The Winnipeg Jets have wrapped up their draft activities, and it's time to break down the selections that could shape the team's future. Over the past two days, the Jets made some intriguing picks that fans will want to keep an eye on.
First on the list is Viggo Björck, taken in the first round. This selection sets the tone for what the Jets hope will be a transformative draft class.
Following Björck, the Jets picked Samuel Hrenak in the third round, Zach Wooten in the fourth, Alexandre Taillefer in the fifth, and Landon Hafele in the sixth. The seventh round saw the Jets making two selections: Alofa Tunoa Ta’amu and John Parsons.
The draft was accompanied by insights from key figures in the organization. General Manager Kevin Cheveldayoff provided his thoughts before the draft began and shared reflections after the first day wrapped up. Meanwhile, Mark Hillier, the Director of Amateur Scouting, offered his perspective as the draft concluded on Day 2.
For those who want to dive deeper into the Jets' draft strategy and potential future moves, the Illegal Curve Hockey Draft podcast is a must-listen. Day 2 featured an extended edition of the show, where Drew, Ez, and the team dissected Day 1, including the selection of Björck, and looked ahead to free agency.
They also touched on the situation with Connor Hellebuyck and speculated on other possible moves the Jets might consider in free agency. A highlight of the podcast was a conversation with Murat Ates of The Athletic Winnipeg, providing further expert analysis.
This draft period has been a whirlwind for the Jets, and as they look toward free agency, fans will be eagerly watching to see how these new additions will integrate into the team and what moves might be next on the horizon.
In Other News...
Jets Just Turned A Seventh Round Pick Into Hockey History
The Jets used a seventh-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft on Noa Ta'amu, a defenseman out of the Edmonton Oil Kings who has built his reputation on size, strength and steady work in his own end. At 18, he already fits the mold of a bruising blueliner, the kind of late-round swing teams take when they believe there is still room for a young defender to grow into more than his draft slot suggests.
Ta'amus selection also carried a broader significance for the organization and for the sport, adding another layer to a pick that otherwise would have been easy to overlook in a long draft weekend. For Winnipeg, the appeal is obvious: a physical young defenseman with a defensive foundation, a WHL track record and enough upside to make a seventh-round ticket worth watching a little more closely. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Just Made A Blue Line Move Fans Didn't See Coming
The Jets added to their blue line by bringing in Jack St. Ivany, a defenseman who has spent his pro career in the Penguins organization since signing as a collegiate free agent in 2022. For Winnipeg, it is the kind of depth move that can matter quickly, especially on the back end where teams are always looking for another reliable option to keep the rotation steady.
David Gustafsson heads to Pittsburgh after playing mostly for Winnipeg and the Manitoba Moose, where he was one of the more productive forwards in the AHL last season. The deal gives the Jets a different kind of roster piece on defense, and it comes at a time when the club could use more help filling out the lower part of the lineup as the season moves along. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Fans Are Facing The Hellebuyck Question Nobody Wanted
Connor Hellebuyck has spent years giving Winnipeg exactly what teams dream of at the position: elite, stable goaltending from a three-time Vezina Trophy winner. But with trade chatter swirling around one of the leagues most accomplished goalies, the bigger conversation is no longer about what he has been for the Jets. It is about what he would be for somebody else, and whether the value of landing a franchise name in net outweighs the realities attached to the rest of his contract.
Those are not small questions for a goaltender who is already 33 and carries a deal that runs deep into the 2030-31 season at $8.5 million per year. The broad historical view suggests top goalies can remain above average well into their mid-30s, but the late-career track record is uneven enough to make any projection uneasy. For Winnipeg, the tension is obvious: paying for the last great stretch of a goalies prime is one thing, but betting on the back half of a long deal can turn into a very different kind of gamble. [Read more 🡒]