The Jets are atop the league standings, and two players with their original six clubs are currently on the trade block, and Winnipeg could swoop in for them. <a href='https://jetsnation.ca/news/winnipeg-jets-among-several-teams-interested-in-chicago-blackhawks-ryan-donato' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>The Winnipeg Jets are rumored to be pursuing</a> Montreal Canadiens' Jake Evans and Chicago Blackhawks' Ryan Donato in their quest toward the trade deadline. Despite being in the NHL's 4 Nations Face-Off break at the moment, insiders point to the Jets shopping for defensemen and forwards, with Evans and Donato among the options. <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/NHLrumorsX/status/1889731214661062786'> </a></blockquote></div> The Fourth Period reports that one of six teams in line for <a href='https://www.nhl.com/canadiens/player/jake-evans-8478133' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Evans</a> is Winnipeg, a career-best season performer of 11 goals and 27 points in 56 games at age 28. He would not be a candidate to fit in the Jets' top six, but he would be a force in the bottom six. Evans is in his contract's final year at a low salary point and would be a UFA next year. TSN's <a href='https://x.com/PierreVLeBrun' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Pierre LeBrun</a> wrote that Montreal hadn't negotiated a contract extension for Evans. <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/PierreVLeBrun/status/1888669377127444835'> </a></blockquote></div> Sportsnet's <a href='https://x.com/FriedgeHNIC' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Elliotte Friedman</a> added that Montreal is looking to receive a second-round draft pick in return. I think they're very interested in making hockey trades. - Elliotte Friedman <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/NHLTradeAlert/status/1888974204365623345'> </a></blockquote></div> <h3>Chicago would like to trade Donato</h3> <a href='https://bvmsports.com/2025/01/24/blackhawks-trade-rumors-seth-jones-ryan-donato-taylor-hall-updates/' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Chicago is making a push to trade Donato</a>, a utility forward of age 28, having a breakout season of 19 goals and 37 points in 53 games to lead the Blackhawks in goals. As a foil to Evans, he is not a penalty killer, but his offense has been a plus. He's in his contract's final year at $2M and is going to become a free agent in July. The Kings, Leafs, Senators, Devils, and Hurricanes also pursue, along with the Jets. For the Jets, a potential pickup in the middle-six in Donato would be slotted in alongside Nikolaj Ehlers or Adam Lowry. With time of the essence in moving towards the deadline, Winnipeg is looking to deepen its lineup to be in a position to make a deep playoff push.