All quiet on the Hellebuyck front

Pull up a chair, folks, as we address the elephant in the room. Or, to be more precise, the decorated goaltender who is not in the room. Or on the ice. Or even in the city.

Not surprisingly, the Connor Hellebuyck situation took centre stage Tuesday as members of the Winnipeg Jets held their first media session following an informal, pre-training camp skate.

“We’re definitely going to get asked about it. That’s no chirp to anybody. I think that’s just the reality of the situation,” admitted veteran defenceman Dylan DeMelo, who took part in an hour-long practice at Hockey For All Centre that involved nearly every member of the organization.

With one very notable exception, of course.

Jets’ Hellebuyck trade request marks pivotal moment for the franchise

Connor Hellebuyck has broken his silence in an effort to expedite his departure from the Winnipeg Jets.

In a statement released by agent Ray Petkau on Thursday afternoon, Hellebuyck confirmed he has asked to be moved by the team that chose him in the fifth round of the 2012 NHL draft.

“I have never forgotten June 23, 2012. That’s the day the Winnipeg Jets took a chance on a goalie playing in Odessa, Texas. I gave everything I had from that moment to prove the Jets made the right decision,” Hellebuyck said in the statement.

“Several months ago, I privately requested a trade. I have tried to handle the situation quietly and respectfully, while giving the organization time to explore its options. With training camp approaching, I felt it was important to publicly confirm my request. My position has not changed and I believe moving on is the best path forward for me and my family.”

Central remains toughest division in league

With NHL training camps set to open in just over five weeks’ time, the Central Division still looks like one of the toughest places to earn a playoff spot in the league.

With three of the top seven teams in the NHL standings last season residing within it — including the Presidents’ Trophy winning Colorado Avalanche (121 points) — it’s clear that the most likely path back to the Stanley Cup playoffs for the Winnipeg Jets is by earning one of the two wild-card berths available in the Western Conference.

And since a couple of teams in the Pacific Division are on the rise, including the Anaheim Ducks and San Jose Sharks (who missed the playoffs by four points in Macklin Celebrini’s second NHL season), it’s likely going to take north of 90 or 92 points to punch a post-season ticket.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the moves that were made in the Central, realizing there are a few questions left unanswered for the Jets and the seven other clubs:

Jets’ Perfetti motivated to prove his worth following ‘life-changing’ contract

Adam Lowry’s wedding was the main event, of course. But the Winnipeg Jets had even more reason to celebrate this past weekend as they returned from their off-season homes for a spirited summertime gathering.

Jets drop puck on sweet 16th season at home

The Winnipeg Jets will be a busy bunch when the new season begins.

The NHL released the freshly expanded 84-game schedules for all 32 teams on Thursday and the Jets open the campaign with 14 games during the month of October — including seven at Canada Life Centre.

The busiest month of the season for the Jets will be November, as they will play 15 games in 30 days.

Following the home opener against the Boston Bruins on Oct. 2, the Jets head out for two games in two days against the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins before returning home for a three-game homestand that includes a visit from Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar and the Colorado Avalanche.

Manitoba Miracle forward signs five-year contract with club

Cole Perfetti is betting on himself. And the Winnipeg Jets are counting on him to take the next step in his development.

In what has been an interesting off-season to date, general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff knocked another important item off his to-do list as the Jets agreed to terms with Perfetti on a five-year contract that carries an average annual value of US$6 million.

Perhaps the most important part of this transaction was that it allowed the two sides to avoid going to arbitration next Monday, which would have been bad for business for both parties.

Although it’s easy to say that it’s just business, a one-year term in arbitration, no matter the amount, would have left neither side satisfied and it would have meant Perfetti was just one year away from the opportunity to explore unrestricted free agency.

Jets mailbag: Breaking down the club’s off-season moves

One player seemingly can’t wait to get here. The other is looking for an exit route. Not surprisingly, these two Winnipeg Jets were featured prominently this month in our Free Press mailbag.

Bjorck inks three-year, entry-level contract with Jets

Putting pen to paper was merely the next step in the journey for Viggo Bjorck.

Now that the eighth overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft has inked his entry-level deal with the Winnipeg Jets, the real fun begins.

This is standard operating procedure and was basically a formality after Bjorck’s club team Djurgardens announced publicly over the weekend that the skilled forward was leaving the Swedish Hockey League to pursue NHL opportunities.

Bjorck signed his three-year pact on Monday and it carries a cap hit of US $1.075 million in the NHL, with the ability to make another US$1 million per season if he hits his performance bonuses.

Top prospect Viggo Björck plans future with Jets

The stage appears to be set for Viggo Björck to make an immediate impact with the Winnipeg Jets.

A significant development occurred this weekend when Djurgården — the Swedish team Björck was under contract for the coming season — announced the 18-year-old was departing the organization under very positive terms.

“Viggo Björck has chosen to leave Djurgården to continue his career in the Winnipeg Jets organization next season,” the news release stated.

The announcement prompted vastly different reactions depending on your perspective.

Jets depth chart takes shape as off-season heats up

That Kevin Cheveldayoff was expecting the pace of the off-season to shift gears came as little surprise.

And while it appears as though there are still a few questions left unresolved when it comes to the Winnipeg Jets roster this fall — including a massive one involving starting goalie Connor Hellebuyck and his future with the organization — the depth chart is taking shape.

When he spoke to members of the media at the conclusion of Jets development camp, the general manager spoke about prioritizing a new contract for restricted free agent Cole Perfetti, who filed for arbitration on Sunday in what was more of a procedural move than an indicator of how negotiations might be going.

As Perfetti stated unabashedly after his exit interview, the Jets forward wants to be part of the long-term solution and there should be an opportunity for the player and the team to find common ground on a long-term deal with the Jets before an arbitration hearing takes place.

Jets GM Cheveldayoff happy with off-season additions

The work is far from over, and the biggest question facing his franchise has yet to be answered.

But Winnipeg Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff believes his hockey club took significant steps in the right direction during a busy week that helped reshape the roster.

It began with the selection of Swedish centre Viggo Bjorck eighth overall in last Friday’s NHL draft, then continued when the Jets landed goaltender Stuart Skinner and defenceman Mario Ferraro as free agency opened on Canada Day.

“We set out to fill a few of the boxes that we needed,” Cheveldayoff said Friday as he spoke with media following the conclusion of Winnipeg’s week-long development camp at Hockey For All Centre.

Welcome to Viggopeg

Viggomania ran wild this week. And the Winnipeg Jets latest first-round pick did everything in his power to keep the hype train rolling.

By the time Viggo Bjorck skated off the ice on Friday at Hockey For All Centre and signed a bunch of autographs and posed for photos, it was abundantly clear that the eighth overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft had left a positive impression on the Jets fan base.

Although it’s important to remember where we are in the calendar, Bjorck showcased his skillset on numerous occasions, whether it was making a deft pass up the middle to Jacob Julien to open the scoring during the scrimmage or burying a dish from Alfons Freij to show off his finishing ability.

Bjorck also provided a glimpse of his competitive nature when he got involved in a discussion over whether or not the goals scored during the shootout held between periods would count in this battle between Team White and Team Blue.

Jets fans flock to see franchise’s future

There’s no off-season for Winnipeg Jets enthusiasts.

Fans of all ages have made their way to the Hockey For All Centre to watch Jets development camp this week to scope out the franchise’s future prospects and/or have merchandise signed. Even on a Thursday morning, Winnipeggers filled the stands to see what is up and coming for their beloved team.

Phil Mahoney brought his son Sawyer to the rink decked out in Jets and Manitoba Moose gear to show their support for the organization every day this week.

“Here to check out the prospects and see what’s coming up the pipeline. My son really likes hockey so I just love bringing him on,” Mahoney said. “It’s always a good time coming here. I’m a big Jets fan, always have been.”

‘Wanted to be in a place that I’ve heard treats players well’

Mario Ferraro had one specific criteria he was looking for when it came to finding a new hockey home. So when the Winnipeg Jets came calling with a Canada Day offer, the veteran defenceman didn’t need much convincing.

“The number one priority is: I want to win,” Ferraro said Thursday on a Zoom call with media, one day after signing a three-year contract that will pay him US$4 million annually.

“I want to be on a team that’s in a position to do so, and I see that here in Winnipeg,”

Is he talking about the same Jets team coming off a disappointing season in which they finished 27th overall in the NHL and failed to make the playoffs?

Skinner signing adds to Winnipeg Jets goalie intrigue

Stuart Skinner made no bold proclamations about his expected workload, nor did he provide any hints about whether or not he expected to be part of a tandem with Connor Hellebuyck, given the noise that has surrounded the Winnipeg Jets starting goaltender.

After agreeing to terms of a two-year deal with an AAV of US$3.75 million, Skinner showcased his trademark accountability and humility when asked about his expected role come this fall.

“To be honest, it wasn’t too much of a conversation because we don’t know too much,” said Skinner, when asked directly about Hellebuyck. “Obviously, there’s rumors out there. As far as my experience, rumours are just rumours until something happens.

“As of right now, me and Helle are teammates, which is so exciting. I mean, he’s the best goalie in the world, so it’s a great opportunity for me. I think, again, with the thought process of growing my game and just becoming a better goalie and the type of culture that Winnipeg brings, it’s extremely exciting.”