I think we should be sellers.
Copp and Dillon for sure at the deadline. More significant moves in the offseason. Build around Connor, PLD, Ehlers, Morrissey, Pionk, Demelo and the younglings.
I don't see how you get back the same value on Dillon as you traded for him. Which makes that a bad trade in the first place. I think the Jets are committed to Dillon, as the only veteran physical defenseman who can play top 4 minutes.
I also don't see the Jets going small on defense, as that leads us back to the areas that Calgary exploited 2 years ago.
I could see the Jets maybe moving Stanley to make way for Heinola. Something like Copp and Stanley for Schneider, but jeez Schneider is a blue chip prospect, that the Rangers didn't want to give up for Eichel. I am not sure they aren't happy to have a right side of Fox, Trouba and Schneider to build off of. That's elite.
So maybe Copp for the Rags 1st is within reach.
I think Stastny gets a 2nd and a B prospect.
Beaulieu should get you a 7th for depth on somebody.
And maybe you keep Stanley, and that added size, and just run 7 d with Heinola. Since the forwards will be thin if you trade Copp and Stats. And Wheeler sits out.
Morrissey-Schmidt
Heinola/Dillon-Pionk
Dillon/Stanley/Heinola-De Melo
Connor-Dubois-Svetchnikov
Ehlers-Perfetti-Scheifele
Harkins-Lowry-Reichel
Vesalainen-Gustafsson
Toninato as the extra
Now that's probably some variation of the 2022-23 roster. Add Wheeler. And bump whoever on the right side.
Maybe Nathan Smith earns a spot.
Berdin replaces Comrie. Though I could see the Jets upgrading here, with more Cap space.
Kovacevic probably earns the 7 d spot. Which makes Stanley somewhat more expendable.
If the Jets sign a free agent, well this year it was Svetchnikov and Nash, last year it was Lewis and Nate Thompson, the year before it was Gabriel Bourque, Letestu, and Bitetto, so I wouldn't expect that to be the big change.
If this team doesn't make moves and loses both Copp and Stastny, I think the lack of draft picks, coupled with desertions, leaves the Jets in a talent poor position going forward.
The time frame for Torgersson, Lucius, Chibrikov and Rashevsky to become impact players is probably at the end of the contracts for Scheifele and Wheeler. Not to mention Hellebuyck.