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Ville Heinola, a defenseman for the Winnipeg Jets, wasn’t traded at the 2025 NHL trade deadline (March 7, 2025) likely due to a combination of team strategy, roster dynamics, and his specific situation within the organization. Here’s why:
The Winnipeg Jets entered the 2025 trade deadline with an exceptional 2024-25 season record, sitting atop the NHL standings with a 42-15-3 mark by late February, as noted by analysts. General Manager Kevin Cheveldayoff faced a pivotal decision: bolster the roster for a Stanley Cup push or maintain the team’s strong chemistry. Heinola, a 24-year-old former first-round pick (20th overall in 2019), has long been viewed as a high-potential prospect but has struggled to secure a consistent NHL role, partly due to injuries and a crowded defensive corps. Despite his impressive AHL performance—23 points in 28 games during the 2024-25 season—he remained on the periphery of the Jets’ lineup, often overshadowed by established players like Josh Morrissey, Neal Pionk, and Dylan DeMelo.
Cheveldayoff’s approach at the deadline leaned toward targeted additions rather than major shakeups. The Jets acquired forward Brandon Tanev from the Seattle Kraken and defenseman Luke Schenn from the Pittsburgh Penguins, moves aimed at adding depth and playoff experience without disrupting the team’s cohesion. Trading Heinola, their top defensive prospect, might have been considered, but several factors likely kept him in Winnipeg. First, his trade value could have been depressed by his injury history (e.g., a fractured ankle in the 2024 preseason sidelined him for 40 games) and limited NHL experience (just 35 games across five seasons). Teams may have hesitated to offer a significant return for a player yet to prove himself at the NHL level consistently.
Second, the Jets’ defensive logjam—nine players vying for six spots after injuries healed—didn’t force a trade. While Logan Stanley, another depth defenseman, was a logical trade candidate due to past trade requests and inconsistent play, Heinola’s youth and upside made him a less expendable asset. Coach Scott Arniel’s staff didn’t view Heinola (or others like Haydn Fleury or Colin Miller) as the immediate solution to push Stanley out, but they also didn’t see the need to offload him for a marginal return. The Jets’ strong culture and chemistry, built under Arniel and captain Adam Lowry, favored keeping a known quantity like Heinola over risking a trade that might not yield an impactful upgrade.
Finally, Cheveldayoff’s history suggests a reluctance to part with future assets unless the return aligns with long-term goals. Past deadline moves—like acquiring Paul Stastny or Sean Monahan—show he prefers adding proven pieces over trading unproven prospects unless the deal is overwhelmingly favorable. With no blockbuster offer for Heinola materializing, and the Jets focused on a Cup run, they opted to retain him, possibly as a future asset or insurance for their playoff roster. Thus, Heinola stayed put, a reflection of Winnipeg’s confidence in their current group and a cautious approach to their prospect pipeline.
