A Jets fan to the end

He was known online as Ice Dragon, a bright and funny young man whose love and loyalty for his hometown Winnipeg Jets ran deep.

But behind Justin Deleau’s charming on-screen persona in numerous online hockey chat rooms and message boards was a fierce personal battle, one he divulged to hockey fans from around the world in a startling post late last month.

“Figure if I’m dying I might as well give y’all a chance to meet me if you want,” Justin typed on April 28 as he lay in palliative care at the Grace Hospice.

“Anyways thanks for everything you guys. I’ve never felt so loved by a community. I’ll keep cheering on the Jets no matter what. I love you guys!! Pour one out for me at Portage and Main when the boys do win the Cup.”

Jet prospect DiVincentiis named OHL goaltender of the year

A year ago, Domenic DiVincentiis had no idea where his career was headed. He was coming off a promising rookie season in the Ontario Hockey League, looking forward to the NHL draft and hoping a team might be willing to take a shot at bringing him into the fold.

Now? The seventh-round selection of the Winnipeg Jets is the most intriguing goalie prospect for the organization since Connor Hellebuyck was picked in the fifth round way back in 2012.

“The whole year, from the draft until today, has been a roller-coaster,” DiVincentiis, 19, told the Free Press on Wednesday in a telephone interview from his hometown of Bolton, Ont. “It’s been pretty eye-opening. A very cool year, overall. Something that I have obviously enjoyed and am taking a moment to recap and think about what a year it has been.”

He’s coming off the only low from that ride, a season-ending loss to the Peterborough Petes this past Monday in Game 7 of their OHL semi-final series. His North Bay Battalion ultimately ended up five wins short of getting to the Memorial Cup. The highs, however, were plentiful, including 68 games played (48 in the regular-season, 20 in the playoffs) and a combined 47-15-5 record. His goals-against-average (2.33 in the season, 2.41 in the playoffs) and save percentage (.919 in the season, .926 in the playoffs) were stellar.

Wheeler Jets King Clancy Award nominee

Veteran Winnipeg Jets forward Blake Wheeler is the team’s nominee for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy.

The annual honour is given to the NHL player “who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community.”

The 32 finalists were selected by their respective NHL teams.

The winner will be chosen by a committee of senior NHL executives looking at criteria that includes “clear and measurable positive impact on the community, investment of time and resources, commitment to a particular cause or community, commitment to the league’s community initiatives, creativity of programming and use of influence; engagement of others.”

Morrissey snubbed for Norris consideration

Josh Morrissey’s stellar season wasn’t enough to earn him consideration for some hockey hardware.

The Winnipeg Jets defenceman is not a finalist for the Norris Trophy, which is awarded annually to the league’s best player at that position.

Erik Karlsson of the San Jose Sharks, Adam Fox of the New York Rangers and Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche have the honours, the league announced Thursday evening. The winner will be announced at a ceremony in Nashville on June 26.

Morrissey, 28, had a career high 76 points (16 goals and 60 assists) in 78 regular-season games. That more than doubled his previous best of 37 points and established a new franchise-best for the Jets/Atlanta Thrashers organization.

Bowness gets comeback

Rick Bowness will be back behind the bench to lead the Winnipeg Jets.

Bowness was given the vote of confidence by Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff during his season-ending press conference on Sunday, confirming the veteran coach will return for a second season. So, too, will his staff, which includes associate coach Scott Arniel and assistants Brad Lauer and Marty Johnston.

“When we talked last year, there’s lots of things that went into those types of discussions. The job that Rick did for us in coming in and taking on this task and giving him a shot at trying to win a Stanley Cup, I thought they a great job,” Cheveldayoff said. “Not just Rick, but the coaching staff. In Rick’s situation, he’s more than comfortable going into the season with his contract the way that it is.”

Bowness was already under contract for next season, signing a two-year deal plus an option for a third. But his future with the club seemed uncertain after he called out his team following a 4-1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 5 of the first round that officially eliminated the Jets from the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Jets wonder what future may hold

Nobody brought out a crystal ball, nor were any tea leaves or tarot cards read. But the future of four key Winnipeg Jets players remains cloudy with a strong chance of change based on everything we saw and heard on Saturday.

Let’s start with the most important one of all, former Vezina Trophy winning goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, who has just one year left on his current contract and would become an unrestricted free agent by next summer.

“That’s hard to answer,” Hellebuyck said when asked about his future in Winnipeg. “My main goal is to win a Stanley Cup, and I’m starting to run out of time and can feel it.”

Hellebuyck, who will turn 30 next month, likely holds the key to whether the Jets undergo an extreme makeover or something a bit more subdued.

Jets confident they can flip the script

Give them credit: The Winnipeg Jets are talking a good game despite being on the brink of playoff elimination.

“We have to be confident. We have to be. And we will be,” coach Rick Bowness said Tuesday as his team got ready to board a charter flight to Las Vegas where they face a must-win on Thursday night.

“We’ll be a very confident group going into that game. We’re going to have a swagger to us that says if we go out, it’s going to be one tough fight. When we play with that attitude, then I like our chances.”

Winnipeg trails three games to one in the best-of-seven series. They opened last Tuesday with a convincing 5-1 win in Las Vegas, but it’s been all downhill from there.

Scheifele’s run of post-season bad luck continues with latest injury

Mark Scheifele proved himself to be a prime-time playoff performer during the Winnipeg Jets’ magical run to the Western Conference Final five years ago. Fourteen goals in 17 games spoke volumes.

Since then? Forgettable post-season stints, to say the least, filled with misery and malfeasance. And the Jets forward is only partially to blame.

His 2020 stint ended after just a couple shifts when then Calgary Flames forward Matthew Tkachuk caught him with a questionable hit that left him with a series-ending ankle injury. It happened early in Game 1 of the qualifying round.

You’ll recall former Paul Maurice said “it was intentional… it was a filthy, dirty kick to the back of the leg. He could have cut his Achilles. He could have ended the man’s career.”

Scheifele latest player hurt as Vegas takes commanding 3-1 series lead

The “try” is there. The talent, unfortunately, is not.

And an injury-riddled Winnipeg Jets team that was already an underdog at full strength now faces a Herculean task in coming back from a 3-1 series deficit against the heavily favoured and very healthy Vegas Golden Knights.

A hard-fought 4-2 defeat in Game 4 on Monday night at the downtown rink was once again accompanied by a major loss from the lineup. Top-line forward Mark Scheifele suffered what appeared to be a serious arm or hand injury early in the first period, just as all-star defenceman Josh Morrissey did in the opening minutes of Saturday’s eventual 5-4 double overtime loss.

Scheifele and Morrissey join sidelined forwards Nikolaj Ehlers and Cole Perfetti, who have yet to make an appearance in a series that can end with a Golden Knights win on Thursday night in Sin City.

Lowry an emerging star

Adam Lowry is carrying himself like a captain, leading by example on and off the ice. He’s also looking like a future Conn Smythe candidate given the way he’s elevated his game on a big playoff stage.

Lowry, 30, scored for the third straight game against the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday, sending Canada Life Centre into a frenzy when he made it 4-4 with just 22 seconds left in the third period.

“Blackout,” is how Lowry said he reacted. “I’ll tell you what, I was pretty fired up. To kind of enter the third where we were at and get the building rocking and have a chance to win in overtime, it’s a pretty big high emotionally. It was nice to get the building back and tie the game for the guys. It’s too bad we couldn’t finish.”

Lowry is now up to four goals in the series (he had two in Game 1) while also being a pivotal part of a penalty kill that survived a pair of Pierre-Luc Dubois minors in overtime and double overtime. His four shot blocks led all Winnipeg forwards, and his six hits were third highest on the team.

Morrissey gone for series

The Winnipeg Jets lost more than just a pivotal playoff hockey game in heartbreaking fashion Saturday afternoon.

All-Star defenceman Josh Morrissey is done for the rest of the series against the Vegas Golden Knights after suffering a lower-body injury just 74 seconds into his Game 3 outing. A source told the Free Press it’s related to his knee, believed to be a MCL sprain.

“He’s a top five D in this league right now. He plays all the important minutes and he’s a guy that drives the offence,” Jets coach Rick Bowness said following the 5-4 double overtime loss at Canada Life Centre.

Morrissey, 28, is coming off a career year in which he had 76 points (16 goals and 60 assists) in 78 regular-season games. Only Erik Karlsson of the San Jose Sharks had more from the blue-line. He had one assist in the first two playoff contests against Vegas.

Return to lineup of speedy Dane will be a game-time decision

The plot continues to thicken when it comes to one of the biggest offensive weapons for the Winnipeg Jets.

Forward Nikolaj Ehlers has yet to make an appearance in the playoff series against the Vegas Golden Knights, missing Tuesday and Thursday night games at T-Mobile despite being a full participant at Monday and Wednesday practices.

So will he be in the lineup for Saturday’s Game 3 at Canada Life Centre (3 p.m CT)?

“We would hope so,” coach Rick Bowness said during Friday’s availability in Vegas just before the team boarded the charter to fly home.

Jets let golden opportunity slip away in 5-2 loss to Vegas

LAS VEGAS — The good news for the underdog Winnipeg Jets? They’ve wrestled away home-ice advantage from the No. 1 team in the Western Conference, turning a best-of-seven into a best-of-five without an appearance yet from one of their most dynamic offensive players.

The bad news? They blew a terrific opportunity to take a commanding series lead on Thursday night, as a strong start gave way to a sloppy finish and resulted in a 5-2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena.

“Obviously we let that one slip away a little bit,” said forward Mark Scheifele.

After taking the opener on Tuesday night by a 5-1 score, the Jets essentially picked up where they left off in a dominating first period.

Samberg, Gustafsson loving first taste of NHL playoff action

LAS VEGAS — There was no stage fright or opening night jitters for Dylan Samberg and David Gustafsson, just safe, sensible hockey for a pair of players who are getting their first taste of playoff action under the bright lights of Las Vegas.

The two young Winnipeg Jets skaters spoke with the Free Press about the experience prior to suiting up for their second game on Thursday at T-Mobile Arena, looking to build off Tuesday’s 5-1 victory.

“It was everything I expected, times 10 probably,” said Gustafsson, 23, who admits to taking a few moments to soak it all in when he first hit the ice.

“The warm-up here in Vegas is very different. It’s kind of like you are skating inside of a night club,” he said of the glitzy pre-game festivities. “During that time, you’re just trying to focus on yourself, trying to see what’s on the ice. Don’t look up too much into the stands. It’s a little extra good feeling when you skate out for a playoff game.”

Barron grateful to be OK after suffering nasty gash, eager to rejoin Jets battle

LAS VEGAS — Morgan Barron is feeling a lot better than he looks, which, given the state of his mangled face right now, is a very good thing.

“Some guys look at me like I’m a science project,” the 24-year-old Winnipeg Jets forward joked Thursday morning at T-Mobile Arena.

Despite his ghastly appearance, Barron was good to go for Game 2 of his team’s playoff series against the Vegas Golden Knights. He’s going to be wearing a full cage for the foreseeable future, which is protecting the battered and bruised area around his right eye currently being held together by approximately 75 stitches.

“Guys are awesome about it and feel like we may still make light of it. Obviously, it was pretty fortunate the way things ended up,” Barron said.

Vegas needs a bounce-back game

LAS VEGAS — The heat is suddenly on here in Vegas. The No. 1 team in the Western Conference knows it can’t afford to drop a second straight game on home ice following Tuesday’s 5-1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets.

Concern? Sure. Panic? Not yet, anyways.

“I think everybody knows it’s not lost after one game, but you have to get better,” coach Bruce Cassidy said following Wednesday’s practice.

“For us. It’s obviously got to get a lot better, but we had 111 points this year. We did talk about that we’re not going to define ourselves by one hockey game.”

Jets rally round Barron

LAS VEGAS — Morgan Barron has quickly become the bloody face of the Winnipeg Jets. That’s a beautiful thing for a tight-knit team that has found a rather gruesome rallying point.

Barron, 24, was cut by the skate blade of Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Laurent Brossoit in the first period of the Jets’ 5-1 victory on Tuesday night.

“It looked like he got attacked by a shark,” Adam Lowry said of the incident, which came during a wild, goal-mouth scramble. “We’re all so worried about the puck crossing the line and then all of a sudden we see a trail of blood basically from the crease all the way to the bench.”

The scary incident quickly became the talk of the hockey world, especially after Barron returned in the middle frame sporting a full cage and approximately 75 stitches to close the deep wound near his eye.

Jets draw first blood in 5-1 win over Vegas

LAS VEGAS — Now THAT is the hockey team that took the Western Conference by storm in the first half — and not the one that stumbled for much of the second-half before a late-season surge got them into the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Kolesar’s job is to be a Knightmare for Jets

LAS VEGAS — Keegan Kolesar loves being the kind of player other teams just hate to play against. And the Winnipeg product might just become Public Enemy No. 1 over the next couple weeks as his Vegas Golden Knights take on his hometown team.

Bucky vs. Brossoit, goaltenders’ duel

LAS VEGAS — It’s not just a trip to the second round of the playoffs that’s at stake when the Winnipeg Jets and Vegas Golden Knights face off.

Jets ready to take the play to Golden Knights

LAS VEGAS — They’ve adjusted to the two-hour time change, got a couple nights of rest in their hotel rooms and now a full team skate in enemy territory under their belts.

Niederreiter a veteran of playoff stage

LAS VEGAS — If you’re simply going by the odds, as they love to do here in Sin City, then it’s a coin flip every season as to whether a particular NHL player will make it to the playoffs. Sixteen teams get in. Sixteen teams do not.

Ehlers declares himself ‘good to go’

Nikolaj Ehlers never saw it coming.

Jets confident recent struggles in past as they prepare for playoffs against Vegas

Reflection. Anticipation. Preparation.

One point away, Jets chalk out path to playoffs with 6-2 victory over Sharks

Third time was the charm for the Winnipeg Jets when it came to those pesky San Jose Sharks. And a dominant 6-2 victory over the sad-sack squad on Monday night now has them on the cusp of punching their ticket to the playoffs.

Playoff picture coming into focus for Jets

The playoff picture for the Winnipeg Jets is starting to come into focus.

And a 2-0 win over the Nashville Predators on Saturday night, along with a 3-2 shootout loss by the Calgary Flames a few hours later, has put the local club in full control.

But it’s not over yet.

Workhorse Hellebuyck worthy of praise

Connor Hellebuyck has had much busier nights. There haven’t been too many more important ones when it comes to regular-season action, and the 2019-20 Vezina Trophy winner stood tall on a big stage Saturday.

Jets absolutely dominate Predators

The Winnipeg Jets played like their season was on the line Saturday night, kicking their game into another gear and pulling away with a pivotal 2-0 victory over the Nashville Predators in downtown Winnipeg.

Jets focused on pesky Predators

They couldn’t find success in the biggest game of the season. The Winnipeg Jets, however, say a short-term memory is the best way to handle their current situation.

Jets in hot water after 3-1 loss to Calgary Flames

The plot thickens. And so, too, does the playoff race.

Jets bust out big-time

And all was right in the Winnipeg Jets world. For at least one night, anyways.

Jets’ tailspin continues with 3-0 loss to lowly Sharks

Facing the NHL’s worst team and with the heat cranked up after their two closest pursuers both won earlier in the night, the supposedly desperate Winnipeg Jets came out Tuesday night with all the urgency of a Sunday afternoon leisure skate and the execution of a Friday night beer league gathering.

Ehlers dropped to third line as struggling Jets search for scoring

It’s typically not a good sign when a hockey team is still juggling its healthy lineup on the eve of Game No. 75, hoping to find a spark that can perhaps save the season from completely swirling down the drain.

For a team in a playoff race, Jets sure look disinterested

LOS ANGELES — You look at the Winnipeg Jets in the NHL standings and see a team with a playoff pulse. Then you watch them hit the ice on Saturday afternoon here in Hollywood and see a group that appears headed for a quick and painful demise.

Jets can’t solve Swayman

The Winnipeg Jets played a solid overall hockey game on Thursday night. The kind of game that, against the majority of NHL opponents, would probably earn them at least a point, maybe two, in the standings.

Bowness sends a message

RALEIGH — Short-term pain, long-term gain? It appears that was the strategy for the Winnipeg Jets on several fronts Tuesday night in Raleigh.

Big, physical and hard to play against

RALEIGH — They are the identity line of the Winnipeg Jets, a trio of rugged, hard-working players who help get the engine revving — and hopefully leave their opponents stuck in first gear.

Put away the pitchforks

TAMPA BAY — Put down those pitchforks. Hold off on the obituary. There appears to be plenty of fight left in these Winnipeg Jets.

Eyssimont puts charge into Bolts

TAMPA BAY — Michael Eyssimont may be gone from the Winnipeg Jets. But he’s definitely not forgotten by fans, former teammates and coaches who love the energy and excitement he brought to the lineup earlier this year.

Jets get ugly win and 2 points

SUNRISE, Fla. — When it comes to the NHL standings, they don’t ask how. Just how many. And the answer for the Winnipeg Jets as of late hasn’t been nearly good enough. A season that started with so much promise was starting to slip away.

Former coach Maurice says Jets good enough to win Cup

SUNRISE, Fla. — Paul Maurice isn’t ready to give up on the Winnipeg Jets.

Namestnikov comes as advertised

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. — He still hasn’t had much of a chance to stop and catch his breath. However, Vladislav Namestnikov is feeling more comfortable with each passing day as he adjusts to his new surroundings.

It’s time for struggling Jets to be accountable: Wheeler

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. — The Winnipeg Jets are feeling the heat. We’re not talking about the temperature in sunny south Florida that surged to an unseasonably high 30 C by Friday afternoon.

Fleury the difference in loss to Wild

If the Winnipeg Jets end up missing the playoffs, Wednesday’s 4-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild might prove to be the game where a once far-fetched thought really started coming into focus.

Ehlers on ice? Curious usage raises plenty of questions

He is one of the biggest weapons on the Winnipeg Jets, a dynamic and highly skilled skater who can razzle and dazzle with the best of them. So, why has Nikolaj Ehlers been stapled to the bench so much lately, his ice time cut back to alarmingly low levels?

Jets shoot to win in goal-fest

It wasn’t for the faint of heart. But the Winnipeg Jets managed to hold on for dear life during a wild roller-coaster ride and grab a pair of valuable points on Saturday night against the Edmonton Oilers.

Newest Jet handles impossible assignment

Welcome to Winnipeg, Vladislav Namestnikov. Now please go chase the world’s greatest hockey player around the rink all night.

Kopitar carries Kings past jets

It wasn’t officially a “must-win.” But Tuesday’s game at Canada Life Centre sure felt like one for the Winnipeg Jets.

Bowness points fly from frustrated, fired-up Jets coach

Rick Bowness looked and sounded like someone who’s had just about enough of his group’s inconsistent and, at times, completely uninspired play. And the Winnipeg Jets head coach carried that passion over from practice to the podium on Monday in an eyebrow-raising media availability.

Jets add scoring with Niederreiter

Some much-needed help is on the way for the struggling, offensively-challenged Winnipeg Jets.

Jets outclassed by Avalanche

The “most important game of the year” for the Winnipeg Jets ended up being a desperate cry for help.

Jets stumble through loss to Isles

NEW YORK — When the Winnipeg Jets hit the road a week ago, head coach Rick Bowness said the priority was to at least come back home in no worse shape than when they left.

Eric Dubois finally gets called up to NHL

NEW YORK — It’s been two decades since Eric Dubois last suited up for game action, finishing his on-ice career with the Sorel Royaux of the now-defunct Quebec Semi-Pro Hockey League.

Hellebuyck’s Broadway performance backstops Jets to 4-1 win over Rangers

NEW YORK — Take a bow, Connor Hellebuyck. Your one-man show here under the bright lights of Broadway Monday night was an instant classic, the type of memorable performance that won’t soon be forgotten.

Trouba taking chomp out of Big Apple

NEW YORK — He’s the captain of an Original Six team, living in one of the world’s great cities and playing games in one of the most famous sporting venues on the planet. He’s making US $8million a year, has a partner pursuing her medical career and an adorable Husky to keep him on his toes.

Hellebuyck healthy, back at full strength

NEWARK — It wasn’t the triumphant return to the net that Connor Hellebuyck was hoping for. But Winnipeg’s co-MVP — defenceman Josh Morrissey would be the other prime candidate — was just happy to be back in a familiar place after a flu bug knocked him for a loop last week.

Jets finding ways to lose

NEWARK — The Winnipeg Jets have suddenly gone from a team that often found ways to win close hockey games to one that discovers increasingly frustrating ways to lose them.

If you can’t beat Columbus you gotta get greasy

NEWARK — It would appear a loss to the NHL’s worst team left a mark.

Jets miss major opportunity

COLUMBUS — This was supposed to be the easy one of what is shaping up to be a tough four-game road trip. The free space on the NHL’s proverbial bingo card, if you will. A gimme. A layup.

Stenlund has come a long way

COLUMBUS — Kevin Stenlund cracked a smile when a scribe asked him whether he was expecting a ‘Welcome Back” tribute video on Thursday night.

Jets grind out come-from-behind shootout victory over Kraken

It was a playoff-style game, filled with all the tight checking and attention to detail that is so important as the stakes get higher. Where every shift and every mistake is often magnified, and the margin between success and failure can be razor-thin.

DeMelo returns after missing three games due to timely injury

They say timing is everything. Winnipeg Jets defenceman Dylan DeMelo is thankful a lower-body ailment only kept him out of three games as a result of it occurring just prior to an 11-day break in the schedule. Any other part of the season would have quickly upped the count.

Singh breaks down barriers

It may be an uphill battle at times, one that is still filled with division and hate. Harnarayan Singh is breaking barriers in the broadcast booth, showing that hockey really can be for everyone.

Jets go from bad to worse

The Winnipeg Jets followed up one of their worst outings of the year with an even uglier effort on Saturday night, falling 4-0 to the Philadelphia Flyers at Canada Life Centre.

Wheeler teeing it up at Manitoba Open

If things go the way Blake Wheeler is hoping, he won’t have a ton of time to work on his golf game this spring because his Winnipeg Jets would be in the middle of a lengthy Stanley Cup playoff run.

Jets lethargic in 3-2 loss to Sabres

There have been bigger blowouts and more lopsided losses, but you’d be hard-pressed to find a weaker effort than the one the Winnipeg Jets put forward in front of 13,589 fans Thursday at Canada Life Centre.

Pionk looking for consistency

What’s going on with Neal Pionk?

Jets stay alert longer, post ‘W’

Number 1 in the Central. Number 1 in the West. And, no doubt, number 1 in the hearts of many fans who are loving what they’re seeing these days.

D-man DeMelo among Jets playing better than ever under new coach

PITTSBURGH — The brightest stars tend to get the most ink, and deservedly so. The likes of Connor Hellebuyck, Josh Morrissey, Mark Scheifele, Pierre-Luc Dubois, Kyle Connor and, now that he’s back from injury, Nikolaj Ehlers, are all dazzling on the ice.

Perfetti’s three-point night paces Jets past Penguins 4-1

PITTSBURGH — A sick performance by Cole Perfetti — and we mean that in the nicest possible way — helped lead the Winnipeg Jets to an impressive 4-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins Friday night at PPG Paints Arena.

Coaches split on tech on benches

PITTSBURGH — It’s a battle between new school and old school. Technology versus tradition. And Winnipeg Jets coach Rick Bowness admits he has mixed feelings about the topic.

Hellebuyck comes up big in 4-2 victory over Sabres

BUFFALO — Connor Hellebuyck followed up one of his toughest games of the seasons with one of his most tremendous. And, as he’s done so often in his career, carried the Winnipeg Jets to victory in the process.

Jets GM hints at making big move as trade deadline looms

BUFFALO — It was fitting a group of Winnipeg Jets players were engaged in what appeared to be a serious game of cards at their downtown Buffalo hotel Wednesday afternoon at the same time their general manager was meeting with the travelling media in an adjacent conference room.

Jets skid out in Motor City

DETROIT — Connor Hellebuyck’s latest homecoming was not a very happy one. A rare off night by the Michigan-born netminder — not to mention another slow start by the group in front of him — came back to bite the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday.

Copp yet to hit stride with Red Wings

DETROIT — There’s still plenty of grass here in southwestern Michigan, despite being smack-dab in the middle of winter, but it hasn’t necessarily been greener for former Winnipeg Jets forward Andrew Copp, who is still adjusting to life in his new hockey home.

Ehlers quickly finding his form

Scoring his first goal of the season in Game No. 40 isn’t how Nikolaj Ehlers drew it up, of course. But nothing about the 2022-23 campaign has gone according to plan for the highly-skilled Winnipeg Jets winger.

Connor fills hat as Jets win fifth straight game

The Winnipeg Jets are going streaking. A 7-4 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday afternoon in front of 14,206 fans at Canada Life Centre was a season-high fifth straight for the hockey club.

Jets take nail-biter from Lightning

It was a game that had a bit of everything, with a roller-coaster ride of emotions that fans at a sold-out Canada Life Centre will no doubt remember for quite some time.

Jets douse Flames 3-2

The Winnipeg Jets have started 2023 just like they ended 2022 — playing their tails off, showing the whole is greater than the sum of the parts and, in a related development, winning hockey games.

Scheifele’s hat trick ends slump

The Winnipeg Jets have been hearing footsteps lately, as a pack of Western Conference rivals try to catch the slumping, shorthanded squad.

A grand game for Gagner

Welcome to Club 1,000, Sam Gagner.

Jets get back to the basics

The Winnipeg Jets have been anything but perfect lately, with just three wins to show for their last nine games. They’re hoping a return to practice — something that simply hasn’t been possible in recent weeks due to a crushing schedule — will help break some bad habits.

Depleted Jets can’t contain Wild

Make no mistake: The “try” factor was dialed high, with the Winnipeg Jets working their tails off Tuesday night. Unfortunately, the talent pool is painfully shallow right now, the result of a rash of injuries that now has seven regulars out of the lineup.

Perfetti latest Jet sidelined by injury

The bad news is the Winnipeg Jets’ injury list has officially grown by one, with rookie Cole Perfetti now the seventh regular skater to be sidelined.

Jets dominate Senators in 5-1 win

The Winnipeg Jets returned to Canada Life Centre for a good time — but not a long time — as they “swept” a rare one-game homestand with a dominant 5-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday.

Jets running low on fuel

SEATTLE — Winnipeg Jets coach Rick Bowness says there will be no excuses this year. Only solutions.

Rittich, kid brother have strong bond

SEATTLE — Win or lose, David Rittich knows it doesn’t matter to his biggest fan in the world. And the special bond the fiery Winnipeg Jets backup goaltender has with his younger brother, Tomas, will always bring a smile to his face regardless of how a hockey game plays out.

Dominant 5-1 win over Canucks softens Jets losing Wheeler, Schmidt to injuries

VANCOUVER — It’s been said winning cures everything. And while a dominant 5-1 triumph over the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night won’t magically heal a half-dozen injured Winnipeg Jets players, it certainly helps soften the blow.

Jets hit where it hurts

VANCOUVER — The Winnipeg Jets better hope that adage “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” is true. Because the hits keep coming for a battered and bruised hockey team that is quickly running out of Band-Aids.

Heinola’s time to shine has arrived

VANCOUVER — Step right up, Ville Heinola. Your time to shine has arrived.

Keane honourary captain for AHL All-Star Game

It’s been a dozen years since Mike Keane hung up the skates. But the current player development co-ordinator for the Winnipeg Jets has been named an honourary captain for the upcoming American Hockey League All-Star game

Jets’ new name a familiar face

Karson Kuhlman figures it won’t take very long to feel right at home with the Winnipeg Jets.

Jets can’t hold on to lead, lose 6-5 to Golden Knights

Winnipeg Jets coach Rick Bowness had referred to it as a potential “statement game” for his club, with the top team in the Western Conference in town for a big-time matchup.

Swift Swede a sweet pickup

It wasn’t the result he was hoping for, but Axel Jonsson-Fjallby still enjoyed seeing plenty of old friends on Sunday night.

Caps catch Jets napping

It’s usually never a good idea to take a nap in the middle of your workday. And the Winnipeg Jets were reminded of that Sunday night after a second period that was the stuff of nightmares.

Moose call-up Eyssimont continues to make impact

The legend of Mikey Eyssimont continues to grow.

Slow start, but Jets outfly Ducks

The Winnipeg Jets got away with some bad behaviour on Sunday afternoon, overcoming a bowling shoe ugly start against the NHL’s worst team to eventually skate away with a 5-2 victory at Canada Life Centre.

Jets getting their Ducks in a row

Rick Bowness opted for a “less is more” approach following one of the ugliest games of the season by his hockey team.

Healthy Barron a bonus for Jets

CHICAGO — It was during a round of golf with new Winnipeg Jets head coach Rick Bowness last summer in their shared hometown of Halifax that Morgan Barron learned he was very much being counted on for big things this season. A starting assignment on the third line, beside Adam Lowry and Mason Appleton, was his to lose.

Dubois, Maenalanen each score twice in Jets dominant 7-2 win over Blackhawks

CHICAGO — Their record suggests the Winnipeg Jets are much better than many people thought they would be. And the way they keep racking up wins suggests they’re also a lot deeper than anyone believed.

Hellebuyck hoppin’ mad

CHICAGO — It’s a controversial play that has quickly become the talk of the National Hockey League. And the man at the centre of it all — Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck — was still at a loss to understand what transpired nearly 24 hours later.

Morrissey scores OT winner after Jets give up late lead… again

DALLAS — Incredibly, it was deja vu all over again Friday night in Dallas.

Eyssimont focused on staying in NHL

DALLAS — It was a birthday present that changed his life.

Jets made to look like turkeys in Minnesota

ST. PAUL — It’s become a regular occurrence on the NHL schedule: the Winnipeg Jets head down to the Twin Cities around U.S. Thanksgiving for a clash with their closest Central Division rivals.

Wild matchup will be costly for Samberg

ST. PAUL, Minn., — This is going to be an expensive trip home for Dylan Samberg. The Winnipeg Jets defenceman, however, doesn’t mind dipping into his bank account to purchase tickets for family and friends.

Morrissey saves the day

The Winnipeg Jets survived an epic comeback from the Carolina Hurricanes — or was it their own epic collapse? — to pull out a wild 4-3 overtime victory on Monday night at Canada Life Centre.

Stastny blows back into town with Hurricanes

There were visits with old friends, including a small gathering at Blake Wheeler’s home Sunday evening. There were gifts exchanged, including a tasty bag of Nate Schmidt’s famous “Puppy Chow”, which is essentially a homemade trail mix.

Jets lost this one due to screwups

Hockey is usually a game of mistakes, where the team that makes the fewest typically comes out on top.

Ehlers going under knife

The hits keep coming for the Winnipeg Jets. And forward Nikolaj Ehlers is the latest on a growing list to go under the knife.

Kyle Connor’s hat trick takes down Ducks

Kyle Connor made sure a special night for the Winnipeg Jets organization would have a memorable ending.

Selanne, Numminen savouring special visit to Jetsville

They felt the love from the community during their time as Winnipeg Jets. And they’re feeling it once again today as their numbers are set to be hoisted into the rafters at Canada Life Centre.

Appleton out with wrist injury

A freak injury is the latest blow to the forward depth of the Winnipeg Jets, who are really testing just how far the “next man up” mentality might take them.

Lowry laments juggling roles of coach, dad

SEATTLE — Dave Lowry is too modest to say it, but there’s little doubt he was put in a near-impossible situation last season with the Winnipeg Jets, one that was probably doomed from the start.

Jets snatch victory from jaws of defeat

SEATTLE — Blake Wheeler no longer wears a letter on his sweater. But the former Winnipeg Jets captain showed Sunday night he’s still got plenty of leadership qualities to his game.

Jets lose 3-2 to Flames

CALGARY — It had been exactly three weeks since the Winnipeg Jets last tasted defeat in regulation. But the surging squad ran smack-dab into a desperate opponent Saturday night — and ultimately came up empty.

Jets decry cancelled World Cup

CALGARY — The long wait for a best-on-best hockey tournament will continue indefinitely, with the plug now pulled on a planned 2024 World Cup. And that isn’t sitting well with plenty of fans and players, who are bemoaning yet another missed opportunity to showcase the sport on a world stage.

Jets flying, Flames fading

CALGARY — They are two Canadian rivals heading in very different directions right now. And when the Winnipeg Jets and Calgary Flames meet on Saturday night (9 p.m., CBC), something has to give

Jets flying high with win over Stars

Ladies and gentlemen, meet your first place Winnipeg Jets.

Bettman downplays Jets’ attendance

When the NHL returned to Winnipeg in 2011, commissioner Gary Bettman said it was only going to work long-term if the hockey club was playing in front of a full house on a nightly basis.

First place hangs in balance for Jets

This is pretty much a dream scenario for Rick Bowness. His new hockey club will face his old one on Tuesday night at Canada Life Centre, with first place in the Central Division hanging in the balance.

Jets near top of standings with 4-0 win over Blackhawks

The Winnipeg Jets are going streaking. And the red-hot squad has become one of the early surprises of the young NHL season, surging near the top of the standings.

Blackhawks not exactly tanking it

THEsecond-place Winnipeg Jets and third-place Chicago Blackhawks will battle on Saturday afternoon at Canada Life Centre, with both teams trying to get closer to the first-place Dallas Stars.

Connor ends scoring slump with OT goal

Praise be to the hockey gods: Kyle Connor has broken the curse.

Kovacevic lands full-time gig with Habs

It will go down as one of the more curious cases of asset management in Winnipeg Jets 2.0 history.

Opportunity knocks, Harkins answers

Jansen Harkins hoped his days of grinding it out in the minors were over. And it sure looked that way, with 132 NHL games on his resume over the past three seasons.

Jets have to play a whole lot better: Bowness

Winnipeg Jets head coach Rick Bowness is still grappling with the aftermath of a tough COVID-19 battle, one that sidelined him for eight of the first nine games this season.

Jets shut out Blues 4-0

It was the type of complete effort the Winnipeg Jets had been searching for and it led to their most impressive victory of the young season against the NHL’s last unbeaten team, to boot.

Leafs escape Winnipeg with 2 points and the zebras’ blessing

There’s always a buzz in the air — not to mention a surprising amount of bad blood — when the Winnipeg Jets and Toronto Maple Leafs get together.

‘It really hit me hard’

Rick Bowness has faced plenty of tough opponents in his professional hockey career, which is closing in on a half-century. But the new head coach of the Winnipeg Jets says COVID-19 proved to be quite the stubborn foe during a week-long battle.

Jets can’t recover from slow start in 5-2 loss to Golden Knights

LAS VEGAS — The way the Winnipeg Jets performed in the first-period on Thursday night, it looked like they were going to leave Las Vegas the same way as so many visitors: Empty-handed. Ashamed. Not really wanting to talk about what happened. And hoping everyone quickly forgets what they saw.

Dubois making ‘friends’ wherever he goes

LAS VEGAS — Uh-oh. Pierre-Luc Dubois is out there making “friends” again. And the big Winnipeg Jets centre, who can be a major pain to play against, is starting to heat up after a slow start to the season by his own high standards.

Neal Pionk the hero in Jets’ OT win in Colorado

DENVER — Neal Pionk was just hoping he didn’t miss the net and have the puck come down the other way.

Bringing it from the D

DENVER — The Winnipeg Jets have made it a priority this season to get their defencemen more involved in the rush, hoping some added offence from the back-end will boost their chances of success.

Maenalanen turning heads in return to NHL

DENVER — It might be one of the most intriguing, and versatile, fourth lines in Winnipeg Jets 2.0 history.

Wheeler adapting well to new role

DENVER — It’s been a quiet start to a most unusual hockey season for Blake Wheeler. On and off the ice.

Jets peak early in 4-1 loss to Dallas

DALLAS — It’s usually never a good sign when you team peaks just 108 seconds into the game, but such was the case for the Winnipeg Jets on Monday, where a fast start gave way to a rough finish in an eventual 4-1 loss to the Dallas Stars.

Jets get total team effort as Scheifele nets pair in season-opening victory

You couldn’t have scripted a much better start for the Winnipeg Jets.

Heinola demoted to gain experience

BANFF – Rick Bowness says a tough conversation with young defenceman Ville Heinola was followed by some positive re-enforcement.

No more fun and games

BANFF, Alta. — It can’t be all fun and games, of course. So after a busy weekend in the mountains spent fishing and golfing, the Winnipeg Jets got back on the ice Monday to prepare for the start of the regular season.

Bowness points

BANFF, Alta. — Rick Bowness is pretty much an open book every day of the week. It’s not in his nature to be cagey or cryptic or guarded. He’ll call a spade a spade and tell you what he thinks. But get the 67-year-old away from the rink, free of the usual stresses and pressures that come with being an NHL coach, and you’ll find an even less guarded, more forthcoming individual.

Jets put Harkins on waivers

BANFF — Jansen Harkins’ time with the Winnipeg Jets is over — at least for now. And the hockey club is one step closer to finalizing its opening-night lineup, with just one cut left to come.

Jets earn a break in Banff after a couple of heated contests

BANFF — They’ve come to one of the most picturesque places on Earth, a tranquil little slice of paradise that will serve as a home base for the next three days.

Jets impressive in pre-season finale

CALGARY — It’s a fool’s game to suggest the pre-season is an accurate predictor of how a hockey team might perform once the puck drops for real. Plenty of clubs look like contenders during dress rehearsals, then immediately get a case of stage fright once the bright lights come on.

Flames’ game could pop some bubbles

The final sprint to the start of the NHL regular season is underway. And decision day is coming for several Winnipeg Jets currently on the bubble.

Big Bad Brad has speed to kill

Speed kills. And there’s no question Brad Lambert has the wheels you need to play the highest level of hockey. He’s already elite in that category.

Same name, different game

He proudly carries treasured memories of his late, great father in his heart. And now he’s brought the legendary family name back to a Winnipeg hockey rink for the first time in more than three decades.

Perfetti scores twice for Jets in shootout loss

Cole Perfetti will forever be linked to Dale Hawerchuk and his family. On the October 2020 night the Ontario teenager was drafted by the Winnipeg Jets — 10th overall, no less — it was Crystal Hawerchuk who announced the pick.

Friends, family, fans throng downtown to see statue of Jets great Dale Hawerchuk

Dale Hawerchuk’s legacy was celebrated Saturday in an emotional ceremony that brought hockey royalty and thousands of Winnipeg Jets fans together outside Canada Life Centre.

Lambert steals the show in Jets debut

Brad Lambert sure has a sense of occasion.

Bowness wants more offence from defence, Pionk happy to oblige

Winnipeg Jets head coach Rick Bowness has vowed the cavalry is coming this season, with a focus on having his defencemen join the rush and getting more involved in the offence.

New season, clean slate for Appleton and Jets

Mason Appleton followed up a season to remember with one he’d rather forget. The Winnipeg Jets winger is hoping the clean slate of a new campaign will get him and his teammates back on track.

Big Finnish forward turning heads in bid to make Jets

Saku Maenalanen was supposed to be up in the Canada Life Centre press box on Tuesday night, eating popcorn with the rest of the Winnipeg Jets scratches.

Jets 5-3 win over Ottawa tougher than expected

It looked like a mismatch on paper, with the Winnipeg Jets dressing a more talented and experienced roster than the visiting Ottawa Senators on Tuesday, but it ended up being a lot closer on the ice, with the home team skating away with a tougher-than-expected 5-3 victory at Canada Life Centre.

Gustafsson determined to crack Jets lineup

He’s had just a small taste of the NHL so far. Now David Gustafsson is hungry for more, hoping a fresh set of eyes behind the bench and a few open spots at the table will serve him well.

Jets will ice young team in Edmonton

The Winnipeg Jets are bringing a young and inexperienced roster to Edmonton on Sunday as they kick off a six-game preseason schedule.

Chevy: “I believe we are a playoff team.”

Few outside the organization would consider the Winnipeg Jets contenders, especially after last year’s underwhelming NHL campaign and a surprisingly sleepy summer. But general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff believes his hockey club has what it takes to make plenty of noise this season.

‘A great change,’ Perfetti

There was a back-to-school feeling down at Bell MTS Iceplex on Wednesday, with members of the Winnipeg Jets organization formally gathering for the first time since last spring.

Jets invited Gagner along for ride

Sam Gagner has carved out an impressive hockey career since being drafted sixth-overall by the Edmonton Oilers in 2007. Now the versatile forward, just 33 games short of 1,000, is set to hit that milestone as a member of the Winnipeg Jets.