The Winnipeg Jets season hasn't played out the way they would have liked. Looking like a competitive team coming out of pre-season, they have floundered in the rigours of the Western Conference. Battling in debatably the hardest division in hockey, the Central Division houses teams like the Dallas Stars, Chicago Blackhawks, St.Louis Blues, and the Nashville Predators. Three of the top five teams in the NHL are from the Central.

With their position in the standings and no improvement on the horizon, they look to be sellers at the deadline. Unrestricted free agents, UFA's, will more than likely be dealt and there captain could be subject to roster trimming. With the Jets just signing Dustin Byflugien to a five year extension the writing appears to be on the wall for Andrew Ladd.

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Quoted as saying he wants to sign long-term with the Jets, Ladd may not have that option. With many key pieces needing new contracts, not everyone can stay.

News surfaced in late January that the team had broke off contract talks as they were taking "a real run" at signing their towering defenseman, Byflugien.

Andrew, being an 11-year NHL veteran knows all about these situations. He knows the NHL is a business and has been involved in trades before. Traded from the Carolina Hurricanes to the Chicago Blackhawks in the middle of his third NHL season. He was sent from Chicago to the Atlanta Thrashers, now Winnipeg Jets, in the summer of 2010 later being named the team's captain the very next year.

"Anybody in this situation, the easiest thing to have happen is to get something done and understand where you’re going to be, for you and your family. That's ideal," he said. "That's not how it happens every year. Like I said, I’m not the only one going through this process, a lot of guys around the league do it year to year. I know there are guys on one-year deals that have this happen every single year."

There is no doubt Ladd will garner trade interest. Consistently a 20 goal scorer and a big winger with size. He also has the experience as an NHL and has a resume holding two Stanley Cup victories. One with Carolina in 2006 and another with Chicago in 2010.

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Ladd, when asked if he thinks he'll end the season with another club said "It's hard for me to see that, but I've also been around long enough to realize that anything can happen and things change quickly. You never know."

Andrew is a former fourth overall pick of the Carolina Hurricanes in 2004 and could be a big asset to any playoff bound team. A good presence in the locker room and a good mentor to young players coming through the system. All eyes will be on Ladd as the NHL trade deadline draws closer.