Breaking down where former Winnipeg Jets will play this season

The Winnipeg Jets are primed for another big year in the Central Division, but the roster they ice will look quite different from last year. The team added future Hall of Famer Jonathan Toews, Tanner Pearson, and Phil Di Giuseppe on top of others. There were also a number of re-signings including Gabriel Vilardi’s six year deal and Dylan Samberg’s three year contract.

However, the team will be without a number of familiar faces, including a few who played their entire career with the Jets for their full career to this point. Here’s who they have lost and where they will be playing next season.

Nikolaj Ehlers

Of course, the biggest loss this season is Nikolaj Ehlers, who the Jets lost in free agency this summer. With rumours abound as to where he would go, it was a major surprise that he wasn’t signed on the opening day of free agency. However, he ended up signing a massive six year deal with the Carolina Hurricanes on July 3rd.

It will be interesting to see fan reaction when he returns to Canada Life Centre wearing red instead of blue on November 21st. Expect him to receive a round of applause but also many boos.

Mason Appleton

The former Jets sixth-round pick has been with the team for nearly his entire career, but this summer elected to move on following a 22 point season. He will join the Detroit Red Wings next season after signing a two year deal in Motown. Expect him to slot into the team’s middle-six.

Brandon Tanev

The undrafted journeyman forward has been in and out of Winnipeg twice now in his career, signing with the team out of college then returning at the trade deadline last year. However, he now takes his talents back south of the border to join the Utah Mammoth. With how things have gone in the past, expect this isn’t the last time he dons a Jets logo.

Axel Jonsson-Fjallby

The former Washington Capitals draft pick was picked up on waivers by the Jets in 2022, and spent his time split between the AHL and NHL, with the entire last season spent with the Moose. However, his production has never been exemplary, with him finishing last season with 27 points.

He has signed this year in Europe, and will join Brynas IF of the Swedish SHL next season. He will play alongside former Moose goalie Collin Delia there.

Simon Lundmark

A former second-round pick of the Jets, Lundmark spent the last four years in the AHL with the Moose, but only managed a career high of 17 points two seasons back. This past year he finished with just 14, and did not earn a single NHL game in that time.

He has signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning on a two-year two-way deal, and will likely play with the Syracuse Crunch in the AHL.

Chris Driedger

Once a highly touted goalie prospect, Driedger never really cemented himself as an NHL netminder full-time. He spent most of the year with the Charlotte Checkers before being acquired by the Jets at the trade deadline.

Driedger appeared in just five games for the Moose and was pretty abysmal, finishing with one win and a 0.872 save percentage. He will go across the pond to Russia to play with Traktor Chelyabinsk of the KHL.

Dylan Coghlan

The former Vegas Golden Knight and Carolina Hurricane joined the Jets this past season, but only featured in six NHL games. He was a decent AHLer for the Moose, with 28 points in 36 games, but will take his talents back to Sin City next season.

Dominic Toninato

The former Leafs draft pick split time between the Jets’ AHL and NHL sides over the last five seasons, but spent more time in the latter than the former. He was the captain of the Moose this past season, and finished with 36 points and 81 penalty minutes in 60 games. This was good for second in points on the team.

He will join the Chicago Blackhawks, and is expected to play with the Rockford IceHogs.

Rasmus Kupari

Once a highly touted former first-round pick, Kupari never quite panned out in North America. After putting up just one point all season last year, Kupari had eight in 59 games for the Jets.

However, he is off to Europe this coming season, playing in the Swiss National League for HC Lugano. This is where former Moose forward Mike Sgarbossa plies his trade.

What to expect from the Winnipeg Jets this season

It’s hard to imagine the Jets being better than they were last regular season, but the key will be a better playoff performance this season. With the band mostly together and one of the best goalies in the league in net, expect the Jets to be a favourite to go deep in the playoffs this season.