THN.com/podcast. From THN American Pipeline: Previewing the NCAA Playoff Picture and Jets Prospects Mark Scheifele [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MTk3NjM5ODk0ODgzOTAzMjgy/usatsi_20163323.jpg] Mark Scheifele 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 [https://winnipegsun.com/sports/friesen-fudging-fidgeting-and-ultimately-failing-in-the-church-of-winnipeg-jets-gm-kevin-cheveldayoff] 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 [https://winnipegsun.com/sports/hard-decisions-await-winnipeg-jets] wrote Cheveldayoff faces hard decisions regarding those players. If contract extensions aren't possible, Sportsnet's Ken Wiebe [https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/no-pushback-bowness-calls-out-longstanding-issues-after-jets-knocked-out-of-playoffs/] speculated most of them could be moved this summer as part of a “retool-on-the-fly.” Daily Faceoff's Mike McKenna [https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/the-winnipeg-jets-have-a-busy-offseason-ahead] 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 [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/winnipeg-jets/news/well-see-wheeler-hellebuyck-unsure-of-future-in-winnipeg] in being part of a rebuild. Trade rumors frequently linked Dubois to the Montreal Canadiens [https://thehockeynews.com/news/more-talk-of-pierre-luc-dubois-possibly-heading-to-the-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 [https://winnipegsun.com/sports/dubois-not-saying-much-about-future-with-jets-but-would-like-to-have-right-to-choose-where-he-plays].
