The Winnipeg Jets are still looking to prove their doubters wrong, despite being one of the best teams in the NHL.

Winnipeg entered last season with the stigma of a team that has trouble winning on the biggest stage after they lost to the Colorado Avalanche in five games in the first round of the 2024 playoffs.

The naysayers had to eat their words as the Jets quickly soared to the top of the standings last season, putting up a 56-22-4 record to secure the franchise’s first Presidents’ Trophy.

Two of the biggest reasons for Winnipeg’s success last season was the play of forward Mark Scheifele and defenceman Josh Morrissey, who sit at No. 31 and 33, respectively, on TSN’s Top 50 NHL Player list.

Scheifele is one of the longest serving Jets and a key part of the team’s core since being the team’s first-ever draft pick after moving from Atlanta in 2011. He maintained that commitment to the hockey club when he signed a seven-year, $59.5 million extension at the beginning of last season.

The 6-foot-3 centre responded to his newfound security by registering a career-high 39 goals and 87 points in 82 games, which was a 15-point improvement from the year prior.

Morrissey continued to be one of the league’s premier defencemen last season by putting up 14 goals and 62 points in 80 games while averaging a career-high 24:23 of ice time. The 6-foot left-shot defenceman received high praise from around the league, finishing fourth in Norris Trophy voting.

Despite the success in the regular season, the Jets stumbled in the playoffs again, needing a miracle goal in the dying seconds of Game 7 against the St. Louis Blues and then an overtime winner in order to advance to the second round.

Then the team was unable to withstand the Dallas Stars’ firepower in the second round, falling in six games.

Scheifele recorded five goals and 11 points in the postseason but was limited after missing two games with an undisclosed injury against the Blues. He also played Game 6 against the Stars with a heavy heart after losing his father prior to the game.

Morrissey had six assists in 12 playoff games and sustained a knee injury in Game 6 against the Stars that would have knocked him out of the postseason if the Jets were able to advance.

Entering the 2025-26 campaign, the Jets aren’t afraid to talk about taking the next step forward with the ultimate goal being a Stanley Cup.

“We’re not afraid to talk about the Stanley Cup, that’s our goal,” head coach Scott Arniel told reporters on Thursday from their training camp. “This group for the last three years have won the most regular season games in the league, but [the Florida Panthers] have won the most playoff games. That’s where we have to get to and that’s our next goal.

“At the end of the day, we feel that when we’re at our best, we’re hard to beat.”

40. Jake Guentzel, Tampa Bay Lightning

2024-25 Ranking: 38

Coming in at No. 40 is Guentzel, who made an instant impact with the Lightning. The 30-year-old forward recorded a career-high 31 goals to go along with 80 points, which was his highest total since the 2021-22 campaign.

He helped the Lightning secure home-ice advantage in the first round by helping lead them to a 47-27-8 record to finish second in the Atlantic Division.

Guentzel added three goals and six points in the playoffs but the Lightning were not able to hold off the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, who advanced in five games.

39. Evan Bouchard, Edmonton Oilers

2024-25 Ranking: 30

Bouchard sits at No. 39, dropping nine spots from last season. The 25-year-old is one of the best offensive defencemen in the game, registering 14 goals and 67 points in 82 games last season. However, it was a far cry from the career-highs he set in 2023-24 of 18 goals and 82 points in 81 games.

The 6-foot-3 right-shot defenceman helped lead the Oilers back to the Stanley Cup Final for the second straight season and took his offensive game back to a point-per-game pace in the playoffs, registering seven goals and 23 points in 22 games while averaging 26:12 of ice time

Edmonton rewarded Bouchard with a four-year, $42 million extension in the off-season. The blueliner is a candidate to play for Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

38. Macklin Celebrini, San Jose Sharks

2024-25 Ranking: N/A

Celebrini is making his debut appearance on the list at No. 38. The 19-year-old had high expectations after being selected first overall in the 2024 NHL Draft and he has not disappointed.

The 6-foot centre led the Sharks in scoring in his rookie season, putting up 25 goals and 63 points in 70 games. His efforts were enough for him to finish third in Calder Trophy voting, behind Montreal Canadiens defenceman Lane Hutson and Calgary Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf.

Celebrini was also invited to Team Canada’s Olympic orientation camp in August and is a bubble candidate to make the team.

37. Brady Tkachuk, Ottawa Senators

2024-25 Ranking: 31

Coming in at No. 37 is Tkachuk, who is the heart and soul leader of the Senators. The 26-year-old winger recorded 28 goals and 55 points in 72 games last season, leading Ottawa to their first playoff appearance since the 2016-17 campaign.

Tkachuk added four goals and seven points in six playoff games before the Senators were eliminated by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round.

The Scottsdale, Ariz., native has already been selected as the one of the United States’ first six players for their Olympic roster and will be with the team at the Milano Cortina Games in Italy.

36: Clayton Keller, Utah Mammoth

2024-25 Ranking: N/A

At No.36, Keller is an integral part of the Mammoth’s leadership core. The 27-year-old was named captain of the team ahead of their inaugural season in Utah last year.

The 5-foot-10 winger responded by cracking the 90-point plateau for the first time in his nine-season career to go along with 30 goals.

Keller is expected to be a key component to the Mammoth if they are to make the playoffs and he is a candidate to represent the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

35. Tim Stutzle, Ottawa Senators

2024-25 Ranking: 46

Stutzle jumps nine spots in the rankings to No. 35. The 23-year-old centre led the Senators in scoring last season with 24 goals and 79 points in 82 games.

He added two goals and five points in six playoff games before his team was eliminated by the Maple Leafs.

Stutzle is part of a young core in Ottawa that is growing together and is looking to take the next step forward in team success in the playoffs.

The German was also one of the first six players selected to his nation’s roster for the Winter Olympics in Italy.

34. Robert Thomas, St. Louis Blues

2024-25 Ranking: 48

Thomas makes his second appearance in the rankings, moving up 14 spots to No. 34. The 26-year-old led the Blues in scoring last season with 41 goals and 81 points in 70 games, despite missing almost a month with a fractured ankle.

He also led the entire league in scoring after the 4 Nations Face-Off, recording eight goals and 40 points in 26 games to help the Blues secure the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference.

The 6-foot centre added two goals and eight points in seven playoff games before the Blues were eliminated by the Jets in heartbreaking fashion in the first round.

33. Josh Morrissey, Winnipeg Jets

2024-25 Ranking: 44

Coming in at No. 33 is Morrissey, who maintains his distinction as one of the best defencemen in the NHL.

The 6-foot left-shot defenceman had 14 goals and 62 points in 80 games last season while averaging a career-high 24:23 of ice time. He also had a plus-17 rating during that span.

His strong, dependable play was recognized around the NHL. He finished fourth in Norris Trophy voting behind Colorado Avalanche star Cale Makar, Columbus Blue Jackets blueliner Zach Werenski, and Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes.

Morrissey added six assists in the playoffs before the Jets were eliminated in the second round.

32. Sebastian Aho, Carolina Hurricanes

2024-25 Ranking: 29

Aho returns to the rankings at No. 29 after helping the Hurricanes to a 47-30-4 record.

The 6-foot centre led the Hurricanes with 29 goals and 74 points in 79 games last season and added seven goals and 15 points in 15 playoff games before his team was eliminated in the Eastern Conference Final by the Panthers.

The Finland native was named as one of the first six players on his nation’s roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics.

31. Mark Scheifele, Winnipeg Jets

2024-25 Ranking: N/A

After not making last year’s rankings, Scheifele gets on the list this year at No. 31. The 6-foot-3 centre started the regular season by signing a fresh seven-year, $59.5 million contract extension and ended it by recording a career-high 39 goals and 87 points in 82 games.

Scheifele helped the Jets to a 56-22-4 record, securing the Presidents’ Trophy. He added five goals and 11 points in 11 playoff games before his team was eliminated by the Stars.

The Kitchener, Ont., native’s career season has put him on the radar for Team Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Recapping Nos. 50-41:

TSN’s Top 50 NHL Players – 50-41: Ovechkin back on the list, and what’s the right spot for Bob? The first ten names on TSN’s annual list of Top 50 NHL players are out. After missing out on the list last season, Alex Ovechkin finds himself back on the list this year. Frankie Corrado and Martin Biron join Gino Reda to debate this and more.