Puck drops on 15th season Key storylines to follow By: Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe Posted: 6:16 PM CDT Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025

On your marks. Get set. Go!

The Winnipeg Jets are set to begin the marathon that is the NHL season, looking to ultimately leave all 31 rivals in the dust. And while it would be nice to cross the finish line first once all 82 games are in the books — just as they did a year ago — the real focus is on being the last team standing at the end of the playoffs.

No, it’s not quite a “championship or bust” mentality around here, but the bar has been raised considerably for the reigning Presidents’ Trophy winners.

“We’re not afraid to talk about the Stanley Cup,” Jets head coach Scott Arniel said on the opening day of training camp last month — a mantra that would be repeated, almost daily, by players over the past few weeks.

Can they ultimately walk the walk? We’re about to start finding out, beginning Thursday against a Dallas Stars opponent that ended their season last spring.

“Everybody is excited to build off of what we did last year,” said Jets defenceman Dylan DeMelo.

“We’re definitely proud of what we did, with the Presidents’ Trophy and setting a lot of records in Jets’ history and the craziest Game 7 of all time. But I don’t think we’re any bit satisfied. We want more. Hopefully, we can get over that hump.”

There’s no shortage of questions and storylines surrounding this group. Let’s dig into the key ones.

 

External doubts

You’d think a team coming off a sensational 56-22-4 campaign would be among the favourites when it comes to predictions from puck pundits, fans and oddsmakers.

You’d be wrong.

The Jets — not unlike Rodney Dangerfield — seem to be having a hard time getting any respect.

For example, only three people among a panel of 19 Sportsnet writers and broadcasters picked Winnipeg to repeat as Central Division champions. Dallas (7) and Colorado (7) led the way, with Minnesota and St. Louis garnering one vote each. Just two of those 19 have the Jets making it to the Stanley Cup Final — one predicting a win, the other a loss.

South of the border, ESPN projects Winnipeg to finish 12th overall in points, essentially fighting for their playoff lives right down to the end of the campaign. Top centre Mark Scheifele is also listed as one of their prime candidates for “regression.”

Vegas isn’t exactly bullish on the Jets either, with +2500 odds to win it all — tied for 10th with the Los Angeles Kings and New York Rangers.

“In my years so far being here, I don’t think we’ve ever been picked to be the team,” Arniel told the Free Press this week.

“We’re real happy with that. We just have to take care of our own business and whatever happens or whatever people say, it is what it is. We’ve got to go out and do what we need to do. You guys know I’ve said it enough: we have a big hill ahead of us here, with the Central Division and the Western Conference. We have to take care of that.”

Motivation comes in many forms, and the Jets have long used so-called outside noise as extra fuel for their internal fire.

 

Strong start, special season — the sequel?

Last season, the Jets caught lightning in a bottle, rattling off eight consecutive victories to open the campaign and followed up a loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs with another seven-game streak to post the best start in NHL history at 15-1.

Banking 30 points barely a month into the schedule laid the foundation for what became a magical season. There were plenty of reasons for that success, but much of it stemmed from vastly improved special teams.

The Jets jumped from the bottom third of the league to owning the NHL’s top power play. Sustaining that near-historic level of efficiency won’t be easy, but with the offensive firepower spread across both units, it remains a clear strength.

The penalty kill also made major strides, though the goal this year is to move from the league’s middle tier into its upper echelon while shorthanded.

Another early-season advantage for Winnipeg has often been its ability to find structure faster than most — especially against teams still integrating new players or systems.

After evolving into one of the league’s stingiest defensive clubs over the past three years, the Jets will once again rely heavily on that structure, particularly as they navigate injuries to captain Adam Lowry, forward Cole Perfetti and shutdown defenceman Dylan Samberg right off the hop.

And while it’s wise not to put too much weight on early-season strength of schedule, the Jets face only four playoff teams from last season in their first 19 games.

Replicating last year’s near-perfect start will be nearly impossible. But this group won’t be satisfied simply treading water or sitting at .500 out of the gate, either.

 

Olympic fire

Speaking of motivation, there’s no shortage of it for the many Winnipeg players who are on the radar for their respective Olympic teams.

While Kyle Connor (USA), Connor Hellebuyck (USA), Josh Morrissey (Canada) and Nino Niederreiter (Switzerland) would appear to be locks for Italy, they’ll want to hit the ground running this season to show they’re ready to compete for a gold medal next February.

Scheifele (Canada) and defenceman Neal Pionk (USA) were also invited to Olympic orientation camps this summer, signalling they’re under consideration for selection.

Final rosters must be submitted by Dec. 31, so sizzling starts for both would not only benefit them personally, but also the Jets as a whole.

 

Can Toews turn back the clock?

It will likely take several months to fully gauge the impact Winnipegger Jonathan Toews will have on this group.

What’s already clear is that he’s fitting in well and showing signs he can contribute more than the elite intangibles he’s brought to the NHL for much of the past two decades.

While Toews did “tweak something” in his lower body during his third exhibition game, he’s on track to suit up for the season opener and will be counted on as the team’s second-line centre.

Exactly what that means in terms of on-ice production remains to be seen. For context, Vladislav Namestnikov was primarily in the role last year and had 11 goals and 38 points in 78 games, finishing eighth in team scoring.

At 37, Toews missed the past two seasons due to health-related issues, but his hockey sense remains sharp. He still knows where to be on the ice, remains a force in the face-off circle and brings the experience of thriving under high-pressure situations.

Toews also excels in the small details that elevate those around him, providing valuable leadership for a team aiming to take the next step in its quest for a championship.

“His personality fits in great,” said Connor.

“He’s on the quieter side but he’s pretty intense when you get into conversations. He’s very open. He wants to share. He’s passionate. He chose Winnipeg, to come here, and it’s not some kind of farewell tour. He wants to win. You can see the fire in him and it’s contagious.”

 

Life on the farm

The Manitoba Moose were a mess last year, which isn’t ideal for a “draft and develop” team like Winnipeg.

That should change considerably this season. Not only did the Jets go out and sign proven AHL players such as Walker Duehr, Samuel Fagemo, Phil Di Giuseppe and Kale Clague to bolster organizational depth, but a trio of promising young prospects — Brayden Yager, Colby Barlow and Jacob Julien — are all turning pro after terrific junior careers.

They’ll join the likes of Ville Heinola, Elias Salomonsson, Danny Zhilkin, Jaret Anderson-Dolan, Fabian Wagner and perhaps one or more of Brad Lambert, Parker Ford and Nikita Chibrikov at some point, depending on how injuries play out for the Jets.

That’s the deepest roster the Moose have iced in years — one that could make them a legitimate Calder Cup contender.

Why is this important for the Jets? Not only do you want your next wave of NHL talent playing in a good environment — one that breeds winning habits — but you also want to create internal competition that keeps everyone on their toes.

Consider this: there were 596 former AHL players on NHL opening-night rosters this week, accounting for more than 82 per cent of the entire league. The Jets alone have 22, which is tied with Tampa Bay for tops in the league.

Whether it’s being ready for an NHL opportunity that arises or creating one through stellar play, this is the type of symmetry every organization strives for between its big club and farm team.

 

What’s the frequency, Helly?

The workload for Hellebuyck has been a hot topic of debate for nearly a decade. And as the reigning Hart Trophy winner and three-time Vezina Trophy recipient prepares for his 11th NHL season, it’s going to be a storyline worth watching once again.

Hellebuyck has made 60 or more starts six times, including 62 last season when he delivered the best campaign of his career.

There’s no question he can handle the load. He’s a proven workhorse who continues to push his ceiling higher, even after setting the bar incredibly high from the start.

The debate, as always, is whether scaling back his regular-season starts might help him stay a bit fresher for the Stanley Cup playoffs.

There’s no evidence suggesting otherwise, and the Jets probably owe it to themselves to find out — even if Hellebuyck would prefer to start as many games as possible.

“He’s still going to come in and ask for 82 games. I know it,” said Arniel. “The big thing is, what happens at the Olympics? Is it seven or eight games if they go to the gold medal (game)? That could add to the picture big-time.”

It’s a safe bet Hellebuyck still makes north of 55 starts and could push as high as 59 — though the sweet spot likely sits around 57 or 58.

 

Box office

When you’re the smallest market in the league — in a city that has already lost one NHL franchise — what happens off the ice will always be under a microscope.

The Jets have seen their season-ticket base grow for a second straight year, by roughly 500, up from a franchise-low of 9,500 in 2023-24 — a figure that had commissioner Gary Bettman and team co-owner Mark Chipman sounding the alarm.

There’s still a long way to go to reach the pre-pandemic base of 13,000, but efforts continue with more flexible ticketing packages, enhanced perks, improved game-day experiences and ongoing arena upgrades.

Will that lead to a much-needed box office boost?

Winning, of course, helps the cause as well — especially with the salary cap projected to rise significantly in the coming years and a desire to keep spending close to the ceiling.

 

Captain’s contract

Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff joked recently that it wouldn’t be long before reporters started asking him about the NHL trade deadline, even though it was still nearly six months away.

His point? There’s always another issue to tackle or a potential fire to stamp out.

So, after coming to terms on Wednesday with Connor on an eight-year extension — the richest contract in Jets history — what’s next on the to-do list?

That one’s easy. Lowry is another pending unrestricted free agent who’s made it clear he wants to stick around.

Lowry knew Connor’s deal was the top priority, but now that it’s done, it wouldn’t be surprising if the second draft pick in Jets 2.0 history soon puts pen to paper as well.

With the salary cap on the rise, expect Lowry to earn a raise from the US$3.25 million he’s scheduled to make this season, likely on a three- or four-year term.

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

X and Bluesky: @mikemcintyrewpg

ken.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca

X and Bluesky: @WiebesWorld