The Winnipeg Jets come into the 2025-26 season with a chip on their shoulders. Last season, they failed to make it to the Stanley Cup finals. This offseason, they lost the services of forward Nikolai Ehlers to the Eastern Conference. Now, with some retooling, the Jets are poised and ready to turn it up a notch and show why they are still one of the better teams in the league.
Jets make changes to upgrade roster
Winnipeg lost Ehlers to the Carolina Hurricanes and he immediately signed a 6-year, $51 million deal. he will be missed because of his speed and offensive production. Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff wasted no time in grabbing talent to fill that void. He would sign forwards Gustav Nyquist (1-year deal), Walker Duehr (1-year, two-way deal), Tanner Pearson (1-year deal), Jonathan Toews (1-year deal), and Cole Koepke (1-year deal).
In other moves, Cheveldayoff made two trades. He acquired defenseman Luke Schenn from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for a 2026 second-round pick and a 2027 fourth-round pick. He also picked up tenacious forward Brandon Tanev from the Seattle Kraken in exchange for a 2027 second-round pick. Two good moves for added talent and depth without trading anything from the main roster.
Jets bring back Vilardi
The Jets also re-signed forward Gabe Vilardi to a new 6-year deal. Acquired from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for forward Pierre-Luc Dubois, he had his best NHL season last season when he produced 27 goals and 34 assists for 61 points in 71 games. He became a threat on the power play and these moves give them a long-term solution at the forward position and he is still a young player at 25 years old.
Losing Ehlers hurts, but Cheveldayoff was able to replace him in the position only and grab some other pieces to help them in the long run. Winnipeg is still an elite team in the Western Conference and if Vezina Trophy winning goaltender Connor Hellebyuck can win a playoff game on the road we could see the Jets go farther in the postseason.
The team is still deep enough at all positions to make a run and it will depend on whether the team stays healthy if they can make that run. Winnipeg may be a better overall team this upcoming season with the additions and that might spell trouble for the rest of the NHL.