Winnipeg Jets 2024-25 schedule released

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This article was published 02/07/2024 (461 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Talk about a superstar start to the season.

The Winnipeg Jets will open the 2024-25 NHL campaign by paying a visit to Connor McDavid and his crew — then return to Canada Life Centre two days later to roll out the welcome mat for Connor Bedard and company.

Sure, the Stanley Cup just got handed out last week, but it’s already time to think about what comes next. The NHL released the full 82-game slate for all 32 teams on Tuesday morning.

Winnipeg begins Oct. 9 in Edmonton, facing the Western Conference champion Oilers. The Jets have their home opener on Oct. 11 against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Here are some other highlights to look forward to:

• The Jets will face Paul Maurice and his championship Florida Panthers for the first time on Nov. 16 in Sunrise, then meet for a second and final time on Nov. 19 in Winnipeg.

• The Jets will host the NHL’s newest club from Utah (nickname still to be determined) on Nov. 5 and Jan. 24, while paying two visits to Salt Lake City on Jan. 20 and Apr. 5.

• For fans of weekend games, the Jets have seven Friday night tilts on home ice, and eight on Saturday nights. (They also play four Friday games on the road, and eight Saturday ones in enemy territory).

• The Jets have four matinee games scheduled at home, all on Sunday afternoons at 2 p.m. They also have three Sunday home dates with puck drop set for 5 p.m.

• Winnipeg will once again spend New Year’s Eve on the road — the Manitoba Moose always have a traditional home game that day — by facing the Colorado Avalanche in Denver.

• Winnipeg’s longest homestand is an eight-game marathon that begins on Jan, 2 against the Anaheim Ducks and wraps up Jan. 18 against the Calgary Flames, which is part of the “Hockey Day In Canada” event.

• The longest road trip of the season is six games, starting Nov. 22 against the Pittsburgh Penguins and finishing Dec. 1 against the Dallas Stars.

• Marquee annual home games include the Toronto Maple Leafs (Oct. 28), Boston Bruins (Dec. 10) and Montreal Canadiens (Dec. 14)

• All 32 teams will be in action on a Super Tuesday, Oct, 22. The Jets are in St. Louis to face the Blues that night.

• Winnipeg will have an extended break from Feb. 8-21 as the first-ever 4 Nations Face-Off, featuring NHL players from Canada, the United States, Finland and Sweden is held in Boston and Montreal. There’s a good chance several Jets players (Connor Hellebuyck, Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele, Josh Morrissey) will be involved.

• The Jets once again play 26 games within the Central Division. They’ll face Dallas, Colorado, Nashville, St. Louis and Utah four times (two at home, two on the road), and Chicago and Minnesota three times. Winnipeg will also play all eight Pacific Division teams three times, and all Eastern Conference clubs twice (one home, one away).

• There are nine sets of back-to-backs for the Jets — five of them exclusively on the road, three involving one game at home and one away, and one involving consecutive contests in downtown Winnipeg (Jan. 10 and 11).

• The Jets wrap up the regular-season on Apr, 16 at home by hosting the Ducks.

NHL training camps are set to begin on Sept. 18, with the Jets playing six preseason games beginning on Sept. 21 and ending Oct. 4.

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

X: @mikemcintyrewpg