CHICAGO – Adam Pardy has no idea what the future is going to bring.

What the Winnipeg Jets defenceman knows for sure is that this past season has been one of the most – if not the most – trying of his pro career.

Although he was in the lineup for both games on the road trip, Pardy expressed his frustration to The Sun during an interview in Dallas earlier this week.

And that was before the Jets decided to expose him to waivers on Sunday.

“It's tough mentally. Watching the team lose and not being able to do anything about it,” said Pardy, who has been limited to one assist in 14 games for the Jets this season. “Not really being counted on or relied upon to help make a change. That's the toughest part. You just sit there and watch. You're not a part of anything. You're not a part of winning, you're not a part of losing. You're just kind of hanging out and skating every day and that's not an easy thing to do.”

When the Jets were hit by a rash of injuries on the back end last season, Pardy stepped up his game and became a valued member of the penalty kill.

That's one of the reasons Pardy re-signed with the Jets as an unrestricted free agent last season.

But not only did Pardy lose his special-teams duty, he's been mostly relegated to an afterthought – at least until Mark Stuart went down with a hand injury against the Edmonton Oilers.

“It's tough when you're treated this way,” said Pardy, who had eight assists in 55 games last season and suited up in two playoff games against the Anaheim Ducks. “You kind of get the feeling from them that obviously, they don't want me in the lineup. It's pretty clear that way. I thought I was a big part of this team making the playoffs last year, especially late in the season. To kind of have to start over and have that taken away from you, it's tough to handle. There's not really much you can say about it. You just take the situation as it is right now.”

Jets head coach Paul Maurice said earlier this week that a lack of injuries on the back end was one of the big reasons Pardy was relegated to the press box on many nights.

Since this is the time of year that teams are often looking to bolster depth for a playoff run, it's possible that Pardy could be on the move before Monday.

“You look at the standings and we're in a really tough spot,” said Pardy. “(The Jets) have to make some decisions moving forward about what they want to do here. Who they want in the lineup and who they want to count on next year or if they want to move in a different direction with a lot of younger guys. Who knows?

“My thoughts are that I want to play hockey and I want to win in this league. That's the bottom line for me. Whether that's here or somewhere else, that's not my decision. I believe I can still help this team.”

Even if Pardy clears waivers on Monday, there's no guarantee he'll be sent down to the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League.

However, the Jets would have the ability to send him if they choose.

CREASE DECISIONS

Some folks have been wondering if Michael Hutchinson starting three of the past four games represented the opportunity for the Jets to showcase the goalie for a possible deal.

When Connor Hellebuyck was returned to the American Hockey League earlier this month, it was believed to be a temporary move and that the rookie netminder would be back with the Jets after the NHL trade deadline.

With that backdrop, Hutchinson was asked if he been giving much thought to the deadline and about whether he would remain with the Jets.

“No,” Hutchinson said sternly. “You just play hockey and move forward. That's all that you really think about, helping the team win right now.”

Hutchinson is 7-12-1 in 23 games, including 18 starts, while posting a 2.95 goals against average and .906 save percentage.

TROUBA COMPARABLES

There's been plenty of speculation about what it might cost to get pending restricted free agent Jacob Trouba signed to a new deal this summer.

That still figures to be one of the top storylines of the off-season for the Jets, but you have to believe the developments of last week left Jets manager general Cheveldayoff feeling optimistic.

On Friday, the Pittsburgh Penguins signed defenceman Olli Maatta to a six-year deal that carries an average annual value of $4.083 million.

Both Trouba and Maatta are born in 1994 and are first-round picks, Trouba going ninth to the Jets and Maatta going 22nd to the Penguins.

Trouba has 22 goals and 67 points in 191 NHL games while Maatta has 16 goals and 54 points in 152 NHL games.

It's important to remember that Maata is playing alongside Kris Letang on the top pair, while Trouba has spent a good chunk of the season on the third pair - outside of some time playing his off-side with either Dustin Byfuglien or Tyler Myers.

The recent deals signed makes the Dallas Stars investment in defenceman John Klingberg (seven years, $4.25 million) look brilliant.

Klingberg has 52 points in 63 games this season, which leaves him second in the NHL behind reigning Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson.

CONNOR CRUISING

Jets 2015 first-rounder Kyle Connor continues to light up the NCAA as a freshman.

The University of Michigan left-winger extended his consecutive point streak to 19 games on Friday night. Connor (who was chosen 17th overall) now has 26 goals and 50 points in 30 games with the Wolverines and is leading the NCAA scoring derby.

As a point of reference, Buffalo Sabres rookie Jack Eichel had 26 goals and 71 points in 40 games for Boston University as a freshman last season.

HAMONIC LIKELY STAYING PUT

One of the players linked as a potential target for the Jets is New York Islanders defenceman Travis Hamonic of St. Malo.

Earlier this season, it became known that Hamonic had asked the Islanders to be traded closer to home for personal reasons.

However, the Islanders are serious about making a run for the Stanley Cup, so any move involving Hamonic is expected to be put on the back-burner until the off-season and most likely, the 2016 NHL Draft.

Ken.wiebe@sunmedia.ca

Twitter.com/WiebeSunSports