Inside look at Winnipeg Jets

NHL.com is providing in-depth roster, prospect and fantasy analysis for each of its 32 teams from Aug. 1-Sept. 1. Today, the Winnipeg Jets.

The Winnipeg Jets feel they are still an elite team.

A year removed from winning the Presidents’ Trophy as the top team in the regular season, Winnipeg (35-35-12) finished seventh in the Central Division last season, missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since the 2021-22 season and only the second time in the past nine seasons.

“There are lots of guys, when you talked to them after their exit meetings, they had some down years and are looking forward to try and get back to the level that they were at before,” Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff said. “Whether it was injury-wise or whatever reason, those are the things you are looking for come September.”

Granted, the Jets were playing in arguably the toughest division in the NHL with the Colorado Avalanche (121 points), Dallas Stars (112 points), Minnesota Wild (104 points) and Utah Mammoth (92 points) all having strong seasons and qualifying for the playoffs.

“This (past) year wasn’t how we really planned on the ice, but if you rewind two years ago, we were the best team throughout the regular season and everyone was playing really well,” forward Cole Perfetti said. “That’s the kind of group I know we have and we all believe in, and we know what we can accomplish. One down year does not define who we are as a group, and I think we’re all really excited and looking forward to being a part of this.

“We have a lot of guys still locked up for a while and we’re going to come together as a close team and try to replicate what we did two years ago.”

Perfetti is part of the Jets core that has remained mostly intact from the team that finished with 116 points (56-22-4) in 2024-25 before losing to the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference Second Round.

The 24-year-old signed a five-year, $30 million contract ($6 million average annual value) on July 15. 

Center Mark Scheifele is going into the 2026-27 season off an NHL career-high 103 points (36 goals, 67 assists) in 82 games. Forward Kyle Connor had 92 points (39 goals, 53 assists) in 82 games, five shy of his career best of 97 points set in 2024-25.

Winnipeg is hoping forwards Gabriel Vilardi and Perfetti can continue to take steps forward and that Brad Lambert becomes an everyday player.

The blue line is still anchored by All-Star defenseman Josh Morrissey, while Connor Hellebuyck is still one of the best goalies in the League.

But the goalie’s future in Winnipeg is cloudy despite having five years remaining on his contract.

The three-time winner of the Vezina Trophy as the best goalie in the NHL, and the 2024-25 Hart Trophy winner as League MVP expressed frustration after the season and has been the subject of trade rumors this offseason.

On Thursday, he released a statement making the trade request public, saying, "I believe moving on is the best path forward for me and my family."

Cheveldayoff said prior to the start of NHL free agency that the Jets were going to listen to trade offers for Hellebuyck, who played a huge role in Team USA winning gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

“Connor Hellebuyck is a Winnipeg Jet and there is no update at this point and time,” Cheveldayoff said on July 3. “The plan is still to win.”

To help them get back to the top of the NHL standings, the Jets signed goalie Stuart Skinner, defensemen Mario Ferraro, Henry Thrun, and forward Noah Gregor as unrestricted free agents.

Winnipeg also signed forward Viggo Bjorck to an entry-level contract after selecting the 18-year-old with the No. 8 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

“I think we’re a much faster team, and you look at the back end with Ferraro there, he’s a good all-around player,” Cheveldayoff said. “He can move, can skate, really competes. He’s excited about that opportunity that is here for him.”

Winnipeg will be without its native son, forward Jonathan Toews, who officially retired from the NHL on June 19. He had 29 points (11 goals, 18 assists) in 82 games for his hometown team, returning after two years away from the NHL because of an illness.

Goalie Eric Comrie also departed, signing a free agent contract with the San Jose Sharks on July 1, while forward Gustav Nyquist and defenseman Colin Miller will not return.

“We were looking to make changes; we were looking to get faster,” Cheveldayoff said. “I think all the signings that we made on the skater side of it, they all can skate, whether it’s ‘D’ that can move the puck, everyone has some different tangible things. That’s certainly an area where I think you’re going to see a different group come September out there, and that will be exciting.”