Canucks Star Emerges as Potential Trade Target for the Winnipeg Jets

The Jets are in full buyer mode right now, and the Vancouver Canucks are kind of in limbo, which has led to one of their stars being linked to Winnipeg.

The Winnipeg Jets are looking to bolster their forward group ahead of the March 7 trade deadline.

With just over a month to go, they've positioned themselves as buyers, leading the race for the President's Trophy by two points over the Washington Capitals and holding an eight-point cushion atop the Pacific Division and Western Conference.

Even with the great season, the Jets still need work in some areas. Their head coach, Scott Arniel, has rotated several players, including Haydn Fleury, Logan Stanley, Colin Miller, Ville Heinola, and Dylan Coghlan, on the third defense pairing without getting an ideal fit.

While the D is still in focus, perhaps the biggest need to upgrade for this team is that second line.

A fully healthy Jets second line features Nikolaj Ehlers, Cole Perfetti, and Vladislav Namestnikov. Perfetti, to be expected for a young player, has struggled to be consistent.

That means Ehlers has to shoulder a lot of the burden offensively, whereas Namestnikov, as valued as he may be, was probably best deployed in a bottom-six capacity in the first place.

Brock Boeser linked to the Jets per The Athletic

Two trade targets are off the board already in J.T. Miller and Mikael Granlund, and the Jets are back to square one. One player who would be a good fit, although not a center, is Brock Boeser, per The Athletic.

His goal-scoring prowess, combined with Ehlers' playmaking skills, could provide a big boost. A year removed from a 40-goal season, Boeser would take some pressure off Perfetti and Namestnikov.

Names like Elias Pettersson and Mathew Barzal have been thrown around as part of a trade too, but would require a massive trade package overall.

If the Jets are willing to gamble on a big move, either player could be a game-changer, albeit with some risk.

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