The Winnipeg Jets have identified a possible new trade target. Coming off a successful 52-win, 110-point season, the Jets finished second in the Central Division but suffered an early playoff exit, leaving them with a need to strengthen their roster for the upcoming 2024-2025 season.
With center Sean Monahan moving on in free agency, the Jets lack a reliable second-line centerman. While they have promising internal candidates like Cole Perfetti and Brad Lambert, the team may also seek to enhance their forward lineup through trades.
In a recent piece by Ken Wiebe from the Winnipeg Free Press, he mentioned veteran Nazem Kadri as a potential option. Currently with the Calgary Flames, Kadri, a former first-round pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs and a Stanley Cup champion with the Colorado Avalanche, is known for being one of the top two-way centers in the NHL. He boasts two seasons with 30 goals and four with 20, and he just completed a 75-point season in 2023-2024. Wiebe outlined several reasons why Kadri could be a fitting choice for the Jets.
“One name that could make a lot of sense,” Wiebe remarked, “but is likely more suited for near the trade deadline or as a proactive measure similar to Monahan, is Nazem Kadri. He’s entering the third year of his seven-year, $ 49 million contract with the Calgary Flames, making him a viable long-term solution rather than the typical short-term trades for centers. The Jets had previously shown interest in him before he was traded from the Maple Leafs to the Avalanche.”
Wiebe’s argument is persuasive; adding another center behind Mark Scheifele could help the Jets replicate their previous success. Although Kadri poses some risk given his age and contract, he would undeniably bolster the Jets’ depth as they aim to be competitive again.
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