Jets’ struggles weigh heavy on captain’s shoulders Leading Jets through slump a Sisyphean task, says Lowry By: Mike McIntyre Posted: 6:14 PM CST Monday, Dec. 1, 2025

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BUFFALO — So, Adam Lowry, what has life been like lately as a member of the Winnipeg Jets?

“When things aren’t going well it can feel like you’re pushing a boulder up a hill,” the veteran centre confessed Monday morning prior to his club’s game against the Buffalo Sabres.

“It seems to get heavier and heavier.”

As captain of what some might perceive as a sinking ship, Lowry has taken it upon his broad shoulders to try and find calmer waters. There have been plenty of face-to-face chats with Scott Arniel and the rest of the coaching staff — far more than usual — in the ongoing search for solutions.

“I think this is the first time we’ve really struggled since I’ve been the captain,” said Lowry.

He was given the honour by former coach Rick Bowness prior to the 2023-24 campaign. The Jets went 52-24-6 that year, then followed it up with an even better 56-22-4 record last season. Ah, the good old days.

“I’m just trying to be a steadying presence. How can you bring some levity? How can you bring some lightness to it, where it doesn’t make the task feel so impossible?” he said.

“We’d love to get 10, 12 points back in one game, but you have to just continue focusing on the task at hand. How do we stack wins together? How do we find ways for three, four, five, where before you know it this bump in the road is in the rear-view mirror?”

“I think this is the first time we’ve really struggled since I’ve been the captain.”

The Jets entered Monday’s game at KeyBank Center with a 13-11-0 record, having won four of their past 12 outings. That’s a stretch that perfectly coincides with Lowry’s return to the lineup after off-season hip surgery delayed his debut. It’s an unfortunate coincidence, and one he’s acutely aware of.

“You want to come in and make a positive impact. Clearly, our record with me in the lineup is not very good. That’s a frustrating thing for me personally,” said Lowry, who had three points (1G, 2A) through his first 12 games after putting up 36, 35 and 34 points over the past three years, including a career-high 16 goals last year.

For a player who leads by example, doing so has sometimes been a challenge.

“I knew coming in it was going to take a bit of time to get up to speed, to get comfortable,” he said.

“I feel like every game I’ve been building. I haven’t loved how I’ve played consistently. There’s been some games I’ve been better than others. The reads are starting to come, I’m hanging on to the puck. Our line is starting to look more and more how we want it to look.”

The trio of Lowry, Nino Niederreiter and now Alex Iafallo (Mason Appleton filled that spot last year) is often referred to as the Jets’ “identity line.” They arguably had their best game of the season Saturday in Nashville as Winnipeg snapped a four-game losing streak with a 5-2 win over the Predators, getting in on the heavy forecheck early and often.

“I think with the injury, he’s been trying to get himself up to speed. I think he’s been getting better every game. We saw him get real physical the last couple,” Arniel said.

“I just think now, it’s a little easier to be a bit more vocal and drive the other guys when you’ve got your game up and running, and I think he’s getting a lot closer to that.”

Arniel said his meetings with Lowry and the leadership group, including alternate captains Josh Morrissey and Mark Scheifele, have been informative, helping set the roadmap for everything from practice scheduling to slump-busting.

“Our record with me in the lineup is not very good. That’s a frustrating thing for me personally.”

“Our jobs (as leaders) is to try and make sure we can bring the best out of people. Whether that’s things like battling confidence, whether that’s talking, bringing energy, hammering down small details that Arnie wants,” said Lowry.

“Whether the puck’s going in or not, there’s still other things you can to do help your team win. It’s killing penalties, it’s blocking shots, it’s winning key d-zone faceoffs, it’s getting the puck out when you’re on a long shift.”

Lowry subscribes to the “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” school of thought, and said the adversity Winnipeg has dealt with — from early injuries to himself, Dylan Samberg and Cole Perfetti, to the current ailments hampering Connor Hellebuyck and Neal Pionk — is testing everyone.

“This is a unique territory, where we’re without a huge part of our team. We haven’t really, in the last few years, dealt with the amount of injuries that we’ve had,” he said.

“It’s managing that. It’s managing guys not playing up to the standards they want. How do you try and keep them confident, how do you try and keep that belief in the group, how do you keep the belief in the structure and help echo what the coaches want to get across? How do you find ways to bring guys together when it feels like you have a cloud hanging over your head?”

Lowry has spoken with other NHL players and professional athletes who have undergone similar surgeries and recoveries, and believes the best is still ahead — for himself and the Jets.

“You look at the first 10, 12 games, our record was probably better than it should have been. You look at the next 10, 12, our record is probably a little worse than it should have been. I think those things even out,” he said.

“The important thing is to not lose sight of the fact this is part of the journey. The recovery is part of becoming an impact player for this team again. I embrace that challenge. I know it’s going to take time. I have to be patient with myself and at the same time push every day to eke out those small gains.

“Hopefully in the next couple weeks, month, I’m back to the player I know I can be.”

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