Stastny signing remains priority for Jets, GM says

WINNIPEG -- Signing Paul Stastny remains a priority for the Winnipeg Jets, general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff said Tuesday.
The 32-year-old center finished the season with the Jets after being traded to Winnipeg by the St. Louis Blues on Feb. 26 for a 2018 first-round pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, prospect forward Erik Foley and a conditional fourth-round in the 2020 NHL Draft.

"It's ongoing," Cheveldayoff said of the talks with Stastny, who can sign with the Jets at any time. "Given our cap situation, there's lots of moving parts."
The Jets will be challenged to fit their key players under the $79.5 million NHL salary cap for next season and sign Stastny as well. They have eight players who can become restricted free agents on Sunday, including goalie Connor Hellebuyck, a Vezina Trophy finalist; and defensemen Jacob Trouba and Josh Morrissey, who were second and fifth on the Jets in ice time per game this season.
Forwards Brandon Tanev, Joel Armia, Marko Dano and Adam Lowry and defenseman Tucker Poolman are the others who can become RFAs. Each received a qualifying offer Monday.
Cheveldayoff also has to keep his eye on potential future free agents. Forwards Blake Wheeler, Patrik Laine, Kyle Connor and Andrew Copp, and defenseman Tyler Myers each has one year remaining on his contract and can sign an extension starting July 1. Wheeler and Myers are one year away from becoming unrestricted free agents. Laine, Connor and Copp are one year away from becoming RFAs.

Stastny said after the Jets were eliminated that the idea of returning was attractive, and Cheveldayoff said they have a real chance to keep him.
"I would think that's a fair assessment," Cheveldayoff said. "We had a great exit interview together, and I think that's really my only assessment. Nothing's really changed in that regard other than we found out a cap number now and now it's time to go to work."
The Jets finished this season with 114 points (52-20-10) and reached the Western Conference Final, losing to the Vegas Golden Knights in five games. It was their best season since the 2011 relocation from Atlanta and set up a different kind of offseason in Winnipeg, one that's more focused on contracts and the salary cap than ever before.
"It's pretty exciting to have a group of players that have earned the different things, whether it's Connor Hellebuyck and what he's done. ... it was only a couple of years ago where we were watching him here at development camp," Cheveldayoff said. "It goes on and on, with Kyle Connor and Laine. The majority of our guys have been through today, the start of development camp, and that development process.
"The fact we're standing here talking about having to find ways to make it work in a cap world -- when we came into Winnipeg here with the team, we talked about that, that the day would come. We're obviously excited with the year we had, and now it's about just trying to work the process."