The Winnipeg Jets have had a busy — and far too long — offseason since being spectators in the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs.
As their 2026-27 training camp is about to begin and we’re just a couple weeks away from games that count for real, it’s time to review all the moves and developments that have taken place over the past four months.
Cheveldayoff & Arniel Speak On Disappointing 2025-26
After regressing by 21 wins and 34 points from their Presidents’ Trophy-winning 2024-25, head coach Scott Arniel and general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff spoke candidly on their disappointment in 2025-26.
“This year was certainly a lot different than last year at this time,” Arniel said at his end-of-season press conference on April 20. “I’m extremely disappointed standing up here now and it’s not after a playoff series. Being in the Stanley Cup Playoffs is ultimately what we’re here for… and I’m extremely disappointed.”
Winnipeg Jets head coach Scott Arniel (Jerome Miron-Imagn Images)
“Going from what happened last year to this year, it’s like I got knocked off a ladder. I got gut punched, but that’s where I’ve got to grow, that’s where I’ve got to learn, I’ve got to move forward here,” he said later. “You either win or you learn, and if you don’t go out and learn, if you don’t go out and find why you didn’t win, you’re just going to end up kind of repeating the same thing.”
The next day, Cheveldayoff took some blame for his poor 2025 offseason that played a role in the regression.
“As a group, I think we lacked in speed… Some of the players we signed over this past year obviously didn’t have those dimensions, and we were hoping maybe some of those guys would contribute in other ways,” he said. “Certainly, some of my offseason bets, that’s something that’s on me. There’s no question. You can’t hide from those type of things.”
“It starts with me. I’m the general manager. Everything starts and basically ends with me,” he continued. “So, I can’t feel good about what happened, but I have to pick myself up, I have to pick it up here, and we have to push forward,” he said.
Toews Retires
On June 19, Jonathan Toews, who played the final season of his storied 16-year NHL career with the Jets, announced his retirement.
The now-38-year-old returned to the NHL last season on a one-year deal with his hometown team after two years off due to long COVID and Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome. He played all 82 games in a mainly bottom-six role, posting 11 goals and 18 assists for 29 points and a minus-20 rating and being named a finalist for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy.
Despite his final NHL season not living up to the hype it garnered, the 2006 third-overall pick enjoyed a fantastic career, captaining the Chicago Blackhawks to three Stanley Cups (2010, 2013, 2015) and recording 383 goals and 529 assists for 912 points in 1,149-career games. Known for his leadership abilities and knack for coming through in clutch moments, he earned the nickname “Captain Serious” and had 45 goals and 74 assists for 119 points in 137-career playoff games.
Pre-Draft Re-Signings
Ahead of the 2026 NHL Entry Draft in Buffalo, Cheveldayoff re-signed forward Walker Duehr to a two year deal, goaltender Isaac Poulter to a one-year deal, and forward Isak Rosen to a two-year deal.
Rosen, acquired from the Buffalo Sabres at the 2026 Trade Deadline, is the only one of the three slated to have a full-time NHL role this season. The speedy 23 year old right winger got an immediate NHL opportunity in Winnipeg down the stretch after the trade, scoring three goals in 21 games while averaging 10:42 in ice time. He finished with six goals and four assists for 10 points in 37 games between the Jets and Sabres.
Jets Select Seven Players, Including Viggo Bjorck 8th Overall, at 2026 Draft
At the 2026 Draft in Buffalo, Cheveldayoff added seven players to his prospect pipeline, most notably Swedish centre Viggo Bjorck eighth overall. It was the first time Cheveldayoff had more than five picks since 2022 and the first time he picked within the top 10 since 2016.
After Bjorck, who immediately became the organization’s top prospect and one they hope is ready to be their second-line centre this season, Cheveldayoff selected goaltender Samuel Hrenak in the third round (71st overall), centre Zach Wooten in the fourth round (116th overall), defenseman Alexandre Taillefer in the fifth round (135th overall), centre Landon Hafele in the sixth round (167th overall), and defenseman Noa Ta’Amu and goaltender John Parsons in the seventh round (199th and 220th overall, respectively).
Free Agency Additions & Departures
Ahead of free agency, Cheveldayoff traded forward David Gustafsson to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for defenseman Jack St. Ivany.
On July 1, the first day of free agency, Cheveldayoff signed forward Noah Gregor to a one-year contract, defenseman Mario Ferraro to a four-year contract, and goaltender Stuart Skinner to a two-year contract. The next day, he signed defenseman Henry Thrun to a one-year contract.
Mario Ferraro spent the first seven seasons of his career with the San Jose Sharks. (David Gonzales-Imagn Images)
Gregor will battle for a bottom-six role, while Ferraro was one of the highest-profile unrestricted free agent (UFA) defensemen available and will be an upgrade on the Jets’ third pairing. Skinner was signed as an experienced insurance policy against the potential loss of Connor Hellebuyck, whom trade rumours were swirling around furiously.
Jaret Anderson-Dolan, Jacob Bryson, Eric Comrie, Phil Di Giuseppe, Samuel Fagemo, Ville Heinola, Gustav Nyquist, Collin Miller, and Mason Shaw left as UFAs. Anderson Dolan signed with Brynas of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL), Bryson signed with the Detroit Red Wings, Comrie signed with the Sharks, Di Giuseppe signed with Bjorkloven of the SHL, Fagemo signed with Frolunda of the SHL, Heinola signed with the Vegas Golden Knights, Nyquist remains unsigned as of writing, Miller signed with Lausanne of the National League in Switzerland, and Shaw signed with the Minnesota Wild.
Jets Change ECHL Affiliation
On July 8, the Jets and ECHL’s Norfolk Admirals announced they had ended their affiliation after three seasons. Later that day, the Jets announced that they’d struck a new ECHL affiliation with the Bloomington Bison, who are located in Illinois, for 2026-27.
Bjorck, Perfetti, & Bauer Sign on the Dotted Line
On July 13, Bjorck opted out of the second year of his contract with Djurgardens in the SHL and signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Jets.
On July 15, Cole Perfetti signed a five-year extension worth $6 million annually. The 2020 10th-overall pick recorded 32 points last season, down from 50 in 2024-25, and will be among the Jets looking to bounce back this season.
On Aug. 10, Tyrel Bauer signed a two-year deal as the final restricted free agent on the Jets’ books.
Hellebuyck Confirms Trade Request
In late August, Hellebuyck went public through his agent that he’s requested a trade, ending months of speculation borne out of his exit interview where he cast doubt on his future.
Cheveldayoff’s ask for Hellebuyck is clearly very high, and justifiably so, considering Hellebuyck has three Vezina Trophies, two William M. Jennings Trophies, and a Hart Trophy to his name. Cheveldayoff fielded offers from the Buffalo Sabres and Carolina Hurricanes — and likely others — but hasn’t felt strongly enough about any offer to accept it.
With five years left on the contract he signed in 2023 to be, in his words, a “Jet for life,” the now-disgruntled goaltender has very little leverage to actually get out of Winnipeg. Any trade will be on the organization’s timeline, not his, and will only happen when Cheveldayoff gets an offer he thinks represents fair value for the best goalie of the last decade. Darren Dreger recently reported that the offers the Jets have gotten so far have been “terrible.”
Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (James Carey Lauder-Imagn Images)
That being said, a quick resolution to this saga is probably best for the Jets in order to remove a distraction and possible threat to the strong locker-room culture they’ve rebuilt. If he refuses to report to training camp, the plot will get even thicker than it already is.
The questions now become where he’s traded to, when, and what the Jets will get back for him.
Jets Action Coming Soon
The Jets open their training camp on Sept. 17 and begin their four-game preseason slate on Sept. 19 in Edmonton versus the Oilers.
They kick off their 84-game regular season slate on Oct. 2 at home versus the Boston Bruins.
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