When the Winnipeg Jets host the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night, both clubs will feature overhauled rosters following Friday afternoon’s NHL trade deadline.
Winnipeg said goodbye to Logan Stanley and Luke Schenn late Thursday night, and to Tanner Pearson on Friday, as all three were shipped to Buffalo in separate deals. In return, the Jets grabbed draft picks, but more importantly acquired AHL All-Star forward Isak Rosen and defenseman Jacob Bryson.
Rosen, 22, is in the midst of a breakout season with the Sabres’ AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans, recording 25 goals and 43 points in 37 games.
The anticipation, according to Jets coach Scott Arniel, is to have both Rosen and Bryson in the lineup against the Canucks. Josh Morrissey also is expected to make his return to the Jets’ blue line after he was injured early in the Olympics while playing for Team Canada.
Winnipeg is making a hard run at the postseason. They are riding a five-game point streak (3-0-2) coming out of the Olympic break and are just seven points out of a playoff spot in the Western Conference, highlighted by a dominant 4-1 home victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday.
“This is our playoffs,” Arniel said after the win over Tampa Bay. “It started the other day when we got back from the break … we have to play playoff hockey and that’s using everybody, playing a role … different guys stepping up at key times. That’s what it takes.”
For the Canucks, who are last in the NHL standings, distant hope was dashed weeks ago, with the organization beginning to use the word “rebuild.” Vancouver indicated earlier this season that it would be active at the deadline, and since Tuesday the team has sent roster players such as David Kampf, Lukas Reichel, Conor Garland and Tyler Myers to other NHL teams for draft picks.
“It has to happen,” Canucks coach Adam Foote said when asked about the sell-off. “You change the mindset and the leadership group that has been here a long time. You just adjust to it, I think it had to be done … and you move forward.”
Despite all of those concerns, Vancouver still was able to rise above them, outlasting the Blackhawks on the road 6-3 on Friday night, the beginning of a back-to-back set that will continue on Saturday.
“Obviously a tough day for everybody,” Vancouver’s Jake DeBrusk said after the victory Friday. “Losing some friends and guys that have played together for a long time … We knew some things were coming. To come out with an effort like that and get a win always feels good.”
On the injury front for Vancouver, Evander Kane did not play Friday against Chicago due to illness. Pierre-Olivier Joseph, Thatcher Demko, Jonathan Lekkerimaki, Filip Chytil and Derek Forbort remain on injured reserve.
For the Jets, Nino Niederreiter and Neal Pionk are out week-to-week, while Vladislav Namestnikov is expected to be out for some time with an undisclosed issue.
