Winnipeg’s informal skates are already giving the Jets a first glimpse at the organization’s younger players, and the early sessions on Labour Day Monday came with several prospects and younger skaters back on the ice before training camp. A number of established veterans still haven’t been seen, but the opening workout offered enough to start sorting out who is ahead of schedule and who still has work to do.
There’s also plenty of uncertainty hanging over some familiar names as camp gets closer. With a little more than a week before training camp opens, several former Jets are still without contracts.
Gustav Nyquist sits 86 games short of 1,000 in the NHL, which could make a PTO appealing if he wants another shot at an NHL season. If not, overseas remains an option, though the SHL season in Sweden begins in 11 days.
Logan Stanley and Patrik Laine are also still unsigned by NHL clubs. Stanley stands out as the bigger surprise, especially after the 6-foot-7 defenceman was talked about so often last season as a desirable unrestricted free agent.
On the draft side, Daily Faceoff’s Steven singled out Winnipeg’s eighth overall pick, Viggo Björck, as a player who could potentially crack an NHL roster to start the season. After watching him work against some NHL veterans, Steven noted that “you can see how his brain is processing the game at a high level.” He added that it will be “fascinating to see how things play out” for the 18-year-old Swede.
In Other News...
Jets Face One Big Connor Hellebuyck Decision Despite Trade Noise
Connor Hellebuycks situation has put the Jets in a familiar but uncomfortable spot, with the veteran goalie suddenly at the center of trade chatter even though his contract gives Winnipeg plenty of protection. The team is not obligated to move him, and for all the noise around the league, the real question is less about whether there is interest than how long this standoff can linger before it starts affecting everyone involved.
Hellebuycks leverage is limited to the kind of pressure that comes with a public request and the possibility of digging in if nothing changes, which leaves the Jets to weigh patience against the risk of a messy ending. For a team trying to sort out its direction, the decision is not just about value on the open market, but whether keeping one of its most important players becomes the easier path than trying to satisfy a trade request on their own terms. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Prospect Pipeline Gets One More Step Before Camp Opens
Before the first skates of camp begin, a few Jets prospects got one more offseason checkpoint in Virginia, where the NHL and NHLPA brought young players together for their annual Player Orientation Program. The gathering is meant to ease the transition into pro hockey life, giving players a look at the off-ice responsibilities that come with the job before rookie, prospect and full training camps start up.
Winnipeg had four representatives at the event, with top prospect Viggo Bjrck among them, alongside Danny Zhilkin, Tyrel Bauer and Isaak Phillips. The leaguewide program puts as much emphasis on financial literacy and mental health as it does on hockey itself, a reminder that the next step in a players development is often about handling everything around the rink as much as what happens on it. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Forward Battle Is Already Heating Up Behind The Top Line
The early sketch of Winnipegs 2025-26 forward group looks familiar at the top, with Connor, Scheifele and Vilardi expected to remain together as the clubs scoring line. The real intrigue is farther down the roster, where outside projections are already split on how the Jets should fill out the second and third lines, and where that competition could shape both the lineup and the teams depth identity heading into next season.
Daily Faceoff and PuckPedia dont agree on the exact alignment, which says plenty about how open this still is around the middle six. Adam Lowry remains a fixture in the conversation, while Cole Perfetti, Brad Lambert, Cole Koepke, Morgan Barron, Isak Rosen and Noah Gregor all factor into the picture in one way or another. With a few young and depth options pushing for roles, this is the part of camp that could quietly determine which way Winnipegs forward group settles. [Read more 🡒]