The Winnipeg Jets came up in Erik Karlsson trade rumors for the past couple years. The team could use a real star to boost their good farm system, and they would be contending while he was still in his prime (spoiler alert, they are and he is).
Also, the Jets had trouble with their own young defenseman, battling Jacob Trouba trade rumors. And would you look at that, Trouba still doesn’t have a long-term deal.
So it made sense to pair the two up, and think, “hey, the Winnipeg Jets have a really good, really young defenseman without a long term deal.