Winnipeg Jets Decline Nashville Predators Trade Offer

The Winnipeg Jets are shopping for a defenseman but general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff isn't ready to overpay. Just ask the Nashville Predators who were discussing a Mattias Ekholm trade with the Jets that came to a quick stop.

The Jets declined to include top defensive prospect Ville Heinola who was the team's first-round pick from the 2019 draft, after they received the draft pick from the New York Rangers in the Jacob Trouba deal. He's appeared in one game for the Jets this season and has been great for the AHL's Manitoba Moose with 10 points in 16 games.

Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet had this to say about the proposed trade between the Jets and Preds:

Another player getting great reviews for his AHL play is Winnipeg’s Ville Heinola. More than one exec’s called him the best player north of the border. Nashville asked about him, but the Jets don’t want to do that. Kevin Cheveldayoff is another GM betting on prices dropping because there are more sellers than buyers.

While Ekholm isn't the only defenseman on the Jets radar he may be the one they have the most interest in. Expect to see the Jets acquire some more depth for their back-end before Monday's trade deadline, Ekholm or not.