Is Andrew Ladd's time with the Winnipeg Jets nearing an end?
The team's captain remained on the bench as an extra skater took to the ice in the dying seconds of Monday's loss to the Dallas Stars, and head coach Paul Maurice gave a rather straightforward explanation for the decision:
When asked why Andrew Ladd wasn't on the ice for the extra attacker Paul Maurice bluntly says, "I had the guys I wanted on." #NHLJets
— Sean C. Reynolds (@snseanreynolds) February 3, 2016
Ladd saw 17:07 of ice time on the night, earning a secondary assist on a first-period goal off the stick of Drew Stafford.
Both Ladd and defenseman Dustin Byfuglien are set to become unrestricted free agents at season's end, with their fates seemingly still up in the air. A recent report out of Winnipeg suggested the Jets are leaning toward retaining the latter.
Byfuglien makes it clear after the game that he would like to re-sign in Winnipeg. "You never want to leave home".
— Sara Orlesky (@saraorlesky) February 3, 2016
Byfuglien was deployed a team-high 25 minutes while scoring a goal on five shots. Despite also earning three minor penalties, Maurice clearly trusts him, meaning Ladd may indeed be the odd man out.
