With Jets Development Camp now in the books, the focus in Winnipeg is shifting toward a quieter stretch of the offseason. Free agency is expected to settle down from here, and the club is already being framed as mostly finished on that front after a busy week around camp.
There was still one bit of expected business on Sunday: Cole Perfetti filed for salary arbitration.
As for what might still be left in free agency, the picture looks pretty thin. The Winnipeg Sun reported that the Jets could still be checking on options, but in a UFA class that is already light, there is not much available that would truly move the needle. Based on what Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff said on Friday, the sense is that Winnipeg is likely close to done adding free agents.
One of the more notable camp-related storylines came from The Carillon, which highlighted Vigfusson as the latest Niverville Nighthawks player to earn a look at Jets camp. He made his mark by scoring the final goal of the shootout to win it for Team Blue during Friday’s scrimmage. The report also noted that he moves pretty nicely out there, and that his name is definitely going to be on the radar.
Around the media circuit, WST broke down the early buzz from development camp and the state of the Jets’ free-agent work. The discussion centered on Viggo Björck, which prospects stood out, who might be closest to NHL opportunities, and what Cheveldayoff accomplished with the additions of Stuart Skinner and Mario Ferraro.
Illegal Curve Hockey also kept the conversation rolling with its Saturday podcast, which covered the Jets’ 2026 draft class, takeaways from Development Camp, the signings of Stuart Skinner and Mario Ferraro, and what other moves could still be coming. The show also featured Jets team reporter Jamie Thomas and new defenceman Mario Ferraro.
In Other News...
Jets Enter Another Crucial Summer With One Massive Core Question
Kevin Cheveldayoff has already signaled that the Jets are headed for a busy offseason, and that alone makes this summer feel different in Winnipeg. After another year with expectations attached, the front office is staring at a roster that still needs work in key spots, especially in the middle of the forward group, where the second line remains an obvious area to upgrade.
The cap picture adds another layer, with roughly $12 million available but a new deal still needed for restricted free agent Cole Perfetti. There are also enough names still on the market to keep the Jets involved, including Anthony Mantha, and all of it sits against the larger backdrop of uncertainty around Connor Hellebuycks future. For now, a trade does not appear to be the likely path, but it is the sort of question that can shape everything else Winnipeg does before camp opens. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Prospects Suddenly Carry Two Very Different Questions Into Camp
Elias Salomonsson and Nikita Chibrikov were supposed to be part of Manitobas Calder Cup playoff push, but injuries kept both Winnipeg Jets prospects out of the Moose lineup and turned their spring into a rehab stretch instead. Chibrikov had core muscle surgery, while Salomonsson needed shoulder surgery after a playoff injury, leaving the organization to manage two promising players on very different recovery tracks.
Chibrikov is now back to full health and getting ready for training camp, which gives Winnipeg another young forward to watch closely once the pace picks up. Salomonssons path is a little less straightforward, with his return tied to how his rehab and medical clearance progress, and the Jets will be waiting to see how much of his offseason work can translate once he is finally able to rejoin the mix. [Read more 🡒]
Why A Familiar Jets Alumni Name Quietly Vanished Just Got Clear
A familiar Jets alumni name disappeared from an upcoming roster for a reason that had nothing to do with nostalgia and everything to do with a new job. Chris Thorburn, who spent four seasons in Winnipeg before finishing his NHL career in St. Louis, has moved up in the Blues organization, a shift that explains why he no longer fits into the alumni mix for the Jets next event.
Thorburn had been part of the group of former Jets expected to surface again around the Montreal matchup tied to the 2026 Heritage Classic, but his standing changed after the promotion. The Blues also elevated former Jets captain Keith Tkachuk in their hockey operations structure, another reminder that a few old Winnipeg names are still making their mark in St. Louis even if they are no longer available for a reunion skate. [Read more 🡒]