'A huge void': Winnipeg Jets players, coach react to Andrew Ladd trade

Mentor. Skilled player. Consummate professional. Leader. Gentleman.Friend.

The words used by the Winnipeg Jets to describe AndrewLaddin the wake of his trade to Chicago werevaried but all meanthe samething: The team hassaid good-bye to a good man.

RAW: Blake Wheeler on Andrew Ladd trade (courtesy: JETSTV)

9 years ago

Duration 1:35

Winnipeg Jet Blake Wheeler talks about Andrew Ladd's trade to the Chicago Blackhawks"It leaves a huge void in our room, in our lineup, in a lot of different ways," said Blake Wheeler, who counted Ladd as one of his closest friends.

"He's meant a lot to me on the ice, he's meant a lot to me as a guy somebody I could look up to and learn a lot from.He's such a pro. I looked up to him a lot with what it took to get my game to the next level, to be a leader. I owe a lot to Laddie."

Asked if he was happy for Ladd and the opportunity he has, Wheeler was blunt. And honest.

"Hell, no," he said.

"I'm gonna miss him so it's tough to swallow. Selfishly, I still wish he was sitting right next to me."

The Jets traded their captain to theBlackhawksin a multi-player deal on Thursday, with forward Matt Fraser and defenceman JayHarrison also going to Chicago.

In return, Winnipeg gets forwardMarkoDano, theBlackhawks' first-round pick in the 2016NHL draft and a conditional pick in 2018.

The conditional pick isdependent on Chicago winning the Stanley Cup this year, said JetsGM KevinCheveldayoff.If they do, Winnipeg gets a third-round pick in the 2018 draft, but if the Hawks don't win the Cup this season, the pick is null and void.

RAW: Mark Scheifele on Andrew Ladd trade (courtesy: JETSTV)

9 years ago

Duration 1:02

Winnipeg Jet Mark Scheifele talks about Andrew Ladd's trade to the Chicago BlackhawksMark Scheifele'svoice cracked more than once as he talked about Ladd being a major influence on his career.

"It's tough.He was a pretty big role model for me, helped me with just about anything you could ask," Scheifele said. "He was always there for me. It was an honour to play with him.

"He was awesome. He was one of the best guys I ever met, so obviously it's sad to see him go."

The same warmsentiments came from tough guy Chris Thorburn.

RAW: Chris Thorburn on Andrew Ladd trade (courtesy: JETSTV)

9 years ago

Duration 0:29

Winnipeg Jet Chris Thorburn talks about Andrew Ladd's trade to the Chicago Blackhawks"He's a guy that's a great person, a great player, but most importantly, he's a great friend not just to me but to everyone here," he said about Ladd.

"He's very approachable for a guy that's had so much success throughout his career. A first-year guy could go up to him and he could have a conversation with him, and he [Ladd] could help him out.

"He left a lot of good things behind,a lot of good qualities that we can learn from. We just wish him luck."

RAW: Paul Maurice on Andrew Ladd trade (courtesy: JETSTV)

9 years ago

Duration 1:09

Winnipeg Jets Head Coach Paul Maurice talks about Andrew Ladd's trade to the Chicago BlackhawksHead coach Paul Maurice said Ladd was incredibly professional as the face of the franchise and while dealing with tough questionswhen the team was struggling.

Ladd learned about the trade shortlybefore the Jets faced off against the Dallas Stars on Thursday, and it was a tough moment in the locker room, Maurice said, adding there wasa lot of emotion.

"We didn't try to rush him out of the room and get the guys to focus solely on the game. He's been here too long, he meant too much, the friendships are too strong," he said.

"They got a chance to say some words to him, and that was really good."

From being the first player to arrivein Winnipeg when the Atlanta Thrashers franchise was being moved and renamed as the Jets in 2011, to mentoring young players, tothe handshakes and hugs on the way out the door on Thursday, Laddwas "just a fine, fine gentleman," said Maurice.

"He was a hell of a captain for us."

RAW: Kevin Cheveldayoff on Andrew Ladd trade (courtesy: JETSTV)

9 years ago

Duration 0:43

Winnipeg Jets General Manager Kevin Cheveldayoff talks about Andrew Ladd's trade to the Chicago BlackhawksCheveldayoff said the trade was made due to the "economic realities and uncertainties of the National Hockey League and the [salary] cap system."

In other words, there are only so many big contracts a team can maintain.

"It was a decision we didn't take lightly [and] we, as an organization, can't thank Andrew enough for what he's done and how he's handled himself,"Cheveldayoff said.

It's too early to say whether another captain will be named this year for the team, he said, adding he still has to meet with Maurice and discuss that.

"You don't just simply replace your captain," butas the other players forge ahead and work hard, "other leaders will emerge," he said.

As for Dano,Cheveldayoff said the centremanwill meet the team in Pittsburgh, where the Jets playon Saturday, but he didn't say whether Dano would play.

Danoplayed for the Springfield Falcons, Chicago's AHL farm team, last year. He put up 19 points in 39 games(11 goals and eight assists) inthe 2014-15 season.

In 2015-16,Dano pocketed four goals and 19 assists in 34 gameswith the Rockford IceHogs.

Cheveldayoffalso wouldn'tsay whether the team wasdone with trades before Monday's leaguedeadline.

Once the game inPittsburgh is done, "we'll look at the different options that may present themselves and we'll take a look at anything that we can to continue to push this organization forward," he said.