Spring Cleaning – Winnipeg Jets

The Winnipeg Jets suffered one of the NHL’s most dramatic declines during the 2025-26 season, missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs just one year after winning the Presidents’ Trophy. After entering the year as one of the expected powers in the Central Division, Winnipeg collapsed under the weight of declining goaltending, a lack of secondary scoring, and an overwhelming dependence on its top line. Neil Smith and Vic Morren examine what went wrong, the challenges of building in the Winnipeg market, and the difficult offseason awaiting General Manager Kevin Cheveldayoff.

IN THIS EPISODE:

[00:00:00] The Jets are eliminated from playoff contention on April 13, becoming the second consecutive Presidents’ Trophy winner to miss the postseason the following year.

[00:00:25] Neil and Vic revisit the preseason expectation that Winnipeg would join Colorado and Dallas among the Central Division’s elite teams.

[00:00:50] The departures of Nikolaj Ehlers and Mason Appleton weaken the forward group, while questions remain about how much Jonathan Toews can contribute after several years away from the NHL.

[00:01:20] Winnipeg also enters the season needing more offense from its third and fourth lines to reduce the burden on Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor, and Gabriel Vilardi.

[00:01:45] Toews is viewed as a potential leadership addition for a team believed to be close to Stanley Cup contention, while Connor Hellebuyck returns as the reigning Vezina Trophy and Hart Trophy winner.

[00:02:00] The Jets’ collapse is dramatic. Winnipeg finishes 34 points worse than the previous season, while its goal differential falls from plus-86 to minus-29.

[00:02:25] After beginning the season 9-3-0, the Jets go 6-19-5 over their next 30 games, including four regulation losing streaks of at least three games.

[00:02:50] An 0-7-4 stretch becomes the clearest sign that Winnipeg’s season is spiraling out of control.

[00:03:00] Hellebuyck’s numbers fall sharply after his MVP season. His record drops from 47-12-3 to 23-23-11, while his goals-against average rises from 2.00 to 2.86 and his save percentage falls from .925 to .895.

[00:03:30] Winnipeg becomes overwhelmingly dependent on its top line. Scheifele, Connor, and Vilardi account for 105 of the team’s 231 goals, representing more than 45 percent of the offense.

[00:04:00] The supporting cast fails to provide enough production. Cole Perfetti, Vladislav Namestnikov, Nino Niederreiter, Adam Lowry, and Alex Iafallo collectively fall from 77 goals to 46.

[00:04:25] Free-agent signing Gustav Nyquist produces only one goal and 12 points in 51 games, making his season one of the organization’s biggest disappointments.

[00:04:45] Neil explains that injuries played a role, but the larger problem was the absence of meaningful secondary scoring throughout the lineup.

[00:05:00] The discussion turns to the challenge of attracting free agents to Winnipeg. The weather, Canadian dollar, family considerations, and smaller market all complicate recruitment.

[00:05:30] Despite those challenges, players who do join the Jets often speak highly of the organization and the city.

[00:05:45] Cheveldayoff enters the 2026 NHL Draft with seven selections but no second-round pick after acquiring Luke Schenn from Pittsburgh.

[00:06:00] Winnipeg owns two seventh-round picks, including one acquired from Buffalo in the Tanner Pearson trade.

[00:06:15] The Jets project to have approximately $3.3 million in cap space before the July 1 reset.

[00:06:30] Unrestricted free agents include Nyquist, Toews, Colin Miller, Jacob Bryson, and backup goaltender Eric Comrie.

[00:06:50] Restricted free agents Cole Perfetti and Isak Rosén represent more important long-term decisions for the organization.

[00:07:00] Neil expects Perfetti to be a priority but questions whether Winnipeg will retain Comrie, Toews, or Nyquist.

[00:07:20] Cheveldayoff must find a way to add higher-end support players despite the difficulty of convincing free agents to sign in Winnipeg.

[00:07:45] The Jets still possess a strong core that includes Scheifele, Hellebuyck, Connor, Josh Morrissey, and Neal Pionk.

[00:08:00] Kyle Connor’s new eight-year, $12 million-per-season contract provides another major long-term commitment from one of the franchise’s top players.

[00:08:20] Neil credits Cheveldayoff for successfully keeping several elite players in Winnipeg despite the market’s disadvantages.

[00:08:40] The episode concludes with a clear offseason priority: improve the team’s depth and secondary scoring so the Jets are no longer dependent on one line and one goaltender to carry them back into the playoffs.