The Jets’ Biggest Problem Was Hiding in Plain Sight

The Winnipeg Jets came into the season after a really solid 2024-25. But, as the 2025-26 unfolded, a few key things started to wobble. And by the end, that wobble turned into a full-on sputter.

The Jets’ special teams took a huge dive this season.

Last season, the Jets’ power play was a thing of beauty. We’re talking nearly 29 percent efficiency—best in the league—and the kind of unit that made opponents nervous every time they took a penalty. The penalty kill wasn’t elite, but it was steady enough. Put those together, and you get 56 wins and a team that felt like a real contender.

This season, it was a different story. The power play fell off a cliff to 18.5 percent (24th in the league), and the penalty kill slipped to 77.6 percent (21st). Suddenly, those comfortable margins disappeared. The games got tighter. Wins got harder.

And the numbers really drive it home.

This season, the Jets’ power-play production dropped by one-third.

Last season, the Jets scored 63 power-play goals and allowed 41—that’s a +22 differential. This season, they managed just 42 goals with the man advantage and gave up 51. That’s a -9 swing. Not small. Not random. That’s the kind of shift that changes a season.

Special teams matter more than people sometimes admit. They swing momentum, decide close games, and cover up—or expose—roster flaws. When your power play is clicking, you get easier goals and a bit of breathing room. When it isn’t, you’re grinding for every inch and hoping your even-strength play can carry you. That’s a tough way to live over 82 games.

So what do the Jets need to do next season?

Now, to be fair, this isn’t all on special teams. There were injuries. There were stretches where the secondary scoring dried up. There’s always some puck luck mixed in, too. But special teams were the low-hanging fruit.

It’s the part of the game you can actually fix with the right focus. And for the Jets, it’s the piece that quietly turned them from a true contender into a team just trying to stay in the fight. There’s a simple benchmark a lot of teams aim for: a combined 100 percent between power play and penalty kill. Contenders usually get there. The Jets came in about five percentage points short. That might not sound like much, but over a full season, that gap shows up in the standings.

So what’s the fix?

The Jets have to make special teams improvement a priority.

It starts with being honest about the problem. This has to be a real priority. Who’s running the units? Who’s quarterbacking the power play? Who’s trusted to clear the crease on the penalty kill?

Coaching adjustments will matter, sure. But so will personnel. You need players who can win battles along the boards, move the puck under pressure, and actually finish when the chances are there. That might mean looking for specialists in the draft or on the trade market. It might mean reshuffling roles in training camp and seeing what sticks.

Standing pat isn’t the answer. At the end of the day, the Jets’ special teams slipped from elite to messy—and that drop cost them momentum, confidence, and points in the standings. It’s not the whole story of their season, but it’s a big part of it.

The good news? This is fixable. It takes some honesty, some work, and a few smart decisions this summer. Do that, and a bounce-back in Winnipeg doesn’t just feel possible—it feels likely.