Jets and Panthers linked in a potential blockbuster trade

The Rich Bowness effect has completely renewed defenseman Josh Morrissey and centerman Pierre-Luc Dubois. Morrissey has been putting up Norris-worthy numbers with 46 points halfway through the season and is having a career-high season with his highest being 37. Dubois is on pace for 96 points while his previous career high had only been 61.

The Jets firmly sit among the top teams in the Central division, they are five points ahead of the Minnesota Wild who sits 3rd. While the Jets players are performing over their standards, the Jets could consider the idea to pursue a deep cup run and the latest article on the Hockey Writers made a suggestion that'll leave everybody breathless.

The Panthers have hired the former Jets Winnipeg coach and things have gone absolutely sideways as they're setting up what could possibly be one of the worst trades in their history when they traded their unprotected 1st Round Pick in the incoming draft for a rental in Ben Chiarot. As they currently stand 5th in the Atlantic, they've only managed a 0.500 winning percentage and they've been mentioned as a team that will look to shed some contracts in order to start on new bases. One contract they will look to part ways with is Sam Reinhart's.

He can play wing and down the middle, the versatile player has a $6.5M AAV until the end of 2024 and he's proven to be quite the performer when he had a career-high 82 points last year. He's scored at least 20 goals in all but one of the 8 seasons he's completed in the big leagues and already has 12 midway through the season. If the Jets landed him, it would make them a legitimate contender moving forward.

The Jets could be sending the other way one of their d-man prospect, which the Panthers clearly lack. Ville Heinola, Dylan Samberg, and Declan Chisholm were all evoked as a potential return if they were to join with it a pick it would definitely set up something nice for the Panthers and help them recover from the spending woes they had last year.

At this point, it's still unclear whether or not the Panthers are in playoff contention, but the closer we get to the trade deadline we should expect to hear their names as potential sellers. The way things are trending, should the Jets call for Sam Reinhart?

SOURCE: The Hockey Writers