Winnipeg Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff has proved a patient man in his three seasons at the helm of the franchise. In fact, he remains the only GM in the NHL yet to have pulled off a player-for-player trade.
Trades in the NHL are notoriously difficult to enact in the salary cap era, but there are exceptions to every rule, and the thus far-boring Cheveldayoff may find himself with the need and the firepower to broker a deal in the coming weeks.
With defensemen Toby Enstrom, Zach Bogosian and Grant Clitsome all on the mend and expected back within a month or less, combined with the unexpectedly strong play of youngster Ben Chiarot, Cheveldayoff will soon have an overabundance of talent at one position on his roster, which, according to Paul Friesen of the Winnipeg Sun, may set the Jets GM up perfectly to move some of that defensive talent for depth at the forward position.
The team has performed well in Bogosian and Enstrom's absence, moving their season record to 15-10-6. Has it been enough to convince Cheveldayoff that moving one or both players in order to improve an offensive unit that has been suspect thus far this season - the Jets are 24th in goals per game - is the right thing to do?
Chiarot, appearing in the last four games after being called up from The Rock, has logged 20 minutes of ice time and managed a plus-5 rating along with a pair of assists.
With Enstrom, Bogosian and Clitsome soon to reenter the lineup, it leaves Cheveldayoff operating from a position of strength - usually the first step toward a want and/or willingness to make a deal.
Having too many quality players is a good problem - albeit still a problem - to have.
If Cheveldayoff can turn that problem into his own offensive solution, questions about his tentative track record as a general manager will cease, and the Jets may be able to take another step toward changing their status from playoff hopeful to Cup Contender.