Change very much in the air for the Jets

Let’s get the caveats out of the way: Nothing is set in stone, nor written in permanent ink, and what you see right now could change in the blink of an eye.

With that being said, allow us to introduce you to the 2026-27 Winnipeg Jets — where change is very much in the air.

The 23-man roster submitted to the NHL offices by Monday’s 4 p.m. deadline includes seven players who were not on the team at this time last year. In fact, there could be as many as 10 new faces in the opening-night lineup on Friday against Boston when you factor in three regulars didn’t start the 2025-26 campaign due to injury.

That’s a lot of turnover, which isn’t surprising for a team that finished 26th overall in the standings and was — to most fans and pundits — too old and too slow.

According to PuckPedia, Winnipeg’s roster carries a salary cap hit of US$91.5 million, which leaves the club with nearly US$12.5 million in available space.

Keep in mind, however, that suspended goaltender Connor Hellebuyck would chew up US$8.5 million should he end his strike and return at some point, rather than be traded.

No, we don’t expect that to happen. But the Jets have to guard against the possibility. A more likely scenario is an eventual trade, which is why we suggest you take this lineup with an extra grain or two of salt, given that a potential Hellebuyck return could bring about even more changes.

For now, this is what they have. The Jets will hold practices this week on Wednesday (at the Hockey For All Centre, open to the public) and Thursday (at Canada Life Centre, closed to public) before hosting the Bruins at the downtown rink on Friday night (7 p.m.).

GOALIES (2)

WELCOME BACK: Nobody

HELLO THERE: Stuart Skinner, Clay Stevenson

WHAT CHANGED: Hellebuyck (MIA) and Eric Comrie (signed with Anaheim, waived, starting year in AHL) are gone, while Skinner (free agent signing) and Stevenson (claimed on waivers Monday) have taken over in the crease.

Skinner is a known commodity, having appeared already in two straight Stanley Cup Finals with his hometown Edmonton Oilers, who then traded him to Pittsburgh last year. The 27-year-old is welcoming the fresh start here in Winnipeg and a chance to really lock down the No. 1 role.

Stevenson is an intriguing add. The undrafted 27-year-old Albertan has spent most of his career in the American Hockey League, posting eye-popping numbers for the Hershey Bears including winning the Calder Cup in 2024.

The 6-4, 195-pound puck stopper — known to teammates as “Mud” — had to clear waivers in order to be sent down out of Washington’s camp this year. Stevenson’s path to the Capitals net was blocked by Logan Thompson and Charlie Lindgren, and the Jets scooped him up to fill what they view as a need.

For his AHL career, Stevenson has a regular-season record of 63-31-11 with a 2.50 goals against average, .909 save percentage and nine shutouts. Stevenson has appeared in five NHL games so far, going 3-2-0 with a 2.60 GAA and .906 SV%. He’ll now get the chance to really make his mark in the big leagues.

WAITING IN THE WINGS: Domenic DiVincentiis (sent down to the Manitoba Moose on Monday) and Thomas Milic, who will get more seasoning in the AHL.

FORWARDS (13)

WELCOME BACK: Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor, Gabe Vilardi, Cole Perfetti, Adam Lowry, Nino Niederreiter, Vlad Namestnikov, Alex Iafallo, Morgan Barron, Cole Koepke, Brad Lambert

HELLO THERE: Viggo Bjorck, Isak Rosen

WHAT CHANGED: Jonathan Toews, Gustav Nyquist and Tanner Pearson, all in the starting lineup a year ago, are gone.

Bjorck, the eighth-overall draft pick from this past summer and Rosen, the prized return in last season’s Logan Stanley trade, are expected to bring speed and skill to the top six. At just 18, Bjorck will be one of the youngest players in the league, while Rosen is hoping to bring his AHL scoring touch to the NHL.

Lowry and Perfetti, who were injured at the start of last season, are fully healthy and raring to go and want to be difference-makers.

Throw in the fact you have pending unrestricted free agent’s Niederreiter and Namestnikov declaring themselves fully recovered from various ailments that led to tough years — plus a player like Lambert who was really just a placeholder a year ago but now gets a chance to carve out of a full-time role — and this does feel like a new forward group, even if most of the names are familiar.

Brayden Yager made things interesting with a strong camp but ultimately got squeezed out, for now. The fact he didn’t need waivers to be sent to the AHL likely worked against him. But we expect to see him, along with some others from the farm, get their chance at some point.

WAITING IN THE WINGS: Yager (sent to Moose on Monday), Danny Zhilkin (cleared waivers Monday), Parker Ford, Noah Gregor, Nikita Chibrikov, Walker Duehr (currently injured).

DEFENCE (8)

WELCOME BACK: Josh Morrissey, Dylan DeMelo, Neal Pionk, Dylan Samberg, Haydn Fleury

HELLO THERE: Mario Ferraro, Tyrel Bauer, Jack St. Ivany

WHAT CHANGED: The Jets shipped out Stanley and Luke Schenn at last season’s trade deadline and didn’t re-sign UFAs including Colin Miller, Jacob Bryson and Ville Heinola (who signed with Vegas this summer and just cleared waivers Monday).

Ferraro was the prized free agent skater signing and will drastically improve the third pairing. Top blue-line prospect Elias Salomonsson would be next to him, but he’s recovering from a shoulder injury and still a couple weeks away. Salomonsson, who was called up during last season, would represent another add from last year’s opening roster.

Bauer, who is as tough as they come, is poised to make his NHL debut after being drafted and developed by the Jets, while St. Ivany came over from Pittsburgh in the David Gustafsson trade and, like Bauer, is a right-shot who can be paired with Ferraro until Salomonsson returns.

Assuming nobody else gets hurt, expect one of Bauer, St. Ivany or Fleury (who is a left shot) to be waived and sent to the Moose if they clear.

WAITING IN THE WINGS: Henry Thrun (cleared waivers Monday), Isaak Phillips, Alfons Freij, Garrett Brown (currently injured). Typically, NHL teams need as many as 10 (or more) defencemen to get through a season, so it’s possible all of these players could pop up at various points.

winnipegfreepress.com/mikemcintyre