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Jets defenseman Logan Stanley has struggled to find playing time this season, so teams have begun contacting him to inquire about his availability, according to Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch.
The 6’6 rearguard was selected with the 18th overall pick in the 2016 draft, but he hasn’t lived up to the hype. Stanley has only made 119 NHL appearances total, only four of which have come in 2023–24 due to his frequent absences due to injury. Stanley is more of a stay-at-home player, with 20 career points, 157 blocks, and 228 hits.
Stanley was not happy with his circumstances from the previous season, as he was only able to make 19 games due to injuries and scratches. The ultimate consequence was a trade request that was reported, even though it was evident that it was not fulfilled. In August of this year, Stanley accepted a one-year contract worth $1 million, which was the amount of his qualifying offer. In July, he will be eligible for salary arbitration and will once again be a restricted free agent, owing the same amount as a qualifier.
Winnipeg presently has eight blueliners on its active roster, with Ville Heinola—ready for an NHL look himself—on injured reserve. Declan Chisholm has finally seen some NHL play in recent weeks. Additionally, Kyle Capobianco, who was a regular on the team the previous season, is at AHL Manitoba. GM Kevin Cheveldayoff may therefore want to consider offloading some excess depth, even though Garrioch notes that Stanley is not being shopped.
Naturally, one may argue that Stanley’s worth has not yet reached its zenith. It’s reasonable to assume that seventh or eighth defenseman would be selling cheaply because they typically don’t bring much of a return on the trade market. Cheveldayoff is recognized for his ability to wait patiently for the perfect move, so that’s not something he usually does.
Given Stanley’s consistent success throughout the years, it’s reasonable to wonder how much more Stanley can provide for Winnipeg. But considering where he was chosen, it’s possible that there are groups that think he could benefit from a change of scenery and that they can help him reach his full potential. In the upcoming weeks, the Jets might receive a strong enough offer to be convinced to let go if there are enough of those. If not, his protracted stay in the press box is probably going to continue.
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