Kevin Cheveldayoff and the Winnipeg Jets refused to stand pat at the 2025 NHL trade deadline.
No, the Jets did not go out and land perennial sniper Mikko Rantanen or trade for Bruins' captain Brad Marchand, but they did bring in two veteran players fitting the mold of what the 2024-25 roster has shown thus far throughout its history-making season.
Unbeknownst to some, Winnipeg is the best team in the league. And it didn't get there by swapping players in and out of its roster over the course of the season.
Generally, the Jets have been healthy this year, allowing the 18-22 regulars to work their way towards strong chemistry over the course of 60-some-odd games through the first three-quarters of the season.
Sure, a first-line goal scorer may have helped in certain situations, but it would have altered the scope of the already productive top-six. Who would be moved? Who would be displaced in order to accommodate a player unknown to the majority of the team. Disrupting proven chemistry was likely not the idea Cheveldayoff and company had in mind entering the deadline.
If a viable option presented itself, the management group would certainly explore that such option.
And that's what happened on Friday.
Options of depth players appeared to be available for the right price, and Chevy took the leap.
As has been the case over the Jets' return to Winnipeg, the team has tended to stick to familiarity, bringing in players from the past, and giving individuals second chances with the team.
Enter Brandon Tanev.
Nope, he does not possess the skillset of Brock Boeser or Brock Nelson, but he owns that familiarity that True North so covets, and knows a significant chunk of the players on the current roster.
His bottom-six role will slot in easily with former linemate Adam Lowry and the remaining bunch of Nino Niederreiter, Mason Appleton, Morgan Barron, Rasmus Kupari, David Gustafsson and Alex Iafallo.
A fan-favourite at Canada Life Centre, 'Rusty' Tanev will bring that energy and excitement that Winnipeg has missed in its playoff lineup over the past few seasons.
On the other side of the spectrum, the Jets also added rugged blueliner Luke Schenn. A well-travelled veteran, Schenn brings physicality, a strong first pass and back-to-back Stanley Cup finals experiences with the Tampa Bay Lightning (to which he won both) to the fold.
Schenn's availability also gives head coach Scott Arniel more options on the back end, which should allow his removal of struggling defencemen from the fold on a nightly basis. Logan Stanley, Colin Miller, Ville Heinola, Haydn Fleury and Dylan Coghlan all remain as possible partners for Schenn on the team's bottom pair, with a revolving door likely to serve as the answer behind the Morrissey-DeMelo and Samberg-Pionk pairings.
Goaltending was never an issue, but a healthy, dependable, strong third goaltender is always something to consider should the unlikely event of two goaltending injuries arise.
So, the move to acquire Winnipeg's own Chris Driedger from Florida in exchange for Kaapo Kahkonen was another move that Chevy opted for. No, he's not Connor Hellebuyck, but should something happen - knock on wood - he gives the Jets another option alongside Eric Comrie in goal.
After years of sitting on his hands over the deadline, Cheveldayoff has recently proven that a depth trade or two can go a long way. Without disrupting the chemistry and bond of the current makeup of the team, his moves on deadline day 2025 were likely what the first-place club needed.
Sure, Colorado and Dallas got better, but at what cost? Will the incoming players actually help put their new clubs over the hump?
Winnipeg has sure looked dominant in its past two games - once of which already included Tanev in its lineup.
For now, it's stick with what has worked, finish the year first in the Central and allow Dallas and Colorado to fight to the death in the first round.
At this point, it's Western Conference Final or bust for the Presidents' Trophy candidate club. With 18 games remaining and a league-best 92 points at the moment, it's in the hands of the players to keep this train on the tracks.