In this Summer Coolers edition of NHL Wraparound, Neil Smith and Vic Morren dissect the Winnipeg Jets, who entered 2025 as the surprise Presidents’ Trophy winners—only to fall in the second round of the playoffs.
After a miraculous comeback in Game 7 vs. St. Louis, the Jets were grounded by the Dallas Stars—and the split personality home/road record (6–1 at home, 0–6 on the road) told the story.
Now, with Nikolaj Ehlers gone, Connor Hellebuyck under scrutiny, and Jonathan Toews making a shocking return, is this team still built to contend?
🧊 IN THIS EPISODE:
[00:00] Jets finish 56–22–4, win their first-ever Presidents’ Trophy
[00:30] Wildest moment of the playoffs: Game 7 comeback vs. Blues
[01:00] But then… 0–6 road record ends the run vs. Dallas
[01:45] Connor Hellebuyck wins MVP and Vezina—but struggles in postseason again
[02:15] Jonathan Toews returns to hockey! What can he bring?
[03:15] Key losses: Ehlers, Appleton, Tanev, Toninato
[04:00] New faces: Nyquist, Toews, Pearson, Peeke, Kuhlman
[05:15] Depth concerns beyond the top line: is the second line too thin?
[06:30] Is Winnipeg becoming a market no one wants to sign in?
[07:15] Forward lines review: Top 6 talent, but bottom 6 uncertainty
[08:00] Defense overview: Morrissey, DeMelo, Sandberg, Pionk
[09:00] Connor Hellebuyck’s playoff resume under the microscope
[10:30] Can Scott Arniel repeat the magic in Year 2?
[11:00] Realistic expectations for 2025–26: Top 3 in Central?
🔑 KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Jonathan Toews returns in a stunning move, but it's unclear how much the former Blackhawks captain has left in the tank.
Connor Hellebuyck won everything… except in the playoffs. His postseason save percentage over the last 3 years is below .870.
The top line is elite: Connor – Scheifele – Vilardi could be one of the best trios in hockey.
Second line is unproven: Can Perfetti, Toews, and Nyquist replace the lost firepower of Ehlers and Appleton?
The Jets still have one of the NHL’s best defenses—but goals will be harder to come by.
🎯 FINAL WORD:
The Winnipeg Jets shocked the NHL last year. But with age creeping in and a roster that didn’t improve on paper, 2025–26 might be their last real shot at chasing a Cup with this core.
A repeat of the President’s Trophy is unlikely. The real question is: can they finally be a playoff team that performs when it matters most?
🔗 RESOURCE LINKS:
📺 YouTube: NHL Wraparound Channel
🐦 X (Twitter): @NHLWraparound
🎤 Neil Smith: @NYCNeil
📘 Vic Morren: Vic on LinkedIn
📸 Instagram: @NHLWraparound
🎵 TikTok: @NHLWraparound
👍 Facebook: NHL Wraparound Facebook
🏒 HASHTAGS:
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