Jets at a Crossroads: With the Season Slipping Away, It's Time for Winnipeg to Embrace the Rebuild
With the NHL’s Olympic roster freeze set to hit at midnight on February 4, there’s one GM who’s likely fielding more calls than most: Kevin Cheveldayoff. The Winnipeg Jets’ long-serving architect suddenly finds himself in unfamiliar territory - not as a buyer or a contender, but as a GM overseeing one of the league’s steepest falls from grace.
Just a year removed from claiming the Presidents’ Trophy, the Jets are now staring down a very different kind of history. If things don’t turn around - and fast - Winnipeg could become just the fifth team in NHL history to miss the playoffs after finishing first overall the season before.
And it gets worse: they’re not just flirting with the postseason cutoff. They’re flirting with the basement, possibly even the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.
Yeah, it’s been that kind of season in Winnipeg.
And no, this isn’t a case of injuries derailing a contender. Sure, Connor Hellebuyck missed some time with a knee injury and Dylan Samberg had a delayed start to his season, but the Jets’ issues go far deeper than a few missing names on the lineup card. Even with their stars on the ice, the team has struggled to find rhythm, identity, and - most importantly - wins.
As it stands, Winnipeg is tied with St. Louis for 30th in the league.
Despite a modest 6-3-2 run over their last 11 games, they remain 10 points out of a wild card spot in the Western Conference. In other words, the math isn’t in their favor.
And even if they did manage a late-season surge, the reward would likely be a first-round date with a powerhouse like Colorado or Dallas. That’s not exactly a path to postseason glory - more like a fast track to another early exit.
For casual fans, a few extra wins might feel good in the moment. But the die-hards?
They know better. Every point earned now is a percentage point lost in the draft lottery.
And with elite prospects like Gavin McKenna and Ivar Stenberg looming at the top of the 2026 class, that’s a trade-off the Jets can’t afford to make.
McKenna and Stenberg aren’t just flashy names - they’re potential franchise-changers. Exactly the kind of high-end offensive talent the Jets have been missing since Nikolaj Ehlers left this past summer. Winnipeg’s offense has felt hollow without him, and plugging that hole with a top-tier draft pick could be the first real step toward building something sustainable again.
But to get there, Cheveldayoff and his staff have to make some tough - and smart - decisions. The Jets have long leaned on a “draft and develop” model, but lately, it feels like more talent has slipped through their fingers than stuck around.
Names like Sami Niku, Rutger McGroarty, Pierre-Luc Dubois, Evander Kane, Jacob Trouba, Patrik Laine - and more recently, Luke Schenn, Ville Heinola, and Brad Lambert - all represent missed opportunities or unresolved development arcs. Even Logan Stanley, a former first-round pick, once voiced his desire to leave the city.
So where does that leave Winnipeg now?
With the Olympic freeze looming and the NHL trade deadline set for March 6, Cheveldayoff has a window to reshape this roster - and the future. Priority one?
Let the kids play. That means shifting ice time and opportunity to the next wave of Jets talent.
But it also means clearing out the logjam of veterans who no longer fit the long-term vision.
There’s real value to be extracted here. Cole Perfetti, for example, is a player who could fetch a significant return.
His ceiling is still enticing, and a change of scenery might unlock the consistency he’s yet to find in Winnipeg. Stanley and Schenn are also likely to draw interest - especially if packaged creatively with a veteran forward.
Speaking of veterans, the Jets have a handful who could be on the move. Nino Niederreiter, Tanner Pearson, Gus Nyquist, and Vlad Namestnikov all bring experience and depth that playoff-bound teams crave. They may not headline a blockbuster, but as throw-ins or complementary pieces, they could help sweeten the pot in deals that bring back draft capital or young assets.
And the reinforcements are already waiting. Prospects like Brad Lambert, Nikita Chibrikov, Colby Barlow, Brayden Yager, Parker Ford, and Danny Zhilkin are all knocking on the door.
The time has come to give them a real shot. Keep them in the minors too long, and you risk stalling their development - or worse, losing them to the same cycle that’s claimed too many before.
This isn’t about tanking for the sake of tanking. It’s about shifting the organizational focus from salvaging a lost season to building the foundation for the next great Jets team. That means selling high on expiring contracts, shutting down injured players instead of rushing them back, and giving the farm system its moment to shine.
Yes, the losses may pile up. But that’s part of the process. The ping pong balls in June could be the most important ones the Jets have seen in years.
For Winnipeg, the message is clear: don’t fight the current. Embrace the rebuild. Let off the throttle and lean into the future.