For better or worse, the Winnipeg Jets continue to be a rare NHL franchise that doesn’t make the playoffs and doesn’t really make many big trades one way or another as the season goes along. Really, the one noteworthy Jets move of the deadline day was a contract extension, as they locked up defenseman Mark Stuart to a four-year, $10.5 million deal.
(That’s a cap hit of $2.625 million through the 2017-18 season.)
Stuart, 29, has nine points and 81 penalty minutes in 50 games in 2013-14. This is his fourth season with the Jets/Atlanta Thrashers.
Jets fans might be getting a little antsy as this is the only recent news beyond Mark Scheifele’s discouraging injury, but Winnipeg will mainly need to hope that its core can fight its way through a crowded West bubble for a much-awaited playoff berth.