5 Jets Storylines to Watch in October

This “Viggo-mania” reflects fan hope that the Jets’ long search for a permanent second-line centre solution is finally over, but also the elite skillset he’s shown over the past few seasons at the World Juniors and in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL).

If nothing else, Bjorck choosing to opt out of the second year of his Swedish Hockey League (SHL) contract with Djurgardens IF to come to Winnipeg makes it clear he’s not scared of taking on a new challenge. He was considered one of the more NHL-ready players in the draft due to playing all of last season in the professional SHL.

The Jets haven’t had a draft pick immediately ready for the NHL since Patrik Laine in 2016, and if Bjorck can be the next one, the Jets will have a much better chance of rebounding from their disappointing 2025-26 and competing in a tough-as-ever Central Division.

Skinner’s Starter Era

With Connor Hellebuyck refusing to report to the Jets and demanding a trade (more on that later), Stuart Skinner is Winnipeg’s guy.

The 27 year old, who signed a two-year deal on July 1, has had some high highs and low lows in his career in both the regular season and in the Edmonton Oilers’ back-to-back runs to the Stanley Cup Final. His game became highly scrutinized as a result, and he was eventually traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins last season after fans in the Alberta capitala made him something of a scapegoat and pariah.

While Skinner’s career numbers are not as good as Hellebuyck’s, nor is he as personally decorated, he’s an experienced netminder who said he’s ready for the spotlight in a new market.

“No matter what situation you’re in, no matter what type of spotlight, pressure… you got your work that you got to do,” Skinner said. “My job’s to do my work in the gym, do my work in the video room, go on the ice and stop pucks.” (From ‘Skinner set to carry the load in Jets’ net after Hellebuyck’s trade demand,’ The Canadian Press, Sept. 26, 2026.)

He may be asked to start a lot of games this season, potentially more than the career-high 57 he made in 2023-24. The Jets claimed goaltender Clay Stevenson off waivers Monday from the Washington Capitals to serve as backup, and while he’s posted strong numbers in the American Hockey League, he only has five NHL games to his name.

“I can definitely take on a high load if that’s what’s needed,” Skinner said. “I love playing as many games as I can possibly play.”

He’ll certainly have fan support, at least at first, if the “Stuuu” chants that rained down in his home preseason start are any indication.

The Hellebuyck Trade Request Saga

It turns out, Hellebuyck’s trade demand is not so easy to fulfill.

The three-time Vezina Trophy winner and one-time Hart Trophy winner remains a Jet on paper, albeit a suspended one after breaching his contract by staying home.

General manager Kevin Cheveldayoff addressed the situation on training camp’s opening day, but made it clear there’s no timeline for dealing the disgruntled goaltender and outlined just how complicated goalie trades can be to make.

With five years left on his contract, Hellebuyck has zero leverage to actually get out of Winnipeg and a trade will only happen when Cheveldayoff gets an offer he thinks represents fair value for the best goalie of the past decade. With most playoff-aspiring teams already having strong goaltender or don’t have the cap space to absorb Hellebuyck’s $8.5 million annual salary, it may take a goalie injury or two to heat the market back up. Cheveldayoff’s preference to receive NHL-ready players in return rather than what he called “futures” is also a stumbling block on the path to a quick deal.

The Montreal Canadiens and San Jose Sharks have recently surfaced in rumours as potential suitors for Hellebuyck in addition to the Buffalo Sabres and Florida Panthers, both of whom Cheveldayoff has rejected offers from. Expect discussion to continue to abound until the saga ends.

Early-Season Schedule Gauntlet

There will be no “easing into” the regular season for the Jets: their early-season schedule is a gauntlet filled with fearsome opponents.

Of their first half-dozen opponents — the Boston Bruins (Oct. 2), Detroit Red Wings (Oct. 4), Pittsburgh Penguins (Oct. 5), Colorado Avalanche (Oct. 7), Anaheim Ducks (Oct. 9), and Minnesota Wild (Oct. 13), only the Red Wings failed to make the playoffs last season.

Of the next eight opponents through the end of the month — Chicago Blackhawks (Oct. 15), Carolina Hurricanes (Oct. 17), St. Louis Blues (Oct. 20), Dallas Stars (Oct. 22), Montreal Canadiens (Oct. 25 at the Heritage Classic), Florida Panthers (Oct. 27 and 30), and Tampa Bay Lightning (Oct. 29) — only the Blackhawks, Blues, and Panthers did not qualify for the postseason (calling the Panthers a non-postseason team seems odd as they are widely expected to return to elite status after winning back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2024 and 2025 but having their 2025-26 derailed by injuries.)

Head coach Scott Arniel and the Jets leadership core must ensure everyone is on board with playing at full speed and intensity right from the home opener’s puck drop. Nothing less than their best game will be good enough to win against these teams.

If the Jets can snag around half the points available — say, by going 7-7-0 or 6-6-2 — we could say they survived the gauntlet.

New-Look Power Play

The Jets are rolling out new power-play units this season in an attempt to get closer to the dominance they displayed on the man advantage in 2024-25.

Last season, the Jets finished 24th league wide on the power play with a 18.50 per cent efficiency, down precipitously from the season prior, when they finished first and converted on 28.90 per cent of their opportunities.

In the fourth and final preseason game on Sept. 26, Mark Scheifele, Vilardi, Kyle Connor, Cole Perfetti and Josh Morrissey worked the top unit, while Bjorck, Rosen, Nino Niederreiter, Vladislav Namestnikov, and Neal Pionk comprised the second. In addition to the two youngsters featuring on the second unit, Arniel has Vilardi — a known power-play phenom and a centre earlier in his career — manning the faceoff dot on the top unit rather than playing wing.

“I’m not going to give away a lot of the secrets, but I like some of the changes we’ve made,” Morrissey said recently. “I think it will allow our players to thrive with their skillsets.” (From ‘Jets looking to revive special teams,’ Winnipeg Sun, Sept. 24, 2026.)

40 of the Jets’ 82 games last season were decided by a single goal (the Jets went 16-12-12 in those 40 games), so getting back in the top half of the league in power-play efficiency could equate to a number of additional ticks in the win column.

Continue following The Hockey Writers for extensive coverage of the Jets and 31 other NHL teams all season long.