Puck drops on Jets redemption tour

If the Winnipeg Jets get their way over the course of the coming months, this 84-game redemption tour will extend beyond the regular season.

For the time being, the focus of this group is to leave the disappointment of a 26th-place finish in the rearview mirror and to get back to playing the style that allowed them to be in the Stanley Cup playoffs three consecutive springs before falling eight points short last April.

“We’re just ready for a fresh start where we’re looking ahead, and we’re excited to get the season underway,” captain Adam Lowry said Thursday. “Obviously, a short training camp but I feel like we got up to speed.”

The Boston Bruins will be Friday’s opponent (7 p.m.) in this 16th season opener for the Jets since the franchise relocated back in 2011, and the storylines surrounding the club are plentiful.

Externally, the Jets aren’t one of the teams that carry the burden of lofty expectations, but they definitely have something to prove — both to themselves and to the folks that aren’t sold on them returning to the playoffs.

“You prepare, you put in all the work and it’s impossible to not start thinking about the outcome and the results. Hoping that everything goes great,” said defenceman Josh Morrissey.

“But at the end of the day, it’s been my experience in the league that you can’t worry about outcomes, you just have to worry about the process. We had a really good camp and we identified areas that, as a group, we need to improve and as players we wanted to work on.”

With that in mind, here are six things to keep a close eye on.

Connor Hellebuyck closer?

The Jets have done an excellent job of minimizing the potential distraction that comes along with the three-time Vezina Trophy and one-time Hart Trophy winner not showing up for camp and being the NHL’s first outright holdout since Alexei Yashin in 1999.

Although a trade has yet to materialize, it is incumbent upon the Jets to get off to a strong start. Otherwise, Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff might have his patience tested.

This week has brought more chatter about potential teams being interested, the possibility of a three-way trade among them, but until a team hits the asking price or delivers a more compelling offer, this standoff could last a while.

To this point, most offers are believed to be mostly futures based, while the Jets are clearly looking for immediate help in the form of a middle-six forward, among other things.

When the next pressure point arrives is anybody’s guess, but it won’t be a surprise if Hellebuyck eventually ends up with the Carolina Hurricanes.

The defending Stanley Cup champions have the salary cap space required and while Brandon Bussi is coming off a strong season, adding Hellebuyck would bolster the Hurricanes chances of repeating — especially when you consider some of the upgrades made by several Eastern Conference clubs.

New masked men

With the Hellebuyck era essentially over, it’s now Stuart Skinner and Clay Stevenson’s crease.

Can the two Alberta boys start writing their own success stories? The Jets are certainly hoping so, and you get the sense all of their teammates are feeling extra motivated to try and make the transition as smooth as possible.

This has created something we haven’t seen in Winnipeg for years, a true goalie competition where starts may very well be dictated by results.

Making his mark

Mark Scheifele broke the century mark for the first time of his career at the age of 33, finishing fifth in NHL scoring last season. The centre led the Jets with 103 points and was second in goals with 36 as he continues to have the upper hand in this battle with Father Time.

The seventh-overall pick in the 2011 NHL Draft is chasing his mentor Dale Hawerchuk for a number of franchise records that are within reach, and he’s also in line to play his 1,000th NHL game in December, so it’s shaping up to be a special season.

The Jets need him to remain a prolific offensive threat, both at even strength and on the power play while also providing sound two-way play. Scheifele will start the campaign with longtime linemate Kyle Connor riding shotgun, while Cole Perfetti rounds out the trio.

Since only 22 of his 103 points came with the man-advantage last season, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Scheifele takes a run at his own record.

Restoring their identity

From the time Scott Arniel arrived as an associate coach on Rick Bowness’ staff, the Jets went to great lengths to turn the team’s defence from a weakness to a strength, culminating in capturing the Jennings Trophy in consecutive seasons for allowing the fewest goals against.

But the standard slipped last season, finishing in a tie for 21st in the NHL with the Calgary Flames (256).

The Jets got faster during the off-season and their goal is to be tougher to play against. Most importantly, finding a way to get back to being aggressive in all three zones should allow the Jets to spend less time defending, which would improve a lot of the metrics.

“In the simplest forms, it’s giving up less — high danger chances, goals against, (shots), all those things,” said Morrissey. “It’s probably the most basic answer I can give you. We still have to make good decisions, be able to handle the puck, make good plays and that allows you to play faster.

“On the offensive side, the puck possession side, if we play and hold on to pucks in the offensive zone, I think that contributes to more zone time for us, it tilts the ice in our direction and there’s less time for them with the puck. So that takes strain off your defensive game as well.”

This isn’t just about the defence corps improving or getting a few more saves, a full commitment is required by all players on the ice in order for the Jets to play the style that eventually became its calling card.

Restoring that blueprint is a critical element for the Jets.

Kids and vets

Let’s start with the likes of Lowry, Perfetti and Dylan Samberg, who all started last season on the injured list and never really got on track even when they returned. Having them fully healthy and seeking redemption is a big deal.

Same goes for veteran skaters like Nino Niederreiter and Vlad Namestnikov, who battled ailments and inconsistent play and are now in the final year of their deals. Can they look more like their former selves?

Last, but certainly not least, is a bit of the youth movement that’s afoot. Viggo Bjorck, the eight-overall pick this summer, gets the chance to be the team’s second-line centre. Isak Rosen begins the year on his wing, looking to bring his elite American Hockey League scoring to the NHL. Brad Lambert starts on the third line with Lowry.

And Brayden Yager waits in the wings — an “NHL player” says Arniel, who is currently the victim of a numbers game. You’ve also got Tyrel Bauer and the currently injured Elias Salomonsson giving the blue-line a youthful boost, plus the seasoned Mario Ferraro added to the mix.

Add it all up and these players, young and old, provide plenty of reason for optimism.

Special teams resurgence?

It has often been a strength with this squad. Last year, it flat out stunk.

We’re talking about the power play and penalty kill, which have been a major point of emphasis during training camp. If the Jets can figure out a way to get back in the upper tier of the league, they’ll quickly solve plenty of problems.

Winnipeg led the NHL with the man advantage in 2024-25, clicking at a spectacular 28.9 per cent. Last season, they plummeted to 24th overall at just 18.5 per cent.

Conversely, the Jets went from 13th on the penalty kill two seasons ago to 21st last year, with its success rate dropping from 79.4 per cent to 77.6 per cent.

Can assistant coaches Davis Payne (PP) and Dean Chynoweth (PK) find some answers? Time will soon tell.

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