The Winnipeg Jets appear to be turning to the Ottawa Senators for a Stanley Cup push.
The Jets are interested in Senators forwards Matt Duchene, Mark Stone, and Ryan Dzingel, according to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun.
Winnipeg will turn to Dzingel as a contingency plan if it fails to acquire Duchene or Stone, Garrioch added.
The trio are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents on July 1. The Senators reportedly plan to trade Duchene but have re-engaged in extension talks with Stone.
The Jets have the cap space to afford Stone ($7.35M cap hit) or Duchene ($6M) for the remainder of the season but likely wouldn't have the room to sign either to an extension, as Patrik Laine, Kyle Connor, and Jacob Trouba are all set to become restricted free agents at season's end.
Duchene would provide a similar ripple down the lineup that Paul Stastny did a year ago, likely pushing Bryan Little to the third line and Adam Lowry to the fourth, creating exceptional depth down the middle. The dynamic center is in the midst of a career year, racking up 27 goals and 56 points in 49 games.
Stone, a Winnipeg native, is one of the best two-way players in the league. He has 27 goals and 59 points in 58 games but also leads the NHL with 86 takeaways.
Dzingel often gets overlooked compared to Duchene and Stone, but with 22 goals and 43 points in 56 games, he's no slouch offensively.
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