After last night's Jets loss at the hands of the Hurricanes, and with other teams in their division beefing up at the deadline, one NHL analyst is not confident. <a href='https://www.hockeylatest.com/nhl-team/winnipeg-jets/winnipeg-jets-captain-adam-lowry-comments-on-the-team-missing-out-on-big-stars-at-the-deadline' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>The Winnipeg Jets could not pull off the big trade deadline splash</a> that everybody was hoping for, some even demanding. They also couldn't land a much-needed second-line center. <a href='https://www.canescountry.com/2025/3/10/24381910/hurricanes-4-jets-2' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Sunday's 4-2 loss to Carolina</a> only added to the worries. Adding to the uncertainty, Vlad Namestnikov may enter the league's seven-day concussion protocol after being taken out in the third period by a league spotter. <h3>The Jets will likely be without Namestnikov</h3> Head coach Scott Arniel believed Carolina captain Jordan Staal hit Namestnikov in the head. Already without Rasmus Kupari to a concussion, Winnipeg's center depth is now up in the air. Without <a href='https://www.nhl.com/jets/player/vladislav-namestnikov-8476480' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Namestnikov</a>, the Jets might need to turn to Mark Scheifele, Adam Lowry, and less-proven players such as Morgan Barron, David Gustafsson, or maybe even Brad Lambert for Tuesday night's game versus the Rangers. While Dallas and Colorado bolstered their teams on deadline day with Mikko Rantanen and Brock Nelson respectively, they were perceived as the Western Conference understood frontrunners. Yet history also teaches that coming in with the largest-named players does not always mean it leads to playoff championships. Injuries can also completely change the landscape overnight. Optimists would proclaim the Jets have enough strength to stay on top and make a deep run. But games like Sundays make that possibility a little harder to swallow as <a href='https://globalnews.ca/author/kelly-moore/' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>per NHL analyst Kelly Moore.</a> The optimist in me says the Jets have the pieces, and then some, to maintain their hold on first place. Days like Sunday, though, test that belief. - Kelly Moore One certainty? If the Central Division standings don't change over the next five weeks, Dallas or Colorado will be going home early.