Jets Grounded: Winnipeg’s Age and Lack of Speed Are Catching Up to Them
The Winnipeg Jets are finding out the hard way that in today’s NHL, you can’t outrun Father Time - especially when you’re not running much at all.
Let’s be clear: this isn’t a roster full of retirees. The Jets’ average age is just under 30, which in most circles is still considered prime. But in NHL terms, that number puts them on the older end of the spectrum - and more importantly, it’s showing up in the one place they can’t afford for it to: their legs.
Over the past month, Winnipeg has looked increasingly outpaced, outmaneuvered, and frankly, out of step with the speed of the modern game. Their latest 5-1 loss to the Buffalo Sabres wasn’t just another tally in the “L” column - it was a glaring example of how far behind the Jets have fallen when it comes to skating with pace.
Buffalo didn’t just beat them; they flew past them. Literally.
NHL EDGE Stats Paint a Stark Picture
The numbers don’t lie, and the NHL EDGE tracking data is especially damning. Winnipeg ranks 31st - second-to-last - in both 18-20 MPH and 20-22 MPH skating bursts.
When it comes to the elite 22+ MPH category, they’re 26th. That’s not just a red flag.
That’s a full-blown siren.
To put it into perspective: the Jets have just 29 total 22+ MPH bursts this season. Morgan Barron, who’s missed six games due to injury, owns eight of them himself. That’s over a quarter of the team’s top-speed efforts coming from one guy who hasn’t even been on the ice the whole time.
So yes, the Jets are still technically skating - but they’re not skating well, and certainly not fast enough to keep up with the league’s younger, more dynamic teams.
The Youth Movement Is Passing Them By
The warning signs were there back during that rough California road trip, when a trio of young stars - Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, Beckett Sennecke, and Leo Carlsson - tore through Winnipeg’s defense like it wasn’t even there. The Jets couldn’t contain them in transition, couldn’t keep up with them on the rush, and couldn’t stop them from getting to the slot with ease.
That trend hasn’t reversed. If anything, it’s gotten worse.
A big part of the problem? The Jets are fielding 15 players - including 13 skaters - who are 30 or older. That’s a lot of miles on a lot of legs in a league that’s only getting faster.
Veteran Additions Aren’t Helping
General manager Kevin Cheveldayoff went all-in on experience this offseason, bringing in Gustav Nyquist (36), Tanner Pearson (33), and Jonathan Toews (37). On paper, that’s a trio with plenty of savvy and past production. But on the ice, they’ve only added to the team’s biggest weakness: speed - or the lack of it.
Between those three, plus defensemen Logan Stanley and Luke Schenn, there’s a grand total of one 22+ MPH burst this season. That one belongs to Nyquist.
The rest? Nowhere to be found.
And it’s not just about raw speed. These veterans were supposed to help fill the void left by Nikolaj Ehlers, one of the league’s most explosive skaters.
But Ehlers’ absence has been felt in a big way, and the trio of Nyquist, Pearson, and Toews simply hasn’t been able to replicate his impact. They’ve combined for just six goals and have struggled to generate consistent offense - or even noticeable energy.
As Thomas Hickey put it during the Jets-Sabres broadcast on Amazon Prime’s Monday Night Hockey: “The game is too fast for the Jets right now.” That’s not just a soundbite. That’s the reality.
Leadership Is Trying - But the Roster Is the Issue
Captain Adam Lowry tried to rally the troops with a closed-door, players-only meeting after the Buffalo loss. And while those moments can sometimes spark a turnaround, there’s only so much a speech can do when the problem is structural.
The Jets’ issues aren’t about effort or attitude. They’re about construction.
The roster simply doesn’t match the pace of today’s NHL. And with Connor Hellebuyck sidelined until at least Christmas, there’s no safety net in goal to bail them out of their defensive lapses or slow-footed breakdowns.
Time for a Youth Injection?
If Winnipeg wants to stop the bleeding, they might need to start looking toward the kids. Prospects like Nikita Chibrikov, Parker Ford, Brad Lambert, and Elias Salomonsson bring something this roster desperately lacks: fresh legs and fast ones.
It’s not about giving up on veterans entirely. But when your team is stuck in neutral while the rest of the league is hitting fifth gear, it might be time to shift priorities. Especially when some of those veterans - like Toews - have incentive-laden contracts that reward games played regardless of on-ice impact.
The Jets started the season hot at 9-3-0, but since then they’ve gone 4-9-0 and dropped out of the playoff picture. That’s not a slump - that’s a trend. And unless something changes soon, Winnipeg might be watching the postseason from the couch.
The NHL isn’t slowing down for anyone. If the Jets can’t find a way to speed up - either through internal changes or a youth infusion - they’ll be left behind.