The Winnipeg Jets finally got their history back.
The NHL announced on Thursday morning that the 1.0 (1979 to 1996) and 2.0 (2011 to present) eras will now be merged, plus they will include the seasons spent as the Atlanta Thrashers (1999-2011).
The history of the now inactive Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes (1996 to 2024) will remain a separate entity.
Trevor Hagan / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES
The NHL announced Wednesday morning that the Winnipeg Jets 1.0 (1979 to 1996) and 2.0 (2011 to present) eras will now be merged, including the seasons the club spent as the Atlanta Thrashers (1999-2011).
“Today’s announcement is meaningful for our organization, our alumni and generations of Winnipeg Jets fans,” Jets executive chairman Mark Chipman said in a press release. “The Jets teams from 1979 to 1996 helped build an identity and tradition that we proudly carry forward today. For our fans, these players and these moments have always been part of the same Winnipeg Jets story, and we’re pleased that our official records will now reflect that.”
As a result of this decision, several Jets franchise records have been updated, which means Mark Scheifele will continue his quest to catch mentor and former coach Dale Hawerchuk (who is the leader in goals with 379 and points with 929).
Scheifele opens the campaign with 372 goals, 535 assists (which trails Thomas Steen at 553) and 907 points, which means he could surpass all three totals in a season where he is scheduled to suit up in his 1,000th NHL game.
“Statistics and records are more than numbers — they capture the milestones, achievements and memories that define the history of our game and the communities that support it,” NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said in a press release. “We respect the Jets’ commitment to honouring their franchise’s journey and are pleased that the full history of NHL hockey in Winnipeg now can be celebrated as one continuous story.”
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Winnipeg Jets Game Days
On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop.
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winnipegfreepress.com/kenwiebe
Ken Wiebe is a sports reporter for the Free Press, with an emphasis on the Winnipeg Jets. He has covered hockey and provided analysis in this market since 2000 for the Winnipeg Sun, The Athletic, Sportsnet.ca and TSN. Ken was a summer intern at the Free Press in 1999 and returned to the Free Press in a full-time capacity in September of 2023. Read more about Ken.
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