Jets GM expects Laine to have 'one of the best years' of his career

After an offseason full of trade speculation, Winnipeg Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff says he expects star winger Patrik Laine to take his game up another level.

"I assume he's probably going to have one of the best years of his career given the group of players that we have and the professionalism that is there," Cheveldayoff said Tuesday, according to NHL.com's Tim Campbell. "And the maturity level that all players gain year over year over year, I think just helps us move forward."

Laine tallied 28 goals last season and improved his ability as a playmaker with a career-high 35 assists. The 22-year-old was on pace for a personal-best 76 points over a full 82-game season.

The Finnish sniper, who becomes a restricted free agent after 2020-21, has been involved in trade talks all offseason.

Winnipeg re-acquired veteran pivot Paul Stastny, who played with Laine during the final few months of the 2017-18 campaign. Cheveldayoff believes the club boasts one of the deepest forward groups in the league and that Stastny's addition will help enhance Laine's game.

"We think with some of the acquisitions that we've made, obviously adding (Stastny) we think we've got one of the better if not one of the best top-sixes in the NHL," Cheveldayoff said.

"So we're excited about having the ability down the middle with (Mark) Scheifele and Stastny in our top six with the quality of wingers like Patrik and (Blake Wheeler) and Nik Ehlers and Kyle Connor. I think there's lots of different combinations that can be very, very dynamic."

Laine ranks seventh among all skaters with 138 goals and sits third in power-play markers (52) since the Jets selected him second overall at the 2016 NHL Draft.