{"id":175885,"date":"2025-08-30T20:29:29","date_gmt":"2025-08-30T20:29:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/175885\/"},"modified":"2025-08-30T20:29:29","modified_gmt":"2025-08-30T20:29:29","slug":"winnipeg-jets-2025-26-season-preview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/175885\/","title":{"rendered":"Winnipeg Jets 2025-26 Season Preview"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The Winnipeg Jets enter the 2025-26 season with the weight of expectations completely on their shoulders. <\/p>\n<p>After winning the Presidents\u2019 Trophy last season with 116 points and dominating stretches of regular-season play, the Jets\u2019 year ended abruptly in the conference semifinals at the hands of the Dallas Stars.<\/p>\n<p>That sting has lingered all summer, and the question hanging over this roster is simple: was last year the peak, or is the Stanley Cup window still open?<\/p>\n<p>This year brings roster turnover, returning players, youth pushing at the door, and another loaded schedule at Canada Life Centre (CLC).<\/p>\n<p>Goaltending Questions<\/p>\n<p>Connor Hellebuyck remains the rock of this franchise, but his workload has become a storyline. The Jets will need to decide whether he shoulders another 60+ game season or if they trust their depth to provide relief.<\/p>\n<p>Eric Comrie\u00a0must play at least 10 more games to remain a reliable option.<\/p>\n<p>If not, the youth wave, Thomas Milic, Domenic DiVincentiis, or Isaac Poulter may be pressed into NHL action earlier than expected.<\/p>\n<p>The balance between riding Hellebuyck and grooming a future No. 1 could shape not only this season, but the franchise\u2019s long-term outlook.<\/p>\n<p>Roster Turnover<\/p>\n<p>Additions: Jonathan Toews, Gustav Nyquist, Tanner Pearson, Mason Shaw, Cole Koepke, Phillip Di Giuseppe, Gustav Nyquist, Isaac Poulter, Walker Duehr, Samuel Fagemo and Kale Clague.<\/p>\n<p>Departures: Nikolaj Ehlers, Brandon Tanev, Dominic Toninato, Chris Driedger, Rasmus Kupari, Axel Jonsson-Fjallby, Mason Appleton and Simon Lundmark.<\/p>\n<p>The most dramatic storyline of the summer and the Jets\u2019 2025-26 season is the return of Jonathan Toews. He signed a one-year deal to close out his career with his hometown club. He may be past his prime, but his leadership and pedigree could be invaluable for a team still searching for its first Stanley Cup.<\/p>\n<p>Ehlers\u2019 departure is a blow to the top-six. In his place, Winnipeg is banking on Nyquist to provide steady production and a younger prospect like Nikita Chibrikov to step up into a meaningful role.<\/p>\n<p>Players to Watch<\/p>\n<p>Gustav Nyquist is a veteran winger who could steady the offence in Ehlers\u2019 absence. Nyquist is also just two seasons removed from a career-high 75-point (23G, 52A) season with the Nashville Predators. The Jets will certainly be banking on him to find even a sliver of that form in his 2025-26 campaign.<\/p>\n<p>Jonathan Toews is the emotional story of the season. His health and production will dictate just how big his role becomes with the Jets in the 2025-26 season. His history of being captain of Stanley Cup-winning teams is incredibly valuable to the Jets as they look for their first Stanley Cup.<\/p>\n<p>Haydn Fleury, a depth defender who\u2019s looking to prove he can lock down a permanent spot. Fleury originally signed in the 2024 offseason as a potential fit to replace Kyle Capobianco\u2019s role with the Manitoba Moose, but Fleury evolved into a bigger role in Winnipeg. He stepped up at crucial times, including game seven of the Jets\u2019 double overtime game when Josh Morrissey exited the game with an injury. Fleury will prove to do that and more as he aims to earn a bigger role this season.<\/p>\n<p>Potential Surprises<\/p>\n<p>Nikita Chibrikov has the skill to break through and become an NHL regular; he\u2019s just at the stage in his career where he\u2019s trying to push through and become that NHL regular.<\/p>\n<p>Parker Ford proved himself to be a solid NHL addition, even in the short stint he had with the Winnipeg Jets near the end of the 2024-25 season. Ford made his NHL debut against the Boston Bruins and even picked up his first career NHL goal. Like Chibrikov, Ford is at the stage in his career where he\u2019s trying to push through and become that NHL regular.<\/p>\n<p>Cole Koepke was a pickup that surprised many. He\u2019s a great depth forward with the tools to exceed expectations, but he\u2019s got to earn his runway with the Jets if he wants to flourish. He posted 17 points (10G, 7A) in 73 games, all of which are career highs for him, in his 2024-25 stint with the Boston Bruins. The Jets added sneaky value with Koepke as he could easily build on his strong 2024-25 season.<\/p>\n<p>Bounce Back Candidates<\/p>\n<p>Jonathan Toews is the first obvious bounce-back candidate as he hasn\u2019t suited up for an NHL game in over two years. His season with the Winnipeg Jets could be a great send-off for the three-time Stanley Cup champion and longtime captain of the Chicago Blackhawks, or it could be an unfortunate disaster.<\/p>\n<p>Gustav Nyquist was mentioned earlier for being just two seasons removed from a 75-point season. He\u2019s got the tools to slot in well in the Jets\u2019 top-nine, but he and many other players have to earn their ice time if they want to appear regularly in certain roles for the Winnipeg Jets in 2025-26.<\/p>\n<p>Storylines to Follow<\/p>\n<p>Cup Window Pressure: Is this the year Winnipeg finally breaks through? After last year\u2019s Presidents\u2019 Trophy, anything less than a deep playoff run will feel like a step backward.<\/p>\n<p>Leadership &amp; Legacy: Toews\u2019 return to Winnipeg adds a unique layer to the season. Is this a farewell tour, or can he still elevate a contender?<\/p>\n<p>Youth Movement: Prospects like Nikita Chibrikov, Thomas Milic, Domenic DiVincentiis, Brayden Yager, and Elias Salomonsson are knocking. Who will break through first?<\/p>\n<p>Players Requiring New Contracts Post-2025-26<\/p>\n<p>This offseason presents crucial contract decisions for several core Jets players and a top prospect. Here\u2019s a breakdown of the four most notable players due for new contracts, their current status, what lies ahead, and why each matters.<\/p>\n<p>Kyle Connor (UFA)<\/p>\n<p>Kyle Connor is entering the final year of his seven-year, $50 million contract worth roughly $7.14 million annually. As an unrestricted free agent (UFA) at the end of the year, Connor will be surrounded by questions regarding his status in Winnipeg and commitment to stay.<\/p>\n<p>Discussions have yet to pick up, but there is mutual interest. It is <a href=\"https:\/\/nhlrumors.com\/nhl-rumors-kyle-connors-camp-is-not-in-a-rush-to-get-a-contract-extension-done\/2025\/08\/20\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">worth noting that Connor\u2019s camp<\/a> is not in a rush to get a contract extension done, but rather is setting the stage to take time and evaluate all potential options.<\/p>\n<p>Regardless of where he plays beyond the 2025-26 season, Kyle Connor will be an eight-figure player, with AFP Analytics projecting an eight-year extension at around $12 million per season, and potentially more to keep him in Winnipeg if he wants to test the open market.<\/p>\n<p>Similar to Ehlers, Connor\u2019s contract situation could be a distraction in the 2025-26 season. He\u2019s a foundational offensive contributor with Winnipeg. Locking him down or risking his departure significantly impacts the roster\u2019s future balance and competitiveness.<\/p>\n<p>Adam Lowry (UFA)<\/p>\n<p>Adam Lowry is in the final season of his five-year, $16.25 million contract worth $3.25 million annually. The Jets\u2019 captain brings physicality and leadership to the team, and a new deal would solidify Lowry\u2019s career in Winnipeg since draft day back in 2011.<\/p>\n<p>He underwent successful hip surgery during the offseason, but the <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/NHLJets\/status\/1960394424422203696\" rel=\"nofollow\">Jets\u2019 social media accounts posted<\/a> that Lowry is skating and getting work in. It is expected that his timeline is still the same, missing the start of the 2025-26 regular season and targeting a November return.<\/p>\n<p>Cole Perfetti (RFA)<\/p>\n<p>Cole Perfetti is in the final year of a two-year, $6.5 million extension worth $3.25 million annually. He\u2019s set to be a restricted free agent (RFA) with arbitration rights. He was a strong breakout candidate for the Jets in the 2024-25 season, and his postseason contributions made it all the more reasonable that Perfetti should be locked up long term.<\/p>\n<p>Perfetti is a young, high-potential forward, and getting him locked up long term not only commits to younger players on the team but also defines the investment the club has in their emerging stars like Perfetti.<\/p>\n<p>With a potential to have a stronger deployment in 2025-26 with Ehlers\u2019 departure, Perfetti could break his career high numbers yet again and flourish in a bigger role.<\/p>\n<p>Nikita Chibrikov (RFA)<\/p>\n<p>Nikita Chibrikov is in the final year of his three-year entry-level contract worth $875,833 annually. He is set to become an RFA without arbitration rights. Chibrikov is a top candidate to earn NHL ice time this season, and his development has translated well to how he\u2019s played in his first few NHL games.<\/p>\n<p>Unless Chibrikov shoots out of the gate to start the season, he\u2019ll be expected to start with the Moose or find himself in a 13th or 14th forward role with Winnipeg. While the contract negotiations won\u2019t be a big storyline in the offseason, the way that it gets handled will show the team\u2019s commitment to key young pieces of the Jets\u2019 future.<\/p>\n<p>Coaching &amp; Systems<\/p>\n<p>Former head coach Rick Bowness implemented strong defensive systems, and his successor, Scott Arniel, continued those systems and strengthened them. The question lies for the Winnipeg Jets: will they push for a more offensive free game, or will they continue to rely on the systems that have earned them back-to-back Jennings trophies for their goaltender?<\/p>\n<p>Defensive Structure: Still a strength, but is it flexible enough for a deep playoff run? Are the Jets not aggressive enough in the playoffs?<\/p>\n<p>Special Teams: Losing Ehlers certainly hurts the top power-play unit, but could Nyquist or a younger forward be the key to filling the gap?<\/p>\n<p>There are certainly lots of questions surrounding how the systems will remain in the 2025-26 season, and how they will implement new players into already strong systems is a key storyline throughout the entire season.<\/p>\n<p>Projected Line Combinations &amp; Depth Chart<\/p>\n<p>My projected 2025-26 starting lineup can be tweaked positionally, but there are a lot of what-ifs when it comes to who plays where and how much they play. My projected line combinations will also include the Manitoba Moose and the talent available down there.<\/p>\n<p>Winnipeg Jets<\/p>\n<p>Kyle Connor \u2013 Mark Scheifele \u2013 Gabriel Vilardi<br \/>Cole Perfetti \u2013 Vladislav Namestnikov \u2013 Gustav Nyquist<br \/>Morgan Barron \u2013 Adam Lowry \u2013 Nino Niederreiter<br \/>Alex Iafallo \u2013 Jonathan Toews \u2013 Tanner Pearson<br \/>Cole Koepke<\/p>\n<p>Josh Morrissey \u2013 Dylan DeMelo<br \/>Dylan Samberg \u2013 Neal Pionk<br \/>Haydn Fleury \u2013 Luke Schenn<br \/>Logan Stanley \u2013 Colin Miller<br \/>Ville Heinola<\/p>\n<p>Connor Hellebuyck<br \/>Eric Comrie<\/p>\n<p>Manitoba Moose<\/p>\n<p>Colby Barlow \u2013 Jaret Anderson-Dolan \u2013 Nikita Chibrikov<br \/>Mason Shaw \u2013 Brad Lambert \u2013 Brayden Yager<br \/>Phillip Di Giuseppe \u2013 Jacob Julien \u2013 Parker Ford<br \/>Danny Zhilkin \u2013 Tyson Empey \u2013 Walker Duehr<br \/>Kevin Conley \u2013 Reece Vitelli \u2013 Chase Yoder<br \/>Samuel Fagemo \u2013 Fabian Wagner \u2013 Jaydon Dureau<\/p>\n<p>Ashton Sautner \u2013 Elias Salomonsson<br \/>Dylan Anhorn \u2013 Kale Clague<br \/>Dawson Barteaux \u2013 Isaak Phillips<br \/>Ben Zloty \u2013 Tyrel Bauer<br \/>Ethan Frisch \u2013 Graham Sward<\/p>\n<p>Domenic DiVincentiis<br \/>Thomas Milic<br \/>Isaac Poulter<br \/>Alex Worthington<\/p>\n<p>Prospect &amp; Call-Up Watch<\/p>\n<p>The Jets\u2019 prospect pool is one of the more intriguing in the NHL, with many players primed for NHL icetime.<\/p>\n<p>Forwards: Nikita Chibrikov, Brad Lambert, Brayden Yager, Colby Barlow &amp; Parker Ford<\/p>\n<p>Defence: Elias Salomonsson<\/p>\n<p>Goaltenders: Thomas Milic &amp; Domenic DiVincentiis<\/p>\n<p>One of the biggest keys to the Jets\u2019 success is the Manitoba Moose\u2019s pipeline playing a major role when called upon.<\/p>\n<p>2024-25 By the Numbers<\/p>\n<p>Looking back at the 2024-25 season, it\u2019s clear that there\u2019s no major room for improvement, but there can be a step taken back by the Winnipeg Jets in 2025-26.<\/p>\n<p>Presidents\u2019 Trophy Winners: 116 points (56 wins, 22 losses, 4 OTL)<\/p>\n<p>Home Record: 30 wins, 7 losses, 4 OTL<\/p>\n<p>Road Record: 26 wins, 15 losses, 0 OTL<\/p>\n<p>Longest Winning Streak: 11 games (Jan. 22 to Feb. 26)<\/p>\n<p>Longest Losing Streak: 4 games (Nov. 27 to Dec. 3)<\/p>\n<p>Playoffs: Lost in the conference semifinals to Dallas<\/p>\n<p>Statistical Goals &amp; Benchmarks<\/p>\n<p>Some strong benchmarks for the Jets include general targets, team targets, individual targets, and situational targets.<\/p>\n<p>Team-Wide Targets<\/p>\n<p>Win total\/points pace: Aim for 100+ points to solidify playoff contention, aim for 110+ points to contend for the Central Division win.<\/p>\n<p>Goals for per game: aim to be top 12 in scoring depth<\/p>\n<p>Goals against per game: remain in the top five defensively with Hellebuyck in net<\/p>\n<p>Special teams:<\/p>\n<p>Power play to stay top 10 in the NHL<\/p>\n<p>Penalty kill target 82%+<\/p>\n<p>Individual Player<\/p>\n<p>Kyle Connor: 40+ goals and 80+ points<\/p>\n<p>Mark Scheifele: maintain point-per-game pace and hold up defensively<\/p>\n<p>Cole Perfetti: Target 55 points and play 70+ games<\/p>\n<p>Adam Lowry: 15 goals, win 55%+ faceoffs, keep PK strong<\/p>\n<p>Josh Morrissey: 60+ points, anchor Jets\u2019 blueline, top-10 in Norris voting again<\/p>\n<p>Connor Hellebuyck: Keep save % above .915 or higher, push for Vezina contention<\/p>\n<p>Situational Goals<\/p>\n<p>The Jets have a lot of benchmarks to fill, and there\u2019s work to be done to close out these goals.<\/p>\n<p>Close games: Improve record in one-goal games ahead of the postseason<\/p>\n<p>Home record: Target 25+ home wins<\/p>\n<p>Central Division: Finish top two in the division to avoid the Wild Card race<\/p>\n<p>Back-to-back games: Secure a winning record in back-to-backs by relying on depth<\/p>\n<p>Starts &amp; finishes: Target a strong winning record in game-heavy months to avoid playoff races. Aim for a strong winning record post-trade deadline to build momentum heading into the playoffs.<\/p>\n<p>Against division rivals: post a winning record vs Colorado, Dallas, Minnesota, and St. Louis for a crucial edge in the Central Division standings<\/p>\n<p>Road success: Push for significant success, especially on trips where Winnipeg traditionally struggles.<\/p>\n<p>Potential Sellouts<\/p>\n<p>Oct 9 vs Dallas: Home opener &amp; 2025 Conference Semifinals Rematch<\/p>\n<p>Oct 30 vs Chicago: Halloween game &amp; Connor Bedard to CLC<\/p>\n<p>Nov 1 vs Pittsburgh: Sidney Crosby\u2019s annual appearance at CLC<\/p>\n<p>Nov 21 vs Carolina: Nikolaj Ehlers\u2019 return to CLC<\/p>\n<p>Dec 11 vs Boston: Jets\/Bruins rivalry renewed<\/p>\n<p>Jan 6 vs Vegas: Golden Knights come to CLC<\/p>\n<p>Jan 8 vs Edmonton: McDavid &amp; the Oilers come to CLC<\/p>\n<p>Jan 17 vs Toronto: Maple Leafs &amp; fans takeover CLC<\/p>\n<p>April 16 vs San Jose: Fan Appreciation<\/p>\n<p>Key Dates on the 2025-26 Schedule<\/p>\n<p>Oct 9 vs Dallas: 2025 Conference Semifinals Rematch<\/p>\n<p>Oct 26 vs Utah: Utah\u2019s first game as the Mammoth at CLC &amp; Brandon Tanev returns<\/p>\n<p>Oct 30 vs Chicago: Connor Bedard comes to CLC<\/p>\n<p>Nov 1 vs Pittsburgh: Sidney Crosby\u2019s seasonal CLC appearance<\/p>\n<p>Nov 21 vs Carolina: Nikolaj Ehlers returns to CLC<\/p>\n<p>Dec 29 &amp; Jan 8th vs Edmonton: McDavid, Draisaitl &amp; the Oilers at CLC<\/p>\n<p>Jan 17 vs Toronto: Toronto takes over CLC<\/p>\n<p>Jan 20 vs St. Louis: Manitoba Miracle rematch<\/p>\n<p>Jan 22 vs Florida: Paul Maurice &amp; the defending cup champs back at CLC<\/p>\n<p>Jan 24 vs Detroit: Mason Appleton returns to CLC<\/p>\n<p>April 16 vs San Jose: Season finale<\/p>\n<p>Schedule Highlights Beyond Key Dates<\/p>\n<p>Back-to-Backs<\/p>\n<p>The Winnipeg Jets have nine sets of back-to-back games in the 2025-26 season. They play three back-to-backs at home, four back-to-backs on the road, and two back-to-backs split between home and road games.<\/p>\n<p>Back-to-back schedule:<\/p>\n<p>Oct 23 &amp; 24: home vs Seattle, then Calgary<\/p>\n<p>Nov 28 &amp; 29: away at Carolina, then Nashville<\/p>\n<p>Dec 5 &amp; 6: home vs Buffalo, then away at Edmonton<\/p>\n<p>Dec 31 &amp; Jan 1: away at Detroit, then Toronto<\/p>\n<p>Jan 8 &amp; 9: home vs Edmonton, then Los Angeles<\/p>\n<p>Jan 19 &amp; 20: away at Chicago, then home vs St. Louis<\/p>\n<p>March 14 &amp; 15: home vs Colorado, then vs St. Louis<\/p>\n<p>March 21 &amp; 22: away at Pittsburgh, then at New York Rangers<\/p>\n<p>Apr 13 &amp; 14: away at Vegas, then at Utah<\/p>\n<p>Longest Home Stretch<\/p>\n<p>The Jets\u2019 longest home stretch of the 2025-26 season is in March. They play eight consecutive games against Chicago, Tampa Bay, Vancouver, Anaheim, the New York Rangers, Colorado, St. Louis, and Nashville.<\/p>\n<p>This stretch in March begins on the 3rd and ends on the 17th. It includes games against key Central Division opponents, giving the team a chance to bolster playoff positioning and ramp up momentum, while leaning on home-ice energy late in the season.<\/p>\n<p>Longest Road Trip<\/p>\n<p>The Jets\u2019 longest road stretch of the 2025-26 season is early on, when the Jets hit the road for a six-game road trip from November 4th to the 15th. This road trip covers matchups in Los Angeles, San Jose, Anaheim, Vancouver, Seattle, and Calgary.<\/p>\n<p>This Pacific road trip tests the team\u2019s endurance on long road trips and challenges across multiple time zones and playing styles. The Jets will also be tested on this crucial road trip, as they couldn\u2019t gain any momentum on the road in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.<\/p>\n<p>Division Clashes<\/p>\n<p>The Jets face Central Division rivals on 26 occasions; their schedule is broken down in the following:<\/p>\n<p>Four games each against Chicago, Colorado, Dallas, Minnesota, and St. Louis<\/p>\n<p>Three games each against Nashville and Utah<\/p>\n<p>These games are crucial when breaking down seeding, tiebreakers, and the intensity of division rival clashes.<\/p>\n<p>Divisional opponents schedule:<\/p>\n<p>Oct 9 vs Dallas<\/p>\n<p>Oct 18 vs Nashville<\/p>\n<p>Oct 26 vs Utah<\/p>\n<p>Oct 28 at Minnesota<\/p>\n<p>Oct 30 vs Chicago<\/p>\n<p>Nov 23 vs Minnesota<\/p>\n<p>Nov 29 at Nashville<\/p>\n<p>Dec 9 vs Dallas<\/p>\n<p>Dec 17 at St. Louis<\/p>\n<p>Dec 19 at Colorado<\/p>\n<p>Dec 21 at Utah<\/p>\n<p>Dec 27 vs Minnesota<\/p>\n<p>Jan 15 at Minnesota<\/p>\n<p>Jan 19 at Chicago<\/p>\n<p>Jan 20 vs St. Louis<\/p>\n<p>Feb 2 at Dallas<\/p>\n<p>March 3 vs Chicago<\/p>\n<p>March 14 vs Colorado<\/p>\n<p>March 15 vs St. Louis<\/p>\n<p>March 17 vs Nashville<\/p>\n<p>March 26 vs Colorado<\/p>\n<p>March 28 at Colorado<\/p>\n<p>March 31 at Chicago<\/p>\n<p>Apr 2 at Dallas<\/p>\n<p>Apr 9 at St. Louis<\/p>\n<p>Apr 14 at Utah<\/p>\n<p>Sep 21 vs Minnesota (preseason): Season ticket member appreciation game<\/p>\n<p>Oct 9 vs Dallas: Home opener<\/p>\n<p>Oct 11 vs Los Angeles: Opening weekend celebration<\/p>\n<p>Oct 19 vs Nashville: Child advocacy night<\/p>\n<p>Oct 24 vs Calgary: 90s night<\/p>\n<p>Oct 30 vs Chicago: Halloween game<\/p>\n<p>Nov 1 vs Pittsburgh: Pride game<\/p>\n<p>Nov 18 vs Columbus: Filipino heritage night<\/p>\n<p>Nov 23 vs Minnesota: Hockey fights cancer<\/p>\n<p>Dec 5 vs Buffalo: South Asian heritage night<\/p>\n<p>Dec 15 vs Ottawa: Holiday game<\/p>\n<p>Jan 6 vs Vegas: Ukrainian heritage night<\/p>\n<p>Jan 9 vs Los Angeles: Apres ski night<\/p>\n<p>Jan 13 vs Islanders: Canadian Armed Forces appreciation night<\/p>\n<p>Jan 17 vs Toronto: Hockey Talks night<\/p>\n<p>Jan 24 vs Detroit: WASAC night<\/p>\n<p>March 3 vs Chicago: Black History Night<\/p>\n<p>March 5 vs Tampa Bay: Celebrating women in sport<\/p>\n<p>March 7 vs Vancouver: Country night<\/p>\n<p>March 14 vs Colorado: Hoser night<\/p>\n<p>March 17 vs Nashville: St. Patrick\u2019s Day<\/p>\n<p>March 26 vs Colorado: Jersey off our backs<\/p>\n<p>April 11 vs Philadelphia: Parkinson\u2019s awareness night<\/p>\n<p>April 16 vs San Jose: Fan appreciation<\/p>\n<p>Heritage Jersey Schedule<\/p>\n<p>Oct 23 vs Seattle<\/p>\n<p>Oct 24 vs Calgary<\/p>\n<p>Oct 26 vs Utah<\/p>\n<p>Dec 9 vs Dallas<\/p>\n<p>Dec 11 vs Boston<\/p>\n<p>Dec 13 vs Washington<\/p>\n<p>Dec 15 vs Ottawa<\/p>\n<p>Jan 22 vs Florida<\/p>\n<p>Jan 24 vs Detroit<\/p>\n<p>March 12 vs Rangers<\/p>\n<p>March 14 vs Colorado<\/p>\n<p>March 15 vs St. Louis<\/p>\n<p>March 17 vs Nashville<\/p>\n<p>Final Thoughts<\/p>\n<p>The Winnipeg Jets are coming off a franchise-best season, winning the 2025 Presidents\u2019 Trophy as the best team of the 2024-25 season. <\/p>\n<p>The team was also recognized as the best defensively for a second consecutive season, earning their goaltender, Connor Hellebuyck, the 2025 Jennings Trophy for the second time in as many seasons. Hellebuyck also took home a second consecutive Vezina Trophy and won the Hart Trophy as the league\u2019s MVP.<\/p>\n<p>If the Jets want to remain consistent and maximize their performance in the 2025-26 season, they must have similar form to their 2024-25 season and be in contention for awards yet again. Some may argue the Presidents\u2019 Trophy curse, but the Jets could maximize having great regular seasons if they can translate it into postseason success.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s also worth noting that the key storylines are season-long storylines. The current core and growth of younger forwards is something that will unfold throughout the 2025-26 season. The Jets also have key roster decisions to make with the contract situations of Kyle Connor, Adam Lowry, Cole Perfetti, and Nikita Chibrikov.<\/p>\n<p>The Jets must find their way back to the playoffs, but it shouldn\u2019t be seen as enough. The team must make it past the first round and make that one of the benchmarks heading into the season, but getting past the second and third rounds will be a goal in itself. The Central Division is only getting more competitive, and that\u2019s apparent with Colorado and Dallas hot on Winnipeg\u2019s tail. The window is now to define whether Winnipeg is a contender or simply a playoff participant.<\/p>\n<p>The clock is ticking on the Jets\u2019 current core. Sure, they have pieces in place that will make noise if given the opportunity, but the current core has to make that noise now to pave the way for the younger group. If health and play align, the Jets could be a serious contender to make significant strides in the 2025-26 season.<\/p>\n<p>\tDiscover more from Inside The Rink<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\" style=\"margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px;font-size:15px\">Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Winnipeg Jets enter the 2025-26 season with the weight of expectations completely on their shoulders. After winning&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":175886,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5121],"tags":[3116,30391,7009,401,1171,3572,5,78,2081,1290,5830,3522,4,3639,14877,77,18,5288],"class_list":{"0":"post-175885","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-winnipeg-jets","8":"tag-2024-25-season","9":"tag-2025-presidents-trophy","10":"tag-2025-26-season","11":"tag-ahl","12":"tag-connor-hellebuyck","13":"tag-hart-memorial-trophy","14":"tag-hockey","15":"tag-jets","16":"tag-josh-morrissey","17":"tag-kyle-connor","18":"tag-manitoba-moose","19":"tag-mark-scheifele","20":"tag-nhl","21":"tag-vezina-trophy","22":"tag-william-m-jennings-trophy","23":"tag-winnipeg","24":"tag-winnipeg-jets","25":"tag-winnipegjets"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nhl\/115119611218109162","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/175885","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=175885"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/175885\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/175886"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=175885"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=175885"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=175885"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}