The Winnipeg Jets are looking to bolster their roster before the Feb. 25 trade deadline and have placed their first-round pick on the market, TSN's Frank Seravalli reports.
Sitting near the top of the standings with about one-third of the season remaining, the Jets' No. 1 priority is to acquire a second-line center who can prove useful in a Stanley Cup run, Seravalli adds.
The Jets have shown recent interest in Kevin Hayes of the New York Rangers, reports Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos. The 6-foot-5 center has recorded 36 points in 42 games this season and carries a $5.175-million cap hit. He's scheduled to become a UFA at the end of the campaign.
Winnipeg needed help at the position one year ago and acquired center Paul Stastny from the St. Louis Blues for a package that centered around its 2018 first-round pick. The deal paid off, as Stastny was instrumental in helping the Jets reach the Western Conference Final, tallying six goals and 15 points in 17 playoff games.
The Toronto Maple Leafs were the first team to move their first-round pick this season, shipping it along with two prospects to the Los Angeles Kings for defenseman Jake Muzzin on Jan. 28.
