The Winnipeg Jets are almost at the finish line of a long offseason, with their 2026-27 opener at home against the Boston Bruins just 25 days away. The countdown is moving even faster for the 2026 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic, where the Jets will host the Montreal Canadiens at Princess Auto Stadium in 48 days. Pre-season games are less than two weeks out, and the regular season is getting close enough to feel real.
That also means the end of a series that has stretched across the past two, now three, off-seasons: goals and expectations for Jets players. After spending time on several names already, the final stop is the rest of the roster and a full-team forecast for the season ahead.
Up front, the Jets’ top line should still be driven by familiar names. Kyle Connor was already covered, but Mark Scheifele and Gabriel Vilardi matter just as much to the way that group produces.
Scheifele is fresh off a Jets 2.0 record-setting 103-point season, and there’s a clear expectation that he stays near that level again. Vilardi, meanwhile, keeps trending upward.
If he remains on the top line for all 84 games, 75 points is on the table.
The second line is less settled. Viggo Bjork, the Jets’ 2026 eighth overall pick, could be part of it, though the team may choose to keep him to a maximum of nine games so they don’t burn a year of his entry-level contract.
If everything breaks right, he could be more than a short-term look and become a real contributor. Cole Perfetti is set up for a big season after signing his new contract, and the final spot on that line could go to Brad Lambert, who should be good for at least 35 points in his first full NHL season.
The third line has the look of a bounce-back group. Alex Iafallo could lead the scoring there, while Nino Niederreiter and Vladislav Namestnikov are both aiming for at least 30 points as depth options. On the fourth line, Cole Koepke and Morgan Barron will try to keep sharpening their games while also chipping in offensively when they can.
On defense, Winnipeg is rolling back its top four from last season. Josh Morrissey remains a key piece of the top power-play unit, and Dylan DeMelo is expected to keep doing the quiet, defensive work that helps Morrissey thrive. The pair of Neal Pionk and Dylan Samberg are both looking for better seasons, and that bounce back could help bring down the Jets’ goals-against average.
The new third pairing is expected to include Mario Ferraro and one or two depth defensemen on the right side until Elias Salomonsson returns. Salomonsson is another blue-liner who could take a step in what will be his first full NHL season.
In goal, the picture is still tied to the Hellebuyck trade situation. The move is hoped to happen before the season starts, and it could lead to Winnipeg bringing in a new goalie to share starts with Stuart Skinner. If that doesn’t happen, the Jets may turn to someone already in the organization, such as Thomas Milic, to handle the backup role full time.
With all of that in mind, the projection lands at a 39-38-7 record and 85 points in the new 84-game season. There’s room to hope for more - getting above 90 points would be the optimistic path - but the uncertainty around the Hellebuyck trade makes a stronger forecast tough to justify.
If things go well, Winnipeg could still end up back in the playoffs as a wild-card team. If not, the summer of 2027 could be another long one.
However it plays out, there’s plenty to watch, and plenty for Jets fans to get excited about as hockey returns.
In Other News...
Cutter Gauthiers Next Ducks Deal Could Change More Than Expected
As the Ducks work through what could be a significant extension for Cutter Gauthier, the broader cap picture around the league is starting to matter more than just Anaheims own ledger. Teams have been trying to find ways to keep young talent in place without boxing themselves in later, and Ivan Demidovs agent said the Montreal Canadiens already had one example of that in mind when Demidov accepted a team-friendly deal to give the club more financial flexibility.
For the Jets, that same squeeze can reverberate in an entirely different way. Winnipeg has been looking at the market for Connor Hellebuyck, but finding a partner is not as simple as putting an elite goalie out there and waiting for the calls, because trade capital is tight and no-trade clauses continue to narrow the field. The Ducks negotiations with Gauthier may be about one player, but the ripples from a big-money extension could shape how aggressive other teams can be when their own roster decisions come due. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Pre-Camp Skate Offered Early Clues Fans Will Want To See
A few Winnipeg Jets players and prospects got an early taste of camp this week at the Hockey for All Centre, where informal skating sessions offered the first on-ice look at some of the group ahead of the 2026-27 NHL training camp. Among the newcomers drawing attention were Mario Ferraro and Jack St. Ivany, while 2026 draft pick Viggo Bjrck was also part of the mix, giving fans a chance to start piecing together how the roster and pipeline may look once camp opens.
Elias Salomonsson was out there too, skating in a non-contact jersey as he works his way back from shoulder surgery, a sign the organization is still handling his workload with care. Not everyone was on the ice, though, and the absences were just as notable as the arrivals, with some regulars and offseason additions not spotted at the session, leaving a few early camp questions hanging in the air. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Fans Have Every Reason To Watch This Hellebuyck Sweepstake
Connor Hellebuycks situation has put Winnipeg back in the middle of one of the summers most closely watched goalie discussions, with the New Jersey Devils emerging as the team most often mentioned at the front of the line. The fit is obvious on paper: New Jersey already has three goalies on its roster, yet still appears willing to reshuffle its depth chart if it can land a proven starter, which is why this has become a serious conversation rather than just another rumor.
For Jets fans, the real intrigue is in what kind of return could come back if the deal gets serious. A trade for a goalie of Hellebuycks stature would likely take more than a simple one-for-one swap, and the Devils have the kind of young talent and draft capital that could make the talks interesting in a hurry. With Luke Evangelista also sounding eager to jump in and help New Jerseys top-six forward group after his own move, the Devils are clearly operating with urgency, and Winnipeg has every reason to keep watching how far that push goes. [Read more 🡒]