Big Changes Could Be In Store for the Winnipeg Jets

There's been a new round of speculation on what moves the Winnipeg Jets could make in the off-season after the end-of-season press conference.

Winnipeg Jets coach Rick Bowness gave a scathing critique of his players' performance following their first-round elimination by the Vegas Golden Knights. GM Kevin Cheveldayoff subsequently downplayed Bowness' remarks but didn't rule out making some roster changes this summer.

The Jets have declined since reaching the 2018 Western Conference final, winning just one playoff series and missing the post-season last year.

Core players such as center Mark Scheifele, goaltender Connor Hellebuyck and former captain Blake Wheeler are a year away from UFA eligibility. Center Pierre-Luc Dubois is an RFA with arbitration rights who's only a year away from UFA eligibility.

The Winnipeg Sun's Paul Friesen wrote Cheveldayoff faces hard decisions regarding those players. If contract extensions aren't possible, Sportsnet's Ken Wiebe speculated most of them could be moved this summer as part of a “retool-on-the-fly.”

Daily Faceoff's Mike McKenna considers Scheifele the more likely trade candidate. He felt the 30-year-old center has been there too long, and the dressing room needs a shake-up.

McKenna's colleague Frank Seravalli felt a contract extension for Hellebuyck should be a priority. If that's not possible, he wondered if they'd trade the 29-year-old former Vezina Trophy winner. During the Jets' end-of-season press conference, Hellebuyck said he's not interested in being part of a rebuild.

Trade rumors frequently linked Dubois to the Montreal Canadiens this season. The 24-year-old center was dismissive of the speculation during the club's end-of-season press conference. However, he made no secret that having the right as a UFA to choose where he gets to play is important to him.