The Winnipeg Jets have drawn a line in the sand regarding Brad Lambert. Despite reports from The Athletic’s Murat Ates indicating the 21-year-old forward has requested a trade, General Manager Kevin Cheveldayoff isn’t blinking. If you were expecting a quick flip to appease a frustrated prospect, think again.
Here is the reality of the situation: The Jets hold absolute leverage. Lambert is waiver-exempt until next season, meaning Winnipeg is under zero pressure to move him for pennies on the dollar. Cheveldayoff has made it clear that he will not comply to a trade request unless it undeniably benefits the Jets’ roster right now.
Analyzing Cheveldayoff’s Deadline Strategy
In my opinion, this is classic Cheveldayoff. He is patient to a fault, but in this scenario, it is the only play. Lambert represents one of the organization’s most valuable trade chips. You don’t waste that on a lateral move just because a player is unhappy.
The speculation suggests Lambert could be the sweetener in a massive package at the NHL Trade Deadline to land a bona fide impact player. This changes the dynamic entirely. We aren’t looking at a “prospect for prospect” swap; we are looking at Lambert being the key to a deep playoff run.
While teams like the Montreal Canadiens and Philadelphia Flyers are theoretically good fits for a young reclamation project, they rarely trade “impact players” away. They want draft picks. That makes the Calgary Flames or Vancouver Canucks much more logical partners. Both Western Canadian rivals are likely to be sellers, and if the Jets are buying, Lambert is the premium currency they might finally be willing to spend.
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The post Is Brad Lambert Done in Winnipeg? The Truth Behind the Trade Request appeared first on NHL Trade Rumors.
