Winnipeg Jets
A preview of the 2026-27 NHL season for the Winnipeg Jets, including predictions from VSiN NHL Expert Jonathan Davis. For all other NHL team previews, check out our NHL page.
Key Additions: Stuart Skinner, Mario Ferraro
Key Departures: Jonathan Toews (retired), Eric Comrie, Gustav Nyquist, Jacob Bryson
Overview
One season after finishing with a league-best 116 points, the Winnipeg Jets missed the playoffs last season, finishing 26th overall with 82 points. Their 34-point drop-off was the largest fall of all 32 teams. Winnipeg looked like a team that couldn’t wait for the season to end, outscored 24-7 in losing their last four games of the regular season. They are the fifth Presidents’ Trophy winner to miss the playoffs the following season. The Jets went 19-4-4 in one-goal games in winning the Presidents’ Trophy but struggled last season, going 16-12-12 in games decided by a goal. They were also a solid bet against team in the role of road underdog going 6-16.
Offense
The Jets’ 229 goals scored last season were 46 fewer than the prior season. Mark Scheifele is coming off his first career 100-point season and Kyle Connor finished with 92 points. Gabe Vilardi had his first career 30-goal season (69 points), but once you get past that trio, Cole Perfetti was the next highest-scoring forward with 32 points. The Jets are still in search of a second-line center that can make an impact. 2027 first-round draft pick Viggo Bjorck will likely get the opportunity to seize the role. For a smaller player (5’10,175), he doesn’t shy away from puck battles. His combination of playmaking, shot, competitiveness, and defensive awareness gives him a legitimate chance to become a top-six NHL forward. The Jonathan Toews homecoming lasted all of one season. He mustered just 11 goals and 29 points.
Defense
One season after giving up the league’s fewest goals (190), the Jets fell to 22nd overall, giving up 256 goals last season. Their inability to lock games down when leading after two was a contributing factor to surrendering more goals. Two seasons ago, the Jets won 41 of 42 games when leading after two periods. This past season, their nine losses when leading after 40 minutes were tied for the most in the league. Josh Morrissey led Jets blueliners in scoring (14 goals, 55 points), blocked shots (118) and time on ice (24:43). Morrissey is paired with Dylan DeMelo, who is best described as a veteran stay-at-home defenseman who has long complemented Morrissey. Dylan Samberg and Neal Pionk make up the second pair. The Jets made a nice pickup, signing free agent defenseman Mario Ferraro, who will fit nicely on the left side in their bottom pair and should see time on the penalty kill. His 277 minutes of penalty kill time last season was 90 minutes more than any other Jets blueliner.
Goaltending
With Jets not yet able to find a suitable trade partner for Connor Hellebuyck and Hellebuyck’s decision not to report to training camp, the team has suspended the gold medal-winning goalie. As it stands now, Stuart Skinner (free-agent signing) is the Jets’ number one goalie until a trade is made for Hellebuyck’s replacement or the disgruntled netminder has a change of heart and returns to the team (not likely). It was not one of Hellebuyck’s better seasons between the pipes with the Jets (23-23-11, 2.86 GAA, .895 SV%), but he answered many of his doubters by winning a gold medal at the Olympics. Skinner is also coming off a sub-par season (23-17-9, 2.92 GAA, .888 SV%), so it will be interesting to see how this situation plays out as the Jets and their fans hope for a return to the postseason.
Player to Watch
The Winnipeg Jets are banking on Cole Perfetti finally becoming the player they selected with the 10th overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, signing him this summer to a 6-year, 30-million-dollar contract. A two-time 37-goal scorer in the Ontario Hockey League, Perfetti has scored just 59 goals in 290 NHL games. The Jets desperately need secondary scoring, and they hope Perfetti can eclipse the 20-goal mark this season.
Outlook
The Winnipeg Jets look destined to miss the playoffs for the second straight season, which would mark the first time since 2016 and 2017 that they have missed the playoffs in consecutive seasons. The uncertainty surrounding goalie Connor Hellebuyck’s future
Team Futures
Regular Season Points: 84.5 (Over -115, Under -115)
To Make the Playoffs: (+240)
To Miss the Playoffs: (-350)
To Win the Division: (+3000)
To Win the Western Conference: (+3500)
To Win the Stanley Cup: (+15000)
2025-26 Recap
Record: 35-35-12 (82 points, 7th Central Division)
Over/Under: 44-37-1
Home Favorite: 13-14 // Home Dog: 6-8
Road Favorite: 8-8 // Road Dog: 6-16
Win Score 4 or more: 23 of 35 // Lose Give Up 4 or more: 31 of 47
Puck Line Wins: 20 of 35 // Puck Line Losses: 23 of 47
Front End Back-to-Back: 2-7 // Back End Back-to-Back: 6-3
Points Leader: Mark Scheifele – 103
Goal Leader: Kyle Connor – 39
Teams First Goal Leader: Kyle Connor -15
Assist Leader: Mark Scheifele – 67
Shots on Goal Leader: Kyle Connor – 274
Blocked Shots: Josh Morrissey – 118
Depth Chart
Forwards
Kyle Connor / Mark Scheifele / Alex Iafallo
Cole Perfetti / Viggo Bjorck / Gabriel Vilardi
Morgan Barron / Adam Lowry / Nino Niederreiter
Isak Rosen / Vladislav Namestnikov / Brad Lambert
Defense
Josh Morrissey / Dylan DeMelo
Dylan Samberg / Neal Pionk
Mario Ferraro / Jack St. Ivany
Goalies
Connor Hellebuyck / Stuart Skinner
