The talk surrounding NHL trade rumors has gone into high gear. The chatter will only amplify leading up to the February 4 roster freeze. As some teams continue to struggle, the talk suggests that major moves could be on the horizon.
One such team is the Winnipeg Jets. Their struggles this season have led to plenty of speculation about major moves looming. Some of the latest NHL rumors have suggested that the Jets could have an interest in Seattle Kraken forward Shane Wright.
Wright’s availability has become public as the former fourth-overall pick apparently could benefit from a change of scenery. While those NHL rumors seem to have gained plenty of traction, the chatter won’t lead to Winnipeg.
According to insider Darren Dreger, the Jets and Kraken have not discussed any trade involving Wright. That situation has effectively shot down any speculation surrounding these NHL trade rumors:
“What I can tell you is that if we’re relating speculation for Seattle and Winnipeg, there’s been no conversation between those two clubs about the potential availability of Shane Wright. Now, maybe that changes down the road.”
It’s interesting to note that Dreger left the door open for a potential trade at some point down the line. Perhaps it could be a matter of both teams becoming desperate enough to make this trade.
The Jets still believe they can turn things around, while the Kraken are pushing for a playoff spot. As such, NHL trade rumors involving the Jets and Kraken may not go away quite so soon.
NHL Trade Rumors Involving Jets Should Only Pick Up
One of the points Dreger made is that the Jets could slide into seller mode if things don’t ultimately turn around. While that would be a massive disappointment for the team, it could lead them to improve their draft position.
At the moment, the Jets are in the number five slot for the 2026 NHL Draft. However, NHL trade rumors may pick up if the Jets are adamant about picking up another first-round draft pick or potentially parlaying their first-rounder into something bigger.
That’s purely hearsay at this point. The club maintains that it’s a contender. So, it wouldn’t make sense to sell unless it was part of something much bigger.
Jets Could Look at Major Deal in Offseason
If the Jets can’t pull off any major deals at the deadline this season, the NHL trade rumors could persist into the offseason. A playoff miss, following a Presidents’ Trophy win last year, could lead to some major moves after this year.
What those moves could be remains unclear. The Jets have a highly talented core, but have lacked the sort of depth scoring needed to remain competitive. Considering the Jets play in the “Death Valley” division, stocking up on talent will be even more crucial next offseason.
That’s why Jets fans should keep an eye on NHL trade rumors involving their hometown club. The moves that don’t happen at the trade deadline this season could become part of the summer chatter.
NHL Trade Rumors: Insider Shoots Down Major Swap Talk