The Winnipeg Jets got their first real look at Clay Stevenson on the ice yesterday, and the new goalie made a strong first impression.
That was the big takeaway as the Jets continued ramping up toward Friday’s season and home opener against the Bruins. It also marked the first day on the ice for Winnipeg after the NHL regular season had already begun the day before. The team is back at it again today, though this skate shifts downtown to CLC and is scheduled to get underway at 11 AM CT.
Stevenson’s arrival has already become one of the early talking points around camp, and Winnipeg Free Press reported that the new backup is “stoked” to be in tandem with Skinner. The connection between the two goalies is a little more layered than it first looks, with the paper noting that both are Alberta netminders and are connected through Kelowna.
Another Free Press piece focused on Winnipeg’s No. 1 goalie and the workload he’s used to carrying. The netminder has played at least 50 games in all four of his full NHL seasons, which gives the Jets a clear picture of what they’re dealing with as the regular season approaches.
The morning also comes with a glance at what’s happening on the Moose side. Yesterday was the 10th day of Moose training camp, and they kept the same lines and defense pairs as the day before while preparing for their season and home opener on Saturday against the Wolves. The Moose are off today and will return to the ice tomorrow for practice.
For a broader look at Winnipeg’s outlook, WST featured Craig Button breaking down why the Jets can bounce back in 2026-27. Button and Andrew “Hustler” Paterson talked through the Hellebuyck situation, the Skinner-Stevenson tandem, chances for younger players, and what Winnipeg needs to do to get back to the playoffs.
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For Winnipeg, the more interesting wrinkle is that the discussion comes at a time when the club has already made a move to add another goaltender, which could affect how aggressively it chooses to handle the position moving forward. Edmontons need is real, but so are the obstacles, and with rival executives already questioning how other front offices are valuing big names like Dylan Larkin, it is a reminder that trade talk can escalate quickly without necessarily getting any closer to a deal. [Read more 🡒]