trouba seems to be the odd depth problem in that it's too much of a good thing.

Is it?

The rumour mill speculates that the Jets may have interest in Nail Yakupov the LW from Edmonton who has never lived up to the hype as a first overall draft pick. Another rumour that I saw yesterday had suggested the Jets were open to trading Trouba (to Edmonton) but had a certain first overall pick coming back the other way. That would be Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.

Let's take a look at those two names for a second.

The Jets were in on and are believed to still be interested in Jonathan Drouin so let's play the game of leverage. Chevy is trying to get some one way, or another. Yakupov would add speed and skill to a vacant left wing position and he would cost significantly less than RNH. However, does courting RNH put some pressure on Steve Yzerman to work on the price for Drouin.

Take a look below.




What Drouin does is bring a much better defensive game but that's based on a much smaller sample size than RNH. It's also does with a far better team but basically let's remember this- Drouin is getting the puck out and getting it to the other end with frequency and effectiveness.

It's going to take more to get RNH and his .71 pts/game than ti should for Drouin but in this case Yzerman also needs a friendly contract or likely has to give a bad one back. The Jets are in the driver's seat because they have the cap space and the assets and don't need any dead weight. It's probably why speculation and rumour has the Jets talking, or at the very least showing interest with the Oilers.

More as it happens.

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