The Winnipeg Jets Haven't Thrown in the Towel?

Sometimes sports remind you that success isn’t permanent. Take the Winnipeg Jets. Last season, they won the Presidents’ Trophy for the best record in the NHL. Fast-forward half a season, and they’re sitting second to last in the Central Division, having played 56 games with a record of 22-26-8 for 52 points. It’s the kind of turnaround from last season that makes you pause. It certainly had GM Kevin Cheveldayoff feeling “very disappointed.”

But that doesn’t mean Cheveldayoff’s disappointment means he’s giving up. Cheveldayoff is clear-eyed about what’s wrong and who’s responsible. “To a man, top to bottom… it starts with me,” he says. He knows expectations were high — every team hopes to compete for the Cup — but the first job is always the basics: make the playoffs, play the season the right way, and control what you can.

So What Does Cheveldayoff Think Is Wrong with the Jets?

So what’s gone wrong? For Cheveldayoff, it’s a mix of things. Their defensive structure, once a hallmark of the team, isn’t clicking. One-goal games haven’t gone their way. And, naturally, fans and critics are asking if it’s time for a change. Cheveldayoff doesn’t dodge the question. He points to past struggles where the team didn’t make the playoffs, assessed internally, rebuilt structure, and turned doubters into believers. History shows teams can recover.

The GM’s answers aren’t flashy. They’re about process, accountability, and mentality. His answer is that his team puts their head down and finds a way to keep pushing this team to get better,” he says. That’s the message for the players — and really, for anyone trying to lead through a slump. The key question isn’t whether the season looks like a disaster; it’s whether the people involved still have the passion, the grind, and the fire to turn it around. Cheveldayoff says it’s still burning “very, very deeply.”

While the Jets Aren’t Throwing in the Towel, Their Focus Has Varied.

In other words, this isn’t a season to throw in the towel. It’s a chance to focus on the controllables, evaluate honestly, and keep building. That’s the kind of leadership that matters when things aren’t going your way — owning responsibility, facing the tough questions, and showing a team what perseverance looks like. The Jets’ record might be disappointing, but the philosophy Cheveldayoff lays out suggests the season isn’t over until it’s over — and the work isn’t done.