Before the Winnipeg Jets moved ahead and traded for veteran center Paul Stastny on Monday, the club's braintrust sought the consul of team captain Blake Wheeler. And before Stastny waived his no-trade clause, he, too, first spoke with Wheeler.
So, it can be argued that Wheeler's biggest assist of the season did not even take place on the ice.
"I was more of a sounding board," offered Wheeler following practice.
However, Jets coach Paul Maurice said Wheeler played a much bigger role than that.
"Having Blake have a relationship with (Stastny) -- and with what we feel about Blake, knowing what he values -- was important," explained Maurice. "(Wheeler) was just very direct, very excited when (Stastny's) name came up. 'This guy will fit, this guy will be great'. That was the most important thing -- you want to being in a guy who's going to be great in the room."
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Wheeler and Stastny played in Munich together during the 2012-13 lockout. Their history also dates back to tournaments played together with Team USA. The relationship between two of the more respected p[layers in the NHL is a solid one. And now Wheeler and Stastny are teammates in Winnipeg.
"When I first heard this was a possibility, I was really excited," Wheeler told reporters. "The type guy he is, the type player he is, I'm really excited. As a friend, I was happy to answer any questions, but I wasn't going to swing it one way or the other."
The 32-year-old Stastny had 12 goals, 28 assists and 40 points in 63 games this season for the Blues, who lost six straight games to plummet out of a playoff spot heading into the NHL's trade deadline.
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In 805 career games, Stastny has 216 goals and 633 points. He also has 35 points in 55 career post-season matches.
"Great faceoff guy; great defensively; he's put up big numbers in his career; just a guy who's a really special player," was Wheeler's scouting report on Stastny.
Added Maurice, "He fits our game, how we try to play, covers a lot of areas -- faceoffs, penalty killing, power play, that has played against other teams' best for an awful lot of years. Plus he's got great on-ice vision and creativity.
"So, we got a guy we can move around and play with a lot of different people. He's a versatile player. He's a very astute player...a student of the game...he understands the game...never cheats the game."
The Jets are now extremely deep down the middle with Mark Scheifele, Bryan Little and Stastny. Though Maurice would not say, speculation centers on Stastny skating in between dynamic wings Patrik Laine and Nikolaj Ehlers.
Winnipeg stands in second place in the Central Division with 83 points, two behind the Nashville Predators. They are also only three points in arrears of the Vegas Golden Knights for the top spot in the Western Conference.
So, does Monday's trade mean the Jets are all-in to win the Stanley Cup this spring?
"We've been all-in, all year, even in training camp you could see the veteran guys were ready to take a step and our young guys were ready, as well," said Wheeler.
Added Ehlers, "The message is (we) want to win it this year. We said that at the start of the year, and getting (Stastny) says exactly the same."