The Winnipeg Jets are at a crossroads, with several decisions looming that will ultimately determine the future of the franchise. Captain Andrew Ladd? Sure, they want to keep him. But reports recently indicated that the Jets and Ladd's reps struggled to find common ground on a contract and as such, the team has turned their attention elsewhere. Defenseman Dustin Byfuglien is said to be the likely benefactor of the lack of focus on Ladd, but as talented as he is, Big Buff's an older player with a unique skill set. Determining his value will be tricky. Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff has some big choices to make in a rapidly decreasing amount of time. And to hear at least one unnamed NHL GM tell it, it may be Cheveldayoff's indecisiveness that's keeping the trade market so quiet.
"I mean I had one general manager tell me today that the league is somewhat paralyzed - which I think is an exaggeration, but this is how it was described to me - waiting for the Winnipeg Jets to make a decision," Darren Dreger said Wednesday, while appearing on Winnipeg's TSN 1290, per Today's Slap Shot. "Are they going to be able to sign both Byfuglien and Ladd, or is one of those players - speculation persists that it's Andrew Ladd - going to hit the market."
Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman was the first to report that Ladd and the Jets had moved in opposite directions on the contract front. TSN's Gary Lawless added to that last week, suggesting that talks between the two sides had "broken off" and that the team had turned their attention to Byfuglien.
It's interesting then that Dreger would suggest that Cheveldayoff still has not made up his mind on whether to sign or deal these players. They're both talented, both significant pieces of the Winnipeg core, but it's a core that isn't performing particularly well at present. Is the uncertain future part of that malaise? Very possible.
It seems unlikely that the entire NHL is waiting on Cheveldayoff to make determinations on Ladd and Buff's futures, but then again, the league does tend to work in a sort of trickle-down manner. Once a big deal comes and sets the market, other GMs feel comfortable paying a certain price. There's also the fact that plenty of teams are probably targeting Ladd or Buff and waiting on other lesser deals until they get a final answer from Winnipeg.
The future remains cloudy for the Jets and the fans in Winnipeg are likely getting impatient, but as Dreger notes, there's still time for Cheveldayoff to make his decision. Until then, we, and the hockey world, wait.
