Plotlines aplenty in pre-season prep What to watch as puck drops on Jets training camp By: Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe Posted: 2:44 PM CDT Wednesday, Sep. 16, 2026

Welcome to a Winnipeg Jets training camp like no other — one where the on-ice storylines and battles threaten to be trumped by what’s happening away from the rink.

Yes, the dark cloud that is the Connor Hellebuyck situation looms over the organization as it prepares to try and turn the page on a terrible 2025-26 campaign which ended with a 26th-overall finish.

It’s not going to be easy, especially in a highly competitive Central Division and Western Conference and with such a major unresolved issue.

But the work starts now, and Free Press hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe get you set for what to expect ahead of the 84-game regular season, which begins Oct. 2.

What the Helle?

So far everyone is saying the right thing about not allowing Hellebuyck’s trade demand and subsequent strike to become a distraction. And while general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff and head coach Scott Arniel are expected to add their voices on Thursday, there’s no denying that this entire affair has become messy.

How — and when — will it end?

A Hellebuyck return to camp, or at least in time for the start of the season when he begins missing cheques, would be quite the plot twist. A more likely scenario is a deal, although don’t hold your breath on that happening any time soon unless the offers improve substantially.

Until and unless that happens, Winnipeg’s roster seems very much like a work in progress. Which creates even more uncertainty around the club.

Hellebuyck’s job action has also put a major focus on Winnipeg’s overall goaltending situation. Stuart Skinner immediately becomes the No. 1 man, but who’s his backup? Both Thomas Milic and Dom DiVincentiis likely require time and seasoning at the AHL level, but the Jets may have no choice but to turn to one of those masked men out of camp.

The other option, assuming Hellebuyck isn’t dealt for a package that includes a goaltender, will be the waiver wire. There are several teams, including Buffalo and San Jose, which could throw Winnipeg a lifeline in that regard. Keep an eye on that towards the end of the month.

A shortened runway

There was a time when NHL training camps were a gruelling marathon, with out-of-shape players arriving every fall and being put through the grinder. Weeks of skating, more skating and even more skating along with tons of pre-season games were on the menu.

Those days are long gone. Players are in better shape than ever, and this year will feature just a handful of on-ice sessions and four exhibition contests under the league’s new collective bargaining agreement. They even got rid of fitness training!

Blink and you might miss it.

With less time to experiment, that really places added weight on everything that transpires. From line combinations and defence pairings to special teams assignments, teams can’t afford to waste much time if they want to hit the ground running.

Promotion for Perfetti

One of the annual exercises many media members take part in is trying to get inside the brain of the coaching staff once the groups for the on-ice sessions are finally revealed.

Coaches always caution about putting much stock into those groups and early line combinations, but there have been many times when the hints provided early on were valuable.

What does that mean for Cole Perfetti — armed with a lucrative contract after inking a five-year extension this summer?

Well, it was already going to be a massive season for the 10th overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft. With a full summer of training to leave his high ankle sprain in the rearview mirror, Perfetti is one of the players the Jets will be counting on to deliver a bounce-back season.

It’s probably not a coincidence that he’s listed in the same group as Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor.

If that group can find some chemistry early, it would help provide some balance within the forwards and put Perfetti in position to easily eclipse his career-highs in goals (19) and points (50).

Bjorck’s new buddies

Ever since he was chosen eighth overall at the 2026 NHL Draft in Buffalo, there’s been a buzz around Swedish forward Viggo Bjorck — and for good reason.

Not only does he look like the long-term solution to fill the second centre role, but he’s got an energetic personality to go along with his impressive skill set. He exudes confidence while maintaining his humble nature, which is a perfect combination of qualities for a guy ready to attack the grind of an 84-game schedule as an 18-year-old rookie.

There will certainly be bumps along the road, but a calm demeanour should help him navigate the ups and downs and a sound defensive game will erase any concerns about production if/when a slump arises.

Bjorck provided some highlight-reel moments in Gatineau, Que., last Saturday during the Prospect Challenge and has already caught the attention of veterans during the captain’s skates this fall.

Seeing who Bjorck skates with during his first session will be interesting and the smart money is on Gabe Vilardi, who is coming off a career season (30 goals, 69 points) while appearing in all 82 games. Vilardi looks like a good option to be a trigger man alongside Bjorck, who has great vision to go along with his tenacity.

Vilardi’s soft hands in tight, ability to win board battles and nose for the net are all things that should help him mesh with Bjorck. The left-wing options to round out the trio are plentiful, though they will likely be a work in progress and feature a bit more of a competition. Veteran Alex Iafallo might get the first crack based on groupings.

Cleared for takeoff?

A shoulder injury that required surgery knocked defenceman Elias Salomonsson out of the Calder Cup playoffs, which was bad news for the Manitoba Moose and for the Swedish blue-liner.

Salomonsson returned to the AHL for the benefit of his development after appearing in 32 games with the Jets last season. His first stint in The Show featured some uneven play (which is expected for any young player), but he settled in nicely during the next recall and his skating ability allowed him to succeed while playing major minutes, often on the second pairing with Dylan Samberg as the season went along.

Salomonsson worked hard on his rehab during the summer, and he’s been taking part in the informal skates in Winnipeg for a few weeks in a yellow non-contact jersey. Salomonsson still requires medical clearance before taking the next step in this process, but he looks to be ahead of the original timeline for recovery.

Returning to game action in October rather than November looks like a distinct possibility, provided there are no setbacks. If he takes another step in his progression this fall, Salomonsson has the tools to be used alongside any of Josh Morrissey, Mario Ferraro or Samberg while also seeing time on the penalty kill.

He’s a big part of Winnipeg’s desire to get back to the type of defensive dominance that led to back-to-back Jennings trophies in the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons.

The kids are alright

There’s no question the Jets whiffed last season by getting older and slower through various player adds. They have a chance to move in a very different direction this year, which underscores one of the more interesting battles we should expect.

While Bjorck is a lock to be in the opening-night lineup, we can’t say the same about several other skilled young forwards who appear to be knocking at the door — Isak Rosen, Brad Lambert, Nikita Chibrikov, Danny Zhilkin and Brayden Yager among them.

And then you have the likes of 34-year-old Nino Niederreiter and 33-year-old Vladislav Namestnikov still in the fold, both coming off dreadful seasons and now in the final years of their contracts. It’s a bit surprising one or both weren’t bought out or traded, but neither should take full-time employment for granted here.

Is there a scenario where they are bumped off the roster? It will be interesting to see how Arniel configures his four lines, especially given that the Jets really started to take off following last year’s trade deadline once they moved out some vets and started to give some kids a chance.

More for Morgan?

If you’re looking for a breakout candidate among the forward group, look no further than Morgan Barron.

Although he spent most of last season doing diligent work as the fourth-line centre, all signs point to the prototypical power forward moving back up the lineup into more of a middle-six role. He provides options as either a winger or a centre, though a reunion with Jets captain Adam Lowry could be in the cards.

Barron did a solid job in the shutdown role before the arrival of Niederreiter in the trade with the Nashville Predators. And the forward has produced double digits in goals in two of his four full seasons with the Jets while showing glimpses of someone who could consistently push to be in the 15-to-20 goal range.

He’s a powerful skater, plays a heavy game and can be disruptive on the forecheck, which is why he could be an option to skate alongside Bjorck as well at some point.

The other thing to monitor with Barron is his contract status as he’s heading into the final season of his contract and can become an unrestricted free agent for the first time on July 1. Keeping Barron in the fold is a priority for the Jets, especially since they don’t have a lot of guys like him in the organization.

Barron, who was acquired from the New York Rangers in the deadline deal for Andrew Copp, has expressed his desire to stick around, but a rising salary cap means that his next annual average value figures to be substantially higher than the US$1.85 million he’s set to make this season.

Wanting to see where he slots into the lineup might be one of the reasons Barron (who turns 28 in December) hasn’t inked an extension already.

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