2025–26 Winnipeg Jets Outlook: The Clock Is Ticking

2024-25 Season

The Presidents' Trophy winners finished with 116 points and a +86 goal differential, top of the league. The Jets' powerplay ranked number one (28.9%), and their penalty kill ranked 13th (79.4%). 

For their 5-on-5 possession metrics, the Jets were 14th in Corsi (50.11%), eighth in expected goals share (52%), and first in actual goals share (59%). The Jets also had the highest team save percentage in the league with .934. Their shooting percentage ranked 16th at 9.14%. 

Connor Hellebuyck won the Vezina Trophy with a .925 SV% and a 2.00 goals against average. Kyle Connor finished seventh in points with 97 and eighth in goals with 41. Mark Scheifeli ranked ninth in goals with 39. Dylan Samberg established himself as a solid top-four defenseman, and Cole Perfetti seems to be a top-six winger after finishing the season with 50 points at 23 years old. 

For as great as the Jets were in the regular season, the playoffs proved to be a struggle for them. Hellebuyck didn't look like his Vezina self at times, but that was also due to their inability to defend the net-front. The St. Louis Blues took them to seven games in the first round, and the Dallas Stars to six games in the second round. 

Offseason Moves

Star winger Nikolaj Ehlers elected to test the free agency market and liked what he saw in the Carolina Hurricanes. Mason Appleton and Brandon Tanev are both out, but with the Jets' depth, this isn't an issue. Third-line center Adam Lowry underwent hip surgery and is expected to return sometime in October or November. 

Gabriel Vilardi signed a new contract (six years at $7.5mil) and avoided arbitration. Samberg is still without a new contract and has filed for arbitration. 

The Jets signed winger Gustav Nyquist and Tanner Pearson for their bottom six. Jonathan Toews was signed, and it's questionable how he'll adapt to the NHL after such a long break.

Unfinished Puzzle

Hellebuyck and Scheifeli are 32. Josh Morrissey is 30. Three cornerstone pieces that are aging and have to be replaced. Both Lowry and Connor will be pending UFAs this season as well. Two of their best players. Dylan Samberg, Gabriel Vilardi, and Cole Perfetti are all excellent players who are just entering their prime. 

The Jets don't have any forward prospects who are expected to debut. 20-year-old Brayden Yager will probably see the AHL first, and Brad Lambert scored seven goals and 35 points in 61 games with the Manitoba Moose. Needless to say, there aren't any prospects set to replace the Jets' best forwards.

The Jets could look to acquire a player via trade, but at what cost, and who? They're still in need of a 2C. There aren't any free agents who can fill that need. Could they try to acquire Marco Rossi as Murat Ates of The Athletic suggests? Rossi wants a hefty contract from the Minnesota Wild, but it doesn't appear that the Wild are willing to pay what he wants.

On defense, they have an impressive top-four. But they struggled at the net-front in the playoffs. Josh Morrissey and Dylan DeMelo are an excellent top pair, and Samberg and Nick Pionk make a great second pair. And of course, Connor Hellebuyck must be at his best in the playoffs. 

What's On Tap Next?

The urgency for the Jets to find a piece to push them to the Stanley Cup is here. The Jets haven't been past the second round since 2018. They have the best goaltender in the world, a decent blueline, and a great 1C. But questions surrounding their 2C and closing window make the next move pivotal. 

Projected Lineup (via Daily FaceOff)

Connor-Scheifeli-Vilardi
Perfetti-Toews-Nyquist
Niederreiter-Namestnikov-Iafallo
Pearson-Kupari-Koepke

Morrissey-DeMelo
Samberg-Pionk
Stanley-Schenn