The Winnipeg Jets are standing firm. Despite sitting outside the playoff picture and staring down the possibility of missing the postseason for a fourth straight year, the message from inside the organization is clear: they’re not ready to hit the eject button.
With the Olympic trade freeze looming and the NHL trade deadline not far behind, this is the stretch where teams start to show their cards. Are they pushing for a playoff run, or pivoting toward the future? For the Jets, the answer - at least for now - leans toward the former.
Insider reports, including from Elliotte Friedman, suggest there’s still belief in the locker room and the front office. The team doesn’t see itself as a lost cause.
In fact, they reportedly believe they’re better than the standings show - and they’re not wrong to think that. This is a group that’s been in tight games, dealt with adversity, and still has enough talent to make a run if things start to click.
Friedman also emphasized that it’s not in Winnipeg’s DNA to fold. That tracks with what we’ve seen from this team over the years - gritty, resilient, and never quite out of it. The players and coaching staff haven’t wavered in their belief, even as the pressure mounts.
Now comes the defining stretch. The Jets kick off a four-game road trip Tuesday in New Jersey against the Devils.
From there, it’s a grind: three more on the road, then a brief return home to face Montreal before the Olympic break, followed by another three-game road swing. That’s a lot of travel, a lot of hockey, and a lot riding on every result.
This stretch is more than just a test of endurance - it could determine the franchise’s direction for the rest of the season. If the Jets stumble, the conversation will inevitably shift toward selling off assets and looking ahead to next year. But if they find their rhythm and string together wins, don’t be surprised if Winnipeg flips the script and becomes a buyer at the deadline.
And here’s the kicker: after this road-heavy run, the Jets return home for an eight-game homestand. That’s a golden opportunity to build momentum - or, if things go sideways before then, a stretch that could feel like a long goodbye to a season that never quite took off.
One way or another, clarity is coming. The next few weeks will tell us whether the Jets are ready to reload for a playoff push or finally concede to a longer-term reset. But for now, the message from Winnipeg is simple: they’re not done fighting.