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For the first time since 2022, the Winnipeg Jets are not part of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Coming off of the team’s first Presidents Trophy win in team history, this season was nothing but a huge disappointment. Now the teams heads into a daunting off-season filled with major challenges and an unclear path to right the ship.
Jets Coach and GM will be back
With the player exit meetings done and over with, all indications are that head coach Scott Arniel and General Manager Kevin Cheveldayoff will continue their respective roles with the team. With St. Louis Blues general manager Doug Armstrong rumored to be stepping down this summer, Cheveldayoff will be the longest tenured active GM in the league. He has been the Jets GM ever since they returned to Winnipeg 15 years ago (2011).
Koepke Re-signed
As expected, pending free agent Cole Koepke inked a two-year extension to remain with the Jets. His new deal carries a minimal $1.45 million cap hit over two years. Koepke registered 17 points (8G,9A) in 66 games playing in a bottom 6 role. The soon to be 28 year old’s speed was a nice revelation in an otherwise aging bottom 6 forward group. With Koepke re-signed, the only other pending UFA that may be brought back is back-up goaltender Eric Comrie.
NHL Draft Lottery
The 2026 NHL Draft Lottery will take place on Tuesday, May 5th. The Jets have the 7th highest odds of winning the 1st overall pick in the 2026 Draft. Their odds for the draft lottery are as follows;
1st Overall: 6.5%
2nd Overall: 6.7%
3rd Overall:0.2%
7th Overall: 44.4%
8th Overall: 36.5%
9th Overall: 5.6%
In all likelihood, the Jets will select either seventh or eighth overall.
Pending RFAs
The Jets two pending restricted free agents are forwards Cole Perfetti and Isak Rosen. Neither should be targets of offer sheets from rival GM’s. For that reason, Jets management will have all summer to get their respective contract extensions done. I would expect bridge deals for both players.
Need for 2nd line
After the departure of Nikolaj Ehlers last summer to the Carolina Hurricanes, the Jets secondary scoring completely fell off a cliff. The big challenge for the Jets GM this summer will be to significantly upgrade that 2nd line in order to take the load off of the top line of Kyle Connor-Mark Scheifele and Gabe Vilardi.
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