Jarvis brings Stanley Cup to where it all began

Seth Jarvis and Lord Stanley had quite the homecoming celebration with thousands of fans lining up for their arrival — some even before the sun graced the sky.

The Winnipeg community showed up to cheer on one of their own, wearing memorabilia of all of Jarvis’s achievements, with Tuxedo Lightning, Team Canada, and Carolina Hurricane jerseys aplenty in the crowd.

The Tuxedo Community Centre — where Jarvis’s storied career all began — had fans from all walks of life lined up, circling the building and fields, for the opportunity to meet the Stanley Cup champion and touch the trophy themselves.

Throughout the line, lawn chairs were assembled, picnic blankets were spread out, and umbrellas were opened — all prepared for the long wait ahead of them.

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:

Cross Lake pro blueliner walks away from sport he loves to live and work in northern community he loves even more

CROSS LAKE — It’s a hot, hazy Tuesday evening in northern Manitoba, and Jericho Blacksmith and his buddies are gathered inside a baseball dugout.

There isn’t a glove or bat in sight.

Instead, the young men are engaged in a loud, good-natured race to see who can get blackout drunk the fastest, passing around bottles and cans purchased from the local vendor, which had just been restocked when the weekly truck rolled into town earlier that day.

“Honestly, everything can be pretty brutal around here,” says the 26-year-old lifelong resident, pointing to isolation, a lack of opportunity and relentless boredom.

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.

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 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.

‘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?

Vigfusson vying to impress at Jets development camp

You’ll forgive Adam Vigfusson for having a bit of a “kid in a candy store” mentality these days.

The 20-year-old Gimli product is truly living his best life, fresh off winning a Manitoba Junior Hockey League title, a Centennial Cup championship, Most Valuable Player honours at the national tournament and earning a scholarship to St. Cloud State University that begins this fall.

This week, you’ll find him at Hockey For All Centre, skating alongside the likes of Viggo Bjorck, Brayden Yager, Colby Barlow and the other top prospects in the Winnipeg Jets organization. Vigfusson could hardly believe it when the Jets recently extended an invitation to their annual rookie development camp.

“I got the call asking if I wanted to come and it was like, ‘Oh my goodness, that’s something I never thought would happen.’ Just super excited to be here,” Vigfusson told the Free Press following Tuesday’s skate.

Long to-do list for Jets

They have holes to fill, money to spend and questions to answer.

But the biggest one heading into July 1 hangs over the Winnipeg Jets like the dark clouds that have become a fixture around here lately: Is Connor Hellebuyck staying or going?

Clarity on that potentially stormy situation will shape much of general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff’s summer to-do list.

Hellebuyck made it clear during his year-end media availability that he needs to see significant roster improvements around him, seemingly putting enormous pressure on Cheveldayoff to begin delivering when free agency opens Wednesday.

Jets draft pick Bjorck touches down in Winnipeg for development camp

A couple of quick conversations with Viggo Bjorck reveal a magnetic personality to go along with an impressive scouting report.

Just a few days after the Winnipeg Jets chose the Swedish centre with the eighth overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, Bjorck arrived on the scene in Manitoba for development camp, ready to embrace the next step in his remarkable journey.

There were new teammates to meet, hands to shake, fitness testing to push through, sticks to tape and promotional videos to shoot.

But the last 12 months were essentially a whirlwind of activity for the guy who immediately becomes the Jets’ top prospect, so to see him handle tasks with aplomb should come as little surprise.

Four Manitobans find NHL homes in latest draft

Brek Liske figures it was meant to be.

“So my Dad was always a Flyers fan throughout his whole life, and he kind of brainwashed me into it,” the Beausejour product told reporters on Saturday — mere moments after Philadelphia had selected him in the second round, 53rd overall, of the NHL draft.

He learned of his selection while at the family cottage, surrounded by dozens of family members and friends, including many in Flyers jerseys.

Liske was one of four Manitobans to hear their name called over the weekend.

Jets iron out crease depth on day 2 of NHL draft

The biggest splash may have happened on Friday night when the Winnipeg Jets landed dynamic Swedish centre Viggo Bjorck with the eighth-overall draft pick.

But the organization took another important step on Saturday when it comes to the prospect pool, filling it with six more players they hope could one day swim with the big kids in the NHL.

Bjorck will grab most of the headlines, and rightfully so.

“I have to be honest. He’s one of the most exciting draft picks I’ve ever had. I’ve been doing this a long time,” said Jets director of scouting Mark Hillier.

Pride of Cypress River drafted sixth overall by Calgary Flames

CYPRESS RIVER — It began like any other day for Carson Carels: Up at the crack of dawn, feeding his baby goats, driving a herd of hungry cattle and then heading to the rink for a quick workout.

But by the time Friday was over, it was one he would never forget.

Carels was drafted sixth-overall by the Calgary Flames, sharing the experience with more than 100 family members and close friends in an outdoor viewing party held on the family farm here in southwestern Manitoba.

“Just awesome. I’m still shaking right now,” the 18-year-old defenceman told the Free Press moments after hearing his name announced during the television broadcast by Flames legend Lanny McDonald.

Jets take Viggo Björck eighth overall

The Winnipeg Jets believe they’ve finally found the solution for their second-line centre dilemma in Viggo Björck.

The versatile and explosive Swedish forward was chosen eighth overall in the 2026 NHL Draft by the Jets and brings a combination of blazing speed and tenacity. He also has the versatility to play down the middle or on the wing and brings a defensive responsibility to go along with his offensive instincts.

Björck helped Sweden capture a gold medal at the 2026 World Junior Hockey Championship with fellow Jets prospects Alfons Freij and Sascha Boumedienne, who was the Jets’ first-round selection in 2025.

The right-handed shooter also suited up for his country at the IIHF men’s world championship last month, chipping in one goal and six points in eight games.

NHL draft swap watch continues

Go ahead and call it the calm before the storm.

As the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft is set to arrive on Friday night, the Winnipeg Jets have the potential to be the talk of the town, given the trade rumours surrounding goaltender Connor Hellebuyck.

But keep in mind, this is the time of year when misdirection is commonplace.

Hellebuyck may or may not be on the move this weekend, and it’s important to remember that the three-time Vezina Trophy winner is under contact for the next five seasons at a reasonable average annual value of US$8.5 million.