The Jets began the off-season by sending Moe Mantha to the Pittsburgh Penguins to complete a trade on March 5, 1984, in which Winnipeg acquired Randy Carlyle for the Jets first round draft pick in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft and future considerations. Mantha, who had been with the team since the 1980-81 season, was coming off a 16-goal and 54 point season with the Jets. The club announced that interim head coach Barry Long would be retained, after he led the Jets to a 25-25-9 record after replacing Tom Watt.