Winnipeg Jets need a center, and here are their four best options

The Winnipeg Jets and their 8-0-0 start have cooled off, and they now sit with a meager record of 17-3-0. Pathetic (I’m kidding). 

The Jets set an NHL record when they became the first team in history to win 15 of their first 16 games. And it's not by chance. This is a seriously good team. They have four skaters who are firing at a point-per-game pace, and they have a four-time All-Star in net who is well on his way to becoming a Vezina finalist for the fourth time. But their roster has one weakness that they should look to address before the Trade Deadline passes on March 7th.

It's never too early to look ahead to the trade deadline and the Stanley Cup Playoffs. How will this Jets team stack up against the best teams in the league come postseason? Winnipeg’s forward group has one need: a second line center. Here are four players they should consider trading for who could fit the bill.

Morgan Frost is 25, has 116 points in 245 career games, and has been healthy scratched in three of Philadelphia’s last four games. Frost is a pending Unrestricted Free Agent, and makes 2.1 million. He could probably be had with salary retained for a 2nd round draft pick, or for Vladislav Namestnikov and a late round draft pick.

Mikael Granlund, 32, has found success in San Jose– 84 points through 91 games for the Sharks– but doesn’t fit into their future competitive timeline. Granlund makes five million through 2026, so Winnipeg would have to send some salary back to San Jose– perhaps Alex Iafallo– along with a few draft picks, say a 2nd and a 3rd.

Brock Nelson, 33, has 541 points through 860 career games with the Islanders. He’s a pending Unrestricted Free Agent, so Nelson would be a likely candidate if the Islanders decide to sell at the Trade Deadline. Nelson and his 6 million cap hit could probably be had at 50% retained for a few draft picks and a similarly salaried NHL player, say Iafallo or Nino Niederreiter.

Trevor Zegras, 23, was a finalist for the Calder Trophy given to the NHL Rookie of the Year in 2021-22, but has been on a decline ever since. Because of his age and name value, it’s hard to say what he would go for, but since Anaheim has apparently been shopping him since his sophomore season, it feels like all parties want to wash their hands of this situation; I’d say he’ll fetch a 2nd and Niederreiter or Iafallo. Zegras makes 5.75 million, and will become a Restricted Free Agent in 2027.