3 contracts the Jets should rid themselves of
For a second straight season it looks as though the Winnipeg Jets will be taking in the postseason from the comfort of their own homes.
The club has fallen six points out of the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference on the back of four straight defeats.
With that, you can count on the Jets to be sellers at the deadline as the team has a number of contracts that they would be better without.
The club already has nearly $6 million in cap space - the fourth-most in the league - and with a few more contracts moved, they could free up a lot more money, cash that could be used to chase pending unrestricted free agents such as Ben Bishop - but that's discussion for another day.
Nevertheless, the deadline gives the Jets the opportunity to deal players that could be looked at as assets for potential playoff teams and set themselves up nicely for some offseason acquisitions.
Toby Enstrom
Toby Enstrom might be one of the few players that miss the days as an Atlanta Thrasher.
That's because it was during his final two years in the Georgia capital that the Jets defenseman put up his most productive seasons in the NHL.
During the 2010 and 2011 seasons Enstrom put up 50 and 51 points respectively, adding up to the fifth-highest point total for a rearguard over those years, behind only Duncan Keith, Lubomir Visnosvky, Nicklas Lidstrom, and Dan Boyle. Not bad company.
Since then his production has dropped significantly. He amassed 16 points last year and is on pace to hit just 20 this time around.
His $5.75-million cap hit is less than ideal and with him owed as much next year as well, the Jets might be forced to eat salary in a potential deal. It's not the scenario the Jets had hoped for, but it could still be a deal worth making regardless.
Mathieu Perreault
If Kevin Cheveldayoff could go back, he probably wouldn't have signed Mathieu Perreault to four-year, $16.5-million extension
Perreault was coming off a third straight 40-plus point season last year and looked to be trending upward, despite a drastic drop in goals scored.
However, after 41 games this season and just four goals and 17 points to his name, things clearly aren't looking good.
To make matters worse, the extension hasn't kicked in yet. It will do so at the conclusion of this season, meaning four years at $4.125 per season is on the books for Winnipeg going forward.
It gets worse.
His new deal includes a modified no-trade clause in which the 29-year-old gives the Jets a list of just five teams that he can be traded too.
Perreault may still have value and could resurrect his career, but with such a limited window in which to make that decision, it could be in the team's best interest to trade him if a worthy adversary presents itself.
Drew Stafford
Such as the Jets did with Drew Stafford when they acquired him during the 2014-15 season, the team should now deal him to a playoff hopeful club.
Stafford is on an expiring contract and after potting 21 goals a season ago, he has just four in 37 games, meaning the club is unlikely to resign him.
With the insertion of Patrik Laine into the lineup on the right side, Stafford has been pushed down the Jets' totem pole. He currently resides on the fourth line and for that is now averaging just 13:31 of ice time per game, the fewest minutes since his rookie campaign.
Stafford could be a great depth option if given a few more minutes of ice time, but with no future aspirations with the Jets, the team would be smart to get whatever they can for him at the deadline.
(Photos courtesy: Action Images)