Winnipeg Jets – Winnipeg Free Press

MARTA LAVANDIER / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Winnipeg Jets centre Cole Perfetti (91), centre, celebrates his goal during the third period against the Florida Panthers on Saturday in Sunrise, Fla.

Jets rally in Florida

Ken Wiebe 7 minute read Yesterday at 7:40 PM CST

SUNRISE, Fla. – This time, there was a willingness to do the hard things and go to the hard areas.

There were ample examples of patience and puck management against a team that won the last two Stanley Cup championships and has represented the Eastern Conference in the league final in each of the past three seasons.

Despite giving up the first goal, the Winnipeg Jets were able to rally with a pair of third-period markers to produce a 2-1 victory over the Florida Panthers on Saturday at Amerant Bank Arena.

“Obviously, that’s a good team. They play a hard style,” said Jets forward Cole Perfetti, who scored the equalizer at 8:34 of the third period. “It’s not easy once they get up. It’s not easy to score on them. They really clog things up and make it hard on you. So, to come from behind and get a win in this building, it’s hopefully huge for momentum.”

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Comrie giving Jets chance to stay in games, says head coach Arniel

Ken Wiebe 6 minute read Preview

Comrie giving Jets chance to stay in games, says head coach Arniel

Ken Wiebe 6 minute read 6:15 PM CST

DALLAS – Eric Comrie is no stranger to deftly deflecting praise.

As he stood inside a mostly empty Winnipeg Jets locker room after outduelling Sergei Bobrovsky in a 2-1 victory on Saturday, Comrie was calmly talking about the poise his team played with in front of him.

And rather than lean into any of the 27 saves he made to win a third consecutive start, Comrie tipped his mask to the crease keeper of the past two Stanley Cup champions who stood at the opposite end of the rink.

“To be honest, I thought we had the majority of the chances all game long,” said Comrie. “I thought Bob made some unbelievable saves. He’s a great goalie. He made some great saves. I thought our team played really well all game long. I thought we really controlled a lot of the play.”

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6:15 PM CST

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Eric Comrie (1) stops a shot on goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Hedman impressed by Lightning streak

Ken Wiebe Mike McIntyre 8 minute read Preview

Hedman impressed by Lightning streak

Ken Wiebe Mike McIntyre 8 minute read Friday, Jan. 30, 2026

A weekly lap around the NHL by Free Press hockey writers Ken Wiebe and Mike McIntyre

TAMPA – You can count Victor Hedman among those who are impressed by what the Tampa Bay Lightning have already accomplished this season.

The Lightning captain has been limited to 18 of 52 games because of an elbow injury, but he’s had a front row seat to a Herculean effort by the Eastern Conference leaders, who are riding a 16-1-1 record over the past 18 games.

Despite losses to key players, including centre Brayden Point, the Lightning are 34-14-4 this season, tied with the Minnesota Wild for second in the NHL.

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Friday, Jan. 30, 2026

(AP Photo/Mike Carlson)
Tampa Bay Lightning’s Victor Hedman, right, celebrates an overtime win against the Vegas Golden Knights in an NHL hockey game Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025, in Tampa, Fla.

Jets’ forward struggling to break out of points slump

Ken Wiebe 7 minute read Preview

Jets’ forward struggling to break out of points slump

Ken Wiebe 7 minute read Friday, Jan. 30, 2026

SUNRISE, Fla. — Vladislav Namestnikov was as surprised as you probably were.

When you’ve been limited to one solitary goal in the past 40 games and the puck bounces off the end boards in your direction with the net vacated, it’s natural for his eyes to get wide.

The Winnipeg Jets forward had put himself in prime position to take advantage of a lucky bounce against the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday, but as he went to shoot the puck into the yawning cage, Jack Hughes came out of nowhere to deflect the puck out of harm’s way.

In some ways, the play was an example of the cold snap that Namestnikov has been working his way through.

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Friday, Jan. 30, 2026

Chris O’Meara / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Winnipeg Jets forward Vladislav Namestnikov (right) has gone cold after a red-hot start to open the season, notching six goals and seven points through 12 games.

Jets overpowered by surging Lightning

Ken Wiebe 7 minute read Preview

Jets overpowered by surging Lightning

Ken Wiebe 7 minute read Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026

TAMPA, Fla. — Scott Arniel isn’t one to toss around compliments just for the sake of stroking the ego of the opponent.

But when the head coach of the Winnipeg Jets was asked about the remarkable run the Tampa Bay Lightning were on following the morning skate, Arniel wasn’t shy about sharing his admiration.

“Obviously, we know Colorado real well, but I’ve got these guys as the second best team in the league,” said Arniel. “I’ve been watching them the last month and a half. They’re really good. They’re showing it with their play, with how aggressive they are. They come at you hard, both with and without the puck.”

Those words proved to be prescient, as the Lightning showed off those aggressive qualities in earning a 4-1 victory over the Jets on Thursday night at Benchmark International Arena.

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Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026

Chris O’Meara / The Associated Press
Winnipeg Jets centre Mark Scheifele gets between Tampa Bay Lightning defenceman J.J. Moser and centre Zemgus Girgensons in the first period of Tampa’s 4-1 Thursday, in Tampa.

Samberg pays it forward to Salomonsson

Ken Wiebe 6 minute read Preview

Samberg pays it forward to Salomonsson

Ken Wiebe 6 minute read Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026

TAMPA, Fla. — It wasn’t all that long ago when the proverbial skate was on the other foot for Dylan Samberg.

The Winnipeg Jets defenceman could only smile and chuckle when asked about the idea of serving as a mentor for top prospect Elias Salomonsson after the morning skate and prior to taking on the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night.

“It’s weird. I was in his shoes a few years ago,” said Samberg, who turned 27 last week. “Now to be called a mentor is a little bit different. It makes me feel old. It’s good. I’m just trying to help him as much as possible and trying to make sure he has fun while he’s doing it.”

The fun factor has been apparent for both Samberg and Salomonsson of late, as the duo has been seeing plenty of high-leverage minutes against the most skilled forwards of the opponents in recent games.

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Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026

John Woods / The Canadian Press files
Winnipeg Jets defenceman Elias Salomonsson (left) continues to impress in his development, playing in just his 10th NHL game Thursday night against Tampa Bay.

Jets’ Vilardi has cemented his role as a top-line winger

Ken Wiebe 6 minute read Preview

Jets’ Vilardi has cemented his role as a top-line winger

Ken Wiebe 6 minute read Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026

TAMPA — Gabe Vilardi is proving to be adept at adapting.

At a time when the Winnipeg Jets were looking to stretch out the lineup and create a more balanced attack, it was Vilardi who was moved to the second line with Jonathan Toews and Cole Perfetti.

The trio clicked almost immediately and the Jets put together a four-game winning streak, with Vilardi showing he had the ability to drive his own line when he was on top of his game.

The line had cooled a bit during a recent 1-2-2 stretch, so it came as little surprise that head coach Scott Arniel reunited Vilardi with the top trio for the second period against the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday.

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Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026

Matt Slocum / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES
Winnipeg Jets forward Gabriel Vilardi is thriving this season after a slow start, sitting third overall on the club in points (46) and goals (20).

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Vilardi rejoins Scheifele, Connor to help Jets down Devils 4-3

Ken Wiebe 6 minute read Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026

NEWARK, N.J. – Message received, response delivered.

The Winnipeg Jets were able to regroup from a lethargic outing to earn a 4-3 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night at Prudential Center to open a four-game road trip.

While the Jets can’t afford too many missteps during the final 30 games, this might end up being an example of incremental growth in the quest to stay relevant down the stretch.

The top guns were firing on all cylinders, the Jets didn’t give up much defensively at even strength and they didn’t sit back after building a 4-1 lead with an excellent second period that included three five-on-five goals.

Former Jet Dillon talks twists and turns on road to 1,000-plus game career

Ken Wiebe 6 minute read Preview

Former Jet Dillon talks twists and turns on road to 1,000-plus game career

Ken Wiebe 6 minute read Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026

NEWARK, N.J. — Brenden Dillon was almost a member of the Manitoba Bisons men’s hockey team.

The New Jersey Devils defenceman shared the turn-back-the-clock confession when talking about his hockey journey toward 1,000 NHL games and beyond, before facing the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday night.

“For me, not getting drafted into the WHL draft or the NHL draft, you start to doubt every once in a while,” said Dillon. “That season (2010-11), I was starting to have UBC (University of British Columbia) and U of A (Alberta) and even University of Manitoba reaching out asking, ‘what are you thinking next year for college and university?’

“That was my reality at the time.”

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Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026

Seth Wenig / The Associated Press files
New Jersey Devils defenceman Brenden Dillon honoured with a ceremony for his 1,000-game mark back in December.

Jets mailbag: wild card talk, trade interest and breaking up the dream team

Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe 18 minute read Preview

Jets mailbag: wild card talk, trade interest and breaking up the dream team

Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe 18 minute read Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026

What the heck is going on with the Winnipeg Jets?

The questions were flying in fast and furious this month — emphasis on the furious part — as Free Press hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe opened up the monthly mailbag.

Group therapy is now in session.

1. Assuming the Jets can somehow get into a position to be wildcard competitor, I would think the odds of them getting out of the first round would be stacked heavily against them. In other words, do you think Kevin Cheveldayoff should be an aggressive seller and start a rebuild for the future. Standing pat is the same as doing nothing (something he has become quite adept at), and being a buyer at this stage is just a waste of whatever assets he has left. SHELDON

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Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026

Nam Y. Huh / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Winnipeg Jets centre Jonathan Toews should drum up interest for a potential trade.

Margin for error razor thin for struggling Jets

Ken Wiebe 7 minute read Preview

Margin for error razor thin for struggling Jets

Ken Wiebe 7 minute read Monday, Jan. 26, 2026

NEWARK, N.J. — Scott Arniel was in no mood to back track, nor was the head coach of the Winnipeg Jets interested in diving into any doom-and-gloom scenarios that are being bandied about.

As Arniel met with reporters before the team departed for a four-game road trip that begins on Tuesday against the New Jersey Devils, he fielded several queries about his rather direct post-game commentary that lasted roughly 68 seconds after Saturday’s 5-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings.

The Coles Notes version was that the Jets weren’t good enough and that was apparent in both the tone of the delivery and the look of disappointment on his face when he stood at the podium on Saturday.

“The stuff we did against other teams, that nose-to-nose compete, execution, just the details of our game was the opposite. It was like we were looking for a real easy game against Detroit, and Detroit’s one of the top teams in the East,” Arniel told reporters on Monday.

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Monday, Jan. 26, 2026

David Zalubowski / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES
Winnipeg Jets head coach Scott Arniel said Monday the club just has to keep pushing and that the season isn’t over ‘until there’s some kind of mark beside our team that says we’re out.’

Embarrassing: ‘Fighting for our lives… and lay that egg’

Mike McIntyre 7 minute read Preview

Embarrassing: ‘Fighting for our lives… and lay that egg’

Mike McIntyre 7 minute read Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026

There was a moment late in the third period of Saturday’s Winnipeg Jets game when an obviously frustrated fan of the home team shouted what was likely on the minds of many inside a sold-out Canada Life Centre.

“Do something!” he pleaded from the upper deck.

Two more goals from the Detroit Red Wings quickly followed — along with plenty of “Go Wings Go” chants from their many red-clad faithful in the crowd — as they put the finishing touches on a 5-1 victory that never really seemed in doubt.

Yeah, it was that type of night. And, quite frankly, it’s been that type of season for the Jets.

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Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026

JOHN WOODS / THE CANADIAN PRESS

Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) saves the tipped puck from Detroit Red Wings’ Elmer Soderblom (85) as Luke Schenn (5) defends during first period action in Winnipeg on Saturday.

Move to Detroit eye-opening for Appleton

Ken Wiebe 4 minute read Preview

Move to Detroit eye-opening for Appleton

Ken Wiebe 4 minute read Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026

Mason Appleton didn’t know how things were going to play out.

When July 1 arrived and free agency officially opened, he was left with an emotion that caught him by surprise as he was mulling over his future.

“It’s a stressful process. It’s not easy for anyone,” said Appleton, who spent the bulk of seven seasons with the Jets before inking a deal with the Detroit Red Wings this past summer. “When talks kind of heated up with Detroit, I felt like that was a fit that made a lot of sense.”

The transition to his new team has mostly been smooth, as Appleton has been showing the traits that made him an effective player with the Jets, often skating alongside captain Adam Lowry on a checking line that chipped in important secondary scoring.

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Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026

RYAN SUN / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Detroit Red Wings centre Mason Appleton (22) moves the puck against Chicago Blackhawks defenceman Artyom Levshunov, behind, during the second period of an NHL hockey game in November in Detroit.

NHL clubs beginning to choose lanes as three-quarter mark of season nears

Ken Wiebe and Mike McIntyre 8 minute read Preview

NHL clubs beginning to choose lanes as three-quarter mark of season nears

Ken Wiebe and Mike McIntyre 8 minute read Friday, Jan. 23, 2026

DUMP & CHASEA weekly lap around the NHL by Free Press hockey writers Ken Wiebe and Mike McIntyre

A few notable pre-emptive strikes have already been made, sending shockwaves throughout the NHL.

Whether it was Bill Guerin taking a big swing to acquire Quinn Hughes for the Minnesota Wild or Kelly McCrimmon putting together a package to bring in Rasmus Andersson to bolster the blue line for the Vegas Golden Knights, some of the big-name players have already been taken off the trade boards that are prevalent at this time of year.

With teams in a full-out sprint to the Olympic break, the other buyers and sellers are starting to emerge ahead of the March 6 deadline.

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Friday, Jan. 23, 2026

Jessie Alcheh / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES
Arguably the biggest trade of the season to date has been the Minnesota Wild picking up defenceman Quinn Hughes.

Jets’ Stanley one of GM Cheveldayoff’s most valuable chips to play

Mike McIntyre 7 minute read Preview

Jets’ Stanley one of GM Cheveldayoff’s most valuable chips to play

Mike McIntyre 7 minute read Friday, Jan. 23, 2026

Logan Stanley has finally arrived. Is he now about to leave?

That’s the multimillion-dollar question facing the Winnipeg Jets and their polarizing six-foot-seven defenceman, who has a knack for timing as he enjoys a breakout season ahead of pending unrestricted free agency this summer.

Stanley, 27, weighed in publicly for the first time Friday after being asked about it by the Free Press.

“You definitely think about your future and what’s going on. I think everybody would be lying if they said they didn’t think about that,” he said following his club’s optional practice at Canada Life Centre.

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Friday, Jan. 23, 2026

NICK WASS / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES
Winnipeg Jets defenceman Logan Stanley is having a career-high season with the club, but there is speculation he is worth US$5 million — a significant increase from the $US1.5 million he’s making with the Jets this season.

Jets fall in shootout to Panthers

Mike McIntyre 7 minute read Preview

Jets fall in shootout to Panthers

Mike McIntyre 7 minute read Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026

The Winnipeg Jets sure don’t like working overtime this season.

A 2-1 shootout loss to the Florida Panthers on Thursday night at Canada Life Centre marked the club’s seventh straight setback in a game decided beyond regulation.

That’s a pile of potential points left on the table — a major problem for a team sitting below the Western Conference playoff line. It’s also a puzzling development for a group that has feasted in extra time in recent years.

“At the end of the day, especially where we are in the standings, we have to end that game right there,” said an obviously frustrated Jets coach Scott Arniel.

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Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026

February 1, 2026

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