TEAM EDITORIAL

The Winnipeg Jets enter the 2026 offseason with a reshaped but still competitive core, and the biggest story has been a wave of roster churn around that nucleus. Cole Perfetti has been locked in on a five-year extension, Connor Hellebuyck remains the backbone in goal, and the club has also added Stuart Skinner, Mario Ferraro, Henry Thrun, and other depth pieces as it works to reinforce both the blue line and the crease. The team’s offseason has also been defined by uncertainty at the margins, with some veteran and depth situations still needing clarity as camp approaches.

The Jets’ forward group still revolves around Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor, Gabriel Vilardi, Nino Niederreiter, Adam Lowry, and Vladislav Namestnikov, while younger options like Brad Lambert, Brayden Yager, Nikita Chibrikov, and Danil Zhilkin are part of the internal push for roster spots. On defense, Josh Morrissey, Neal Pionk, Dylan DeMelo, and Dylan Samberg anchor a group that has been supplemented by fresh competition and lower-cost signings. The organization is also balancing short-term NHL expectations with longer-term development through the Moose and its prospect pipeline. With training camp looming and a preseason trip to Edmonton on September 19, the Jets look deeper than a year ago, but still very much in the middle of defining their final roster shape.