When a recent report came out suggesting that the Jets and Trouba were once again far apart in terms of dollars while discussing a new deal, it felt like a flashback to the 2016 offseason, when the then-22-year-old Trouba believed he was worth $6 million before ultimately signing a two-year deal with an annual average value of $3 million. That deal was signed on November 7, just three weeks prior to the December 1 deadline for restricted free agents (RFAs) to decide whether to sign a deal or become ineligible to play the rest of the season.
Things were different this time around. Coming off his second deal, now as a 24-year-old, Trouba was eligible to enter arbitration. Heading into arbitration, Trouba placed his value at $7 million while the Jets placed his value at $4 million. After the arbitration hearing, he was awarded a one-year deal for $5.5 million, which of course means that the Jets will be in the same boat this time next year.
Except it will be worse next year, with Patrik Laine, Kyle Connor, Tyler Myers, and captain Blake Wheeler all in need of their own new deals.
General Manager Kevin Chevaldayoff definitely has his work cut out for him.
But Chevaldayoff can only do so much. While I could sit here and think of ways to keep this team together beyond next season, it seems very unlikely. So rather than focus on the big picture, I think it’s time for Chevaldayoff to flip the switch and focus on short-term success.
Why? Because next season’s version of the Jets stands a good chance of being the best version ever.
Consider this, Jets fans. Your 31-year-old captain, Blake Wheeler, just seems to get better as he ages, putting up a career high of 91 points last year and leading his team all the way to the Conference Finals on an extremely friendly contract that pays him just $5.6 million per year. You also have one of the best young goal-scorers this league has ever seen in Patrik Laine, and he’s still on an entry-level contract. You’ve also got an elite first line centre in Mark Scheifele, who will be making just $6 million a year over the next six seasons.
Some may argue that Laine’s performance in the playoffs has hurt his overall value, but in reality he was a 19-year-old from Finland who had never played an NHL playoff game prior to this season. That means he can only get better the next time around.
Furthermore, you have one of the best group of forwards in the NHL. Alas, the majority of their contracts expire after next season. And you’re going to need to use a majority of your cap space next year to attempt to retain Wheeler, Trouba, and Myers.
Which is a perfect segue to my next point: you have arguably one of the best defensive cores in the NHL heading into next season. But next year, you’re bound to lose a guy or two.
When you put things in perspective, it’s not hard to see why the Jets should go all-in this season. It may be the best line-up the Jets are ever going to have. And while moving a guy like Bryan Little or Matthieu Perrault may be an option to create some cap space next summer, is it really worth compromising what you already have? Because the Jets already have a lot to look forward to long-term. We still haven’t seen the best version of Patrik Laine, and we still don’t know what Jack Roslovic can turn into.
The Jets’ front office needs to think about the present, about holding onto all their roster players and adding a player or two later in the year to help put them over the top—and possibly even win a Stanley Cup.
What could the Jets add to this team?
Priority number one should be finding a better backup than Laurent Brossoit. And with Ondrej Pavelec, Steve Mason, and Kari Lehtonen the only NHL-calibre goalies remaining on the free agent market, there appears to be no other option other than to trade for one.
Another thing the Jets could consider is signing a veteran such as Lee Stempniak or Joel Ward to a cheap one-year deal. This could add greater leadership and playoff pedigree to the locker room, the same way Matt Hendricks did this season.
