As the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina heat up, four Winnipeg Jets players are chasing international glory on hockey’s biggest stage. With the preliminary round now in the books and the playoff qualifiers set to begin Tuesday, it’s time to take stock of how each Jet has fared so far-and what lies ahead.
Let’s break it down.
Nino Niederreiter - Switzerland
Nino Niederreiter entered the Olympics with a letter on his chest, named an assistant captain for Team Switzerland. While he hasn’t found the scoresheet through three games-zero points, a -3 rating, and two penalty minutes-his presence has still been felt in other ways. Niederreiter’s defensive game has been steady, and his leadership has helped guide a Swiss squad that quietly put together a strong preliminary round.
Switzerland opened with a dominant 4-0 shutout over France, stumbled in a 5-1 loss to a powerhouse Canadian team, then bounced back in a big way with a 4-3 overtime win over Czechia. That OT victory locked them into second place in their group and earned them the No. 5 seed heading into the playoff qualifiers.
Next up for Niederreiter and the Swiss? A matchup with 12th-seeded Italy. On paper, it’s a favorable draw-and a chance for Niederreiter to get on the board as the stakes rise.
Josh Morrissey - Canada
Josh Morrissey’s Olympic debut was cut short, but not before he made an impression. Paired with Colton Parayko in Canada’s opening 5-0 win over Czechia, Morrissey was playing solid minutes before an awkward collision late in the first period forced him out with a lower-body injury. He attempted a return in the second, but it was short-lived.
Since then, he’s missed Canada’s next two games-a 5-1 win over Switzerland and a 10-2 rout of France-but there’s reason for optimism. Canadian head coach John Cooper has indicated Morrissey isn’t ruled out for the rest of the tournament, suggesting the move to sit him may have been precautionary.
Canada, meanwhile, looks like a juggernaut. They finished the prelims a perfect 3-0 with a staggering +17 goal differential, locking up the top seed.
They’ll face the winner of Czechia (8th) vs. Denmark (9th) in Wednesday’s quarterfinals.
Jets fans will be watching closely for an update on Morrissey’s status ahead of that game.
Kyle Connor - USA
It’s been a quiet tournament for Kyle Connor so far. The American winger has gone scoreless in two appearances and carries a -1 rating.
Team USA cruised to wins over Latvia (5-1) and Denmark (6-3), but Connor didn’t make much of a mark in either contest. In a deep, talented U.S. forward group, Connor has found himself further down the lineup-and, most recently, out of it altogether.
Connor was a healthy scratch for the Americans’ final preliminary game, a 5-1 win over Germany. Utah forward Clayton Keller took his spot, echoing a similar move from the 4 Nations Face-Off final when Connor was also scratched against Canada.
It’s not the tournament Connor envisioned, but with the Americans earning the No. 2 seed and awaiting the winner of Sweden vs. Latvia, there’s still time for him to re-enter the lineup and make an impact.
Connor Hellebuyck - USA
While his Jets teammates have had mixed results, Connor Hellebuyck has been the standout so far-and arguably one of Team USA’s most reliable performers through the prelims.
Hellebuyck got the nod in the opener against Latvia and turned away 17 of 18 shots in a 5-1 win. After Jeremy Swayman started the second game, Hellebuyck returned for the finale against Germany and delivered again, stopping 23 of 24 shots in another 5-1 victory.
He hasn’t faced a gauntlet of elite scorers just yet-though Leon Draisaitl and Tim Stützle were in the mix for Germany-but he’s done exactly what was asked of him: steady, composed goaltending that’s helped the U.S. lock down the No. 2 seed.
Assuming he gets the crease again on Wednesday, Hellebuyck will likely face Sweden-should they take care of business against Latvia. That would be a step up in competition, and a real test for both Hellebuyck and the Americans as they look to push deeper into the medal rounds.
What’s Next
The Jets haven’t lit up the Olympic scoreboard just yet, but with the elimination rounds looming, the real drama is just beginning. Whether it’s Niederreiter’s leadership, Morrissey’s return, Connor’s redemption, or Hellebuyck’s steady hand in net, there’s still time for one-or all-of them to leave their mark before returning to Winnipeg.
Keep an eye on Tuesday and Wednesday’s matchups. The road to the podium is narrowing, and the pressure is about to crank up.