Winnipeg Jets general manager added forward Brandon Tanev and defenseman Luke Schenn at Friday’s 2025 Trade Deadline.
Who are they and what will they bring to the NHL’s best team that’s hoping to stay in first place and finally get over the first-round playoff hump? Let’s discuss.
Schenn Brings Physicality and Veteran Presence
Schenn, acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins for a 2026 second-round pick and a 2027 fourth-round pick, is one of the NHL’s most experienced defenseman at 35 years old and is well traveled at this stage of his career.
The 6-foot-2, 225 pounder has played 1057-career games and the Jets will be the ninth team of his 17-year NHL career. He was drafted fifth overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft and has played for them (in two different stints,) the Philadelphia Flyers, Los Angeles Kings, Arizona Coyotes, Anaheim Ducks, Vancouver Canucks (in two different stints,) Tampa Bay Lightning, and Nashville Predators.
The Predators traded him to the Penguins on Wednesday evening, but he only belonged to the Pens on paper.
A right-shooter nicknamed “The Eraser” for his punishing hits that can erase opponents from the play, Schenn has one goal and four assists for five points in 61 games for the Predators this season. He has 44 goals and 159 assists for 203 points in his career to go along with a ridiculous 3586 hits and 1586 blocked shots. He is third among all active NHLers in hits.
Along with the knowledge that can only come with playing 1000-plus NHL games — he is now the Jets’ most-experienced and oldest player — Schenn has playoff experience, having suited up for 82-career postseason games between the Flyers, Kings, Lightning, Maple Leafs, and Predators. He is the only player on the Jets’ roster to have hoisted the Stanley Cup, doing so in 2020 and 2021 with the Lightning.
Schenn comes with term, a plus for Cheveldayoff as Winnipeg is not a desirable market for high-profile unrestricted free agents (UFAs.) He is in the second year of a three-year deal that carries a $2.75 million annual cap hit.
Schenn appears destined for a third-pairing role. Many Jets fans were hoping any new blue liner would be one that pushed the gaffe-prone Logan Stanley out of the lineup, but that doesn’t appear likely as Stanley plays the left side.
A Schenn/Stanley pairing could cause some issues as both players are pretty slow. Head coach Scott Arniel would be best to either keep them apart or sit Stanley in favour of Haydn Fleury or Ville Heinola, two quicker players, as Schenn’s partner.
Tanev Brings Tenacity, Familiarity
Tanev, acquired from the Seattle Kraken for a 2027 second-round pick, is a spark-plug pest who does absolutely anything it takes to win. He is exactly the type of player teams want on their bottom six and in the playoffs because he can kill penalties, block shots, and chip in on offense.
The left winger, of course, began his NHL career with the Jets, playing for them for four seasons between 2015-16 and 2018-19 after Cheveldayoff signed him as an undrafted free agent out of Providence College. He became a fan favourite in Winnipeg for his “junkyard-dog” mentality, hustle, tenacity, and willingness to lay his body on the line.
Related: Multi-Talented Tanev Boosting Jets’ Third Line
He put up 24 goals and 27 assists for 51 points in 195 games in his first stint with the Jets before signing with the Penguins in free agency. That’s where he first became famous for his now-yearly wide-eyed headshot.
Now 33, Tanev has spent the past four seasons with the Kraken after being selected by them in the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft. He recorded nine goals and eight assists for 17 points in 60 games for them this season.
In 533-career games between his first stint with the Jets, the Penguins, and Kraken, he has 83 goals and 92 assists for 175 points, a plus-42 rating, 1542 hits, and 511 blocked shots. He is on the final year of a six-year deal he signed with the Penguins in 2019 that carries a $3.5 million cap hit and will be an UFA after this season. Considering Tanev’s familiarity with Winnipeg and his friendship with a number of Jets, it seems there’s potential to re-sign him if the price is right.
“Tanny’s a really hardworking player. He works really hard. He skates really hard. He’s a funny guy in the room. He’s one of the best guys in the room. He’s always a leader of the conversation,” Jets backup goalie Eric Comrie told The Athletic Thursday. “He’s loud and funny and boisterous and I think he just adds a lot to the team dynamic. I remember when he was here, the line they had was unbelievable. A solid, solid checking line. He can score but he can also play great defence and he moves really well.”
Tanev Suits Up Friday; Jets Should Get First Glimpse at Schenn Tuesday
While Tanev and Schenn aren’t the biggest names — and some Jets fans are disappointed Cheveldayoff used only half of his $12 million in cap space and didn’t get anyone to the calibre some of their Central Division rivals did — both players should provide the Jets some depth and utility down the stretch.
With the pre-deadline group proving formidable enough to stay in first all season long, it appears Cheveldayoff took the more-careful road to avoid disrupting the team’s strong chemistry. Whether that was the right approach remains to be seen.
Related: Cheveldayoff Faces Diverging Roads for the Jets’ 2025 Trade Deadline
Tanev, who was in nearby Philadelphia when the trade broke, arrived in time to New Jersey to get into the lineup Friday against the Devils, which ended up being a 6-1 rout for Winnipeg. Skating on the fourth line with Morgan Barron and Alex Iafallo, he had two hits, one blocked shot, and was a plus-1 in 11:28 of ice time. He also got into a big scrum with Paul Cotter in the third period in front of Connor Hellebuyck.
Schenn is expected to join the Jets on Monday after they return to Winnipeg from their four-game road trip and should make his debut on Tuesday against the New York Rangers, the Winnipeg Free Press reports. (From ‘Jets cast out the Devils, Winnipeg Free Press, March 7, 2025.)