Jets GM Praised For Savvy Moves turning Winnipeg into a Contender

When most people think of contenders out West, they look to the likes of Dallas, Colorado and Vegas, but one team that no one saw coming was the Winnipeg Jets, who find themselves within striking distance of the top of the conference.

Winnipeg Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff deserves plenty of credit

This past summer, the Jets moved on from veteran Blake Wheeler and moved Pierre-Luc Dubois, but it's other moves that led to this that Cheveldayoff is receiving plenty of praise for.


Last year, two moves that the team made have paid off big time, with Nino Niederreiter and Vlad Namestnikov both being brought in for cheap, and now being inked to deals worth a combined $6 million, contributing a combined 35 points this season.

Then there was the trade of PLD, which netted the team two fantastic contributors in Gabe Vilardi and Alex Iafallo, while also allowing young prospect Cole Perfetti to take his place in the starting lineup for good.

Winnipeg Jets becoming a serious contender in the West

Now, with some extra assets and cap space to work with, this team has gone from an intriguing young team to a genuine contender, allowing them to potentially add another piece or two for a Stanley Cup run.

Beyond all this, the team also netted Connor Hellebuyck and Mark Scheiefele to contract extensions, and while things may not always be this great for Winnipeg, the team have a General Manager they can be confident in and a talented young team with plenty of assets.

There's still plenty of time left to go in the 2023-24 season, but if the Jets can remain in contention and make a playoff push, there's no doubting that all of these moves and potentially more to come could lead Cheveldayoff to the prestigious General Manager of the Year award.

As Read on Winnipeg Free Press - Savvy Chevy proves he's among best in the business