And with Connor Hellebuyck, Josh Morrissey, Jacob Trouba, Adam Lowry and others in need of a raise, it just wasn't in the cards. After some long nights and plenty of back and forth over the past week, it was late Saturday when the Stastny camp informed the Jets that they would be moving on.
"The final conversations are always difficult for both sides because you put so much time and energy and emotion into it," Cheveldayoff said. "I haven't had a chance to speak with Paul, but I know it was a very difficult decision for him given the length of time that we talked about things."
Stastny was acquired from the St. Louis Blues at the trade deadline in exchange for prospect Erik Foley and a first-round pick in the 2018 NHL Draft. (A conditional fourth-round pick in 2020 was also included in the February trade, but the conditions were not met and the Jets retained the pick, until it was traded to Montreal in Saturday's deal that sent Steve Mason and Joel Armia to the Habs.)
Stastny, 32, recorded four goals and 13 points in 19 regular-season games, before adding 15 points (6G, 9A) in 17 playoff games.
"We had a great conversation and he expressed his willingness and his desire to - if we could make it work - come back, but when it's all said and done, you guys are going to look at the salary cap and the roster and say, 'How were they going to do this anyway?'" Cheveldayoff said.
"We've got a good group of guys here, but we've got a lot of work to do on our RFAs. That's where things pick up on Jul. 2."
And that isn't all.
Captain Blake Wheeler, who's coming off a career year, is entering the final year of his contract, and 44-goal man Patrik Laine has just one year left on his $925,000 AAV entry level deal. Both players are now eligible to be extended for the 2019-2020 season and beyond, and both are likely to cash in when deals are finalized.
