Re-Sign a Few Internal Free Agents<\/p>\n
The Jets can let almost all of their pending unrestricted free agents (UFAs) walk, which will open up quite a bit of money. They\u2019ll need to use some of that to re-sign a few of their UFAs and a couple restricted free agents (RFAs), though.<\/p>\n
Cole Perfetti will command the most money despite taking a step back this season and seeing his production drop to 32 points from 50 in 2024-25. He missed the first 14 games of the campaign with a high-ankle sprain he suffered<\/a> in the final preseason game and did not look comfortable until the new year.<\/p>\n While the 2020 first-rounder hasn\u2019t exactly put himself in the best situation to justify a significant raise from the $3.25 million average annual value (AAV) his expiring two-year bridge holds, a longer-term deal still seems on the table and is something he said in his exit interview<\/a> he would like. A lengthier deal would likely carry a $5 million AAV or north.<\/p>\n Another RFA, Isak Rosen, was acquired from the Buffalo Sabres<\/a> at the 2026 Trade Deadline and got an immediate NHL opportunity in Winnipeg. The 23 year old scored three goals in 21 games for the Jets down the stretch while averaging 10:42 in ice time and finished with six goals and four assists for 10 points in 37 games between the Jets and Sabres.<\/p>\n The 2021 14th-overall pick has been highly productive at the American Hockey League level, with 87 goals and 185 points in 231 games over parts of four seasons with the Rochester Americans. He put up 25 goals and 18 assists for 43 points for them in just 37 games this season prior to the trade.<\/p>\n The speedy left winger\u2019s entry-level contract (ELC) is expiring, and the most-logical path forward for both parties seems to be a two-year bridge with an AAV between $2 and $3 million.<\/p>\n UFA Eric Comrie will likely return as Jets\u2019 backup goaltender rather than testing free agency. The organization is familiar with him, he is well-liked in the locker room, and he only commanded a $825,000 AAV over the past two seasons.<\/p>\n There are also a few depth RFAs and UFAs they could re-sign including Jacob Bryson, Jaret Anderson-Dolan, Phil Di Giuseppe, Walker Duehr, David Gustafsson, and Mason Shaw, but those deals will either be league-minimum or just above.<\/p>\n There is also a possibility Cheveldayoff will sign whoever he selects with his eighth-overall pick<\/a> in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft to an ELC, if he believes that player is NHL ready.<\/p>\n Swing a Trade For Someone With Term or Under Team Control<\/p>\n The 2026 free-agent class is pretty thin<\/a> and will probably not garner a \u201csavior\u201d for the Jets\u2019 long-standing lack of a true second-line centre. Numerous players have been deployed in the role over the past number of seasons, but no one\u2019s filled it either very long (Paul Stastny, Sean Monahan) or very well (Kevin Hayes, Cody Eakin, Vladislav Namestnikov, Jonathan Toews). Other players such as Perfetti and Gabriel Vilardi, who played centre in junior, are now full-time wingers.<\/p>\n Winnipeg is far from the most-attractive market for free agents and Cheveldayoff is usually a bridesmaid rather than a bride when July 1 rolls around. Swinging a trade for someone with term or someone who isn\u2019t eligible to be an UFA for a while is probably his best bet for finally filling this void for more than a season or two. Even after signing his UFAs and RFAs, Cheveldayoff should have the space to take on at least one sizeable contract.<\/p>\n Linus Karlsson<\/a> (Vancouver Canucks), Monahan (Columbus Blue Jackets), Josh Norris<\/a> (Buffalo Sabres), and Shane Wright (Seattle Kraken) could be among the targets.<\/p>\n Karlsson is a pending RFA not eligible for UFA status until 2028. Monahan, who was good for the Jets as a rental in 2023-24, has three years remaining on a contract with a $5.5 million AAV. Norris has four years remaining on a contract with a $7.9 million AAV. Wright, who the Jets were connected to at the 2026 Trade Deadline neared, has one year remaining on his ELC and is not eligible for UFA status until 2031.<\/p>\n Sign a Strategic (Younger!) Free Agent or Two<\/p>\n While the Jets won\u2019t likely win the Alex Tuch \u201csweepstakes,\u201d Cheveldayoff could still bolster the club further with a strategic free-agent signing or two.<\/p>\n Since one of the Jets\u2019 major issues this season was that they were too old and too slow after Cheveldayoff added Gustav Nyquist, Tanner Pearson, Luke Schenn, and Toews from March 2025 onward, he would do well to avoid any of the aging veterans potentially on the precipice of a decline such as\u00a0Anthony Mantha,\u00a0Anders Lee, or Jaden Schwartz.<\/p>\n However, players such as Michael Bunting, Mason Marchment, Victor Olofsson, and Jack Roslovic could be among the realistic targets who could provide the Jets with more secondary scoring, another aspect of Winnipeg\u2019s game that fell off dramatically this season<\/a> from the Presidents\u2019 Trophy-winning 2024-25. All four recorded 30-plus points this season, are all 30 or younger, and all had salaries below the $5 million AAV mark.<\/p>\n This will be a pivotal offseason for Cheveldayoff considering some think he\u2019s past his expiration date as GM and because of the Jets\u2019 huge tumble down the standings from a season ago. How he uses the money at his disposal, and whether he can spend it better than he did last offseason, will be very interesting to follow. <\/p>\n Free Newsletter<\/p>\n \n Get Winnipeg Jets coverage delivered to your inbox <\/p>\n In-depth analysis, breaking news, and insider takes – free.<\/p>\n![\"Cole](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Cole-Perfetti-Jets-1200x732.jpg\")
Cole Perfetti, Winnipeg Jets (Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images)<\/p>\n![\"Sean](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Sean-Monahan-Jets-2-1200x900.jpg\")
Sean Monahan played for the Jets in 2024 but left as a UFA that summer for Columbus. (Amy Irvin<\/a> \/ The Hockey Writers)<\/p>\n![\"Jack](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Jack-Roslovic-Oilers-1200x800.jpg\")
Jack Roslovic, who spent this season with the Edmonton Oilers, is a pending UFA who was drafted by the Jets. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)<\/p>\n