The Winnipeg Jets are heading toward 2026-27 with a roster that looks noticeably younger and quicker than the group that regressed by 21 wins and 34 points and missed the playoffs last season. With training camps about a month away and most of the offseason churn already settled, the picture is becoming clearer on how this team may line up on opening night.
Up front, the biggest constant is the first line. Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele, and Gabriel Vilardi are expected to stay together after driving most of Winnipeg’s offence last season, piling up a combined 105 goals and 264 points. Connor’s eight-year extension from last October is now in effect, Scheifele still has four years left on his contract, and Vilardi has five years remaining on the deal he signed last offseason.
The second line could be where things get interesting. The Jets are hoping 2026 eighth-overall pick Viggo Bjorck can step right into the centre spot they’ve been trying to solve for years, and the 18-year-old should get a real shot to begin the season there after opting out of his Swedish Hockey League contract. If he needs time in the American Hockey League with the Manitoba Moose, Morgan Barron or Vladislav Namestnikov are the likely fallback options.
Brad Lambert also appears ready for a larger role after finishing last season strongly for Winnipeg. His AHL days seem to be over, and because his skill set points to a top-six fit, he’ll likely need that kind of opportunity to make the most of his game.
That could mean Cole Perfetti shifts to wing to make room, though that adjustment should be manageable since he shoots left. Perfetti is now operating with a new five-year extension in hand.
A projected third line of Nino Niederreiter, Adam Lowry, and Isak Rosen brings a different kind of challenge. Winnipeg is counting on Lowry and Niederreiter to rebound from down seasons, while Rosen - acquired from the Buffalo Sabres at the 2026 Trade Deadline - is set up for what looks like his first full NHL campaign. The Jets were badly short on secondary scoring last season, so this group will be under pressure to chip in and lighten the load on the top six in a Central Division that remains as tough as ever.
The fourth line has the makings of a headache for opponents. Cole Koepke and Alex Iafallo bring speed, grit, and versatility around Morgan Barron, who posted a career-high in points last season and spent more time in the middle. Iafallo and Rosen could also end up switching spots.
Depth options include Nikita Chibrikov, Walker Duehr, Parker Ford, Noah Gregor, and Brayden Yager, all of whom will be in the mix for early Moose call-ups. Duehr, Ford, and Yager each saw some NHL time with Winnipeg last season.
On the back end, the top four is expected to stay intact with the DeMelo/Morrissey pairing and the Samberg/Pionk duo remaining together. Free-agent addition Mario Ferraro should give the third pairing a meaningful boost on the left side after handling a top-four role for the San Jose Sharks for several seasons. Salomonsson also looks like a key piece after emerging as one of the few bright spots for Winnipeg last season, though he’ll need to be healthy after undergoing surgery for an injury suffered in the 2026 Calder Cup Playoffs.
There is still some uncertainty around Neal Pionk, the team’s highest-paid defenseman. His production dropped last season while injuries piled up, and if that trend continues, he could slide to the third pair while Salomonsson moves up into the top four.
Veteran depth is available as well. Fleury, Isaak Phillips, Jack St.
Ivany, and Henry Thrun all have NHL experience, but Fleury has the clear edge with 345 career games and appears to have the inside track to be the seventh defenseman. The other three are likely headed to the Moose to start.
In goal, the biggest question is Connor Hellebuyck. He remains with the team for now, and trade speculation has cooled significantly since the 2026 Draft and the opening stretch of free agency.
If he stays, he’ll still carry most of the workload, though not as much as usual with Stuart Skinner in place as a more established backup. A 54/30 split looks like the most likely setup.
If Hellebuyck is moved, the crease belongs to Skinner, whom the Jets signed to a two-year deal on July 1 for that exact possibility. Should a trade return bring back an NHL-calibre goaltender, Skinner could end up back in the backup role. If not, Winnipeg could turn to Domenic DiVincentiis or Thomas Milic behind him, or look outside the organization for a veteran on a one-year contract if the team decides neither youngster is ready for a full-time NHL job.
For now, the Jets project as a younger, faster team than they were a year ago. Whether that adds up to better results is the big question hanging over this roster as the season approaches.
In Other News...
Where Andrei Vasilevskiy Stands Among The NHLs Elite Goalies
As the 2026-27 season approaches, the NHLs goalie conversation once again circles back to a familiar group of names, with Andrei Vasilevskiy still firmly in the mix near the top. A fresh ranking of the leagues elite netminders puts him alongside Logan Thompson, Ilya Sorokin, Connor Hellebuyck and Igor Shesterkin, a reminder of how crowded the position remains at the high end and how much recent performance still drives the debate.
For Jets fans, the list is especially relevant because Hellebuyck is right there in the same tier, with team context and recent numbers helping separate one standout from the next. Thompsons rise, Sorokins consistency, Hellebuycks track record, Vasilevskiys continued excellence and Shesterkins recent contract all feed into a bigger question that never really goes away: which goalie gives his team the biggest edge when the games matter most? [Read more 🡒]