Jets Reportedly Won’t Trade Scheifele Until One Condition Met

The Winnipeg Jets have been facing significant speculation regarding the contract extensions of key players Connor Hellebuyck and Mark Scheifele as they enter the final year of their contracts. NHL insider Elliotte Friedman shared insights on the situation during the latest 32 Thoughts podcast and he offered up an interesting bit of information in relation to a potential Mark Scheifele trade.

While there has been more clarity regarding Hellebuyck’s willingness to engage in contract discussions with the Jets’ management and listen to their long-term plans, the status of Scheifele’s contract remains less clear. The organization is concerned about trading a center like Scheifele, which would leave them thin down the middle. Centers are highly valued in the NHL, and the Jets have relied on players like Pierre-Luc Dubois and Scheifele in that role.

Specifically, Friedman noted that he didn’t know exactly where things sat with the Jets and Scheifele, but he said the one thing he does know is that the organization was hoping Pierre-Luc Dubois and Scheifele would be their centers of the future. He noted, “I have heard that they’ve kind of indicated if they go from Dubois and Scheifele to no Dubois and Scheifele, they’d better make sure if they’re making that trade they get a replacement.”