Hockey

NHL

DAVID ZALUBOWSKI/ THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES Thursday marks Day 29 of Winnipeg Jets franchise goaltender Connor Hellebuyck’s suspension this season after not reporting to training camp.

Letting the malcontent masked elephant back in the room

Mike McIntyre 7 minute read Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026

CHICAGO — Buckle up, folks. The next plot twist in the ongoing soap opera between the Winnipeg Jets and Connor Hellebuyck could be a doozy.

Let’s start with a few cold, hard facts. Or, if you prefer: “Previously on As the Hellebuyck Turns…”

The franchise goaltender, with five years remaining on a contract extension he willingly signed with Winnipeg in 2023, refused to report to training camp last month as he awaits word on a trade request made at the end of last season. He’s the first NHL player in more than a quarter century to essentially go on strike.

The Jets are under no obligation to move Hellebuyck, but have indicated they would try to accommodate him if another team meets their needs. General manager Kevin Cheveldayoff has made it clear he needs to “get this right” and wants a haul for a three-time Vezina Trophy winner and one-time Hart Trophy recipient.

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NHL

MIKE MCINTYRE / FREE PRESS Preparations have started at Princess Auto Stadium for the NHL Heritage Classic between the Winnipeg Jets and Montreal Canadiens on Oct. 25.

‘We know we’re not going to beat Mother Nature’: Ice prep begins at Princess Auto Stadium for Heritage Classic

Mike McIntyre 7 minute read Preview

‘We know we’re not going to beat Mother Nature’: Ice prep begins at Princess Auto Stadium for Heritage Classic

Mike McIntyre 7 minute read Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026

Derek King typically has ice in his veins.

But the Manitoban admits there may be a few more butterflies than usual as he prepares for the ultimate home game — the 2026 Heritage Classic between the Winnipeg Jets and Montreal Canadiens.

“This is so exciting to be back,” King, the NHL’s vice-president of hockey operations and facilities operations, said Tuesday afternoon.

“It’s definitely going to be a fun event to be part of.”

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Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026

Winnipeg Jets

Nathan Denette / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Goalies Stuart Skinner, left, and Calvin Pickard went all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals, twice, as teammates on the Edmonton Oilers.

Former Oilers teammates square off for first time

Ken Wiebe 7 minute read Preview

Former Oilers teammates square off for first time

Ken Wiebe 7 minute read Monday, Oct. 12, 2026

Calvin Pickard has been many things to Stuart Skinner.

An ally, sounding board, confidante and most importantly, a close friend.

They were a goalie tandem for parts of three seasons with the Edmonton Oilers, making two trips to the Stanley Cup final, combining for 29 playoff wins, but falling just short of achieving the ultimate goal on both of those occasions.

They were opponents just once last season when the Oilers and Pittsburgh Penguins met for the first time since the trade that shipped Skinner to Pennsylvania, but it was Tristan Jarry – the guy he was traded for – standing at the opposite side of the rink.

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Monday, Oct. 12, 2026

NHL

Duane Burleson / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Winnipeg Jets centre Cole Perfetti (right) and winger Kyle Connor (left) have already combined for five goals and 10 points in three games.

Jets trending in right direction after picking up points in first three games

Ken Wiebe 7 minute read Preview

Jets trending in right direction after picking up points in first three games

Ken Wiebe 7 minute read Friday, Oct. 9, 2026

Welcome to a small sample size season, when sweeping observations and hot takes can quickly become outdated and — occasionally — out of touch.

With that as a cautionary backdrop, the Winnipeg Jets are off to a 2-0-1 start that has them temporarily occupying top spot in the Central Division.

“We were optimistic that we’re a better team than we showed last year,” said Jets captain Adam Lowry. “We want to play fast. We want to compete hard, and we want to give ourselves a chance to win every night, so I think we’ve done that.”

As the Jets welcome the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday to open a three-game homestand, they’ve gotten off to a fast start in a season that required one.

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Friday, Oct. 9, 2026

Winnipeg Jets

THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods Winnipeg Jets goaltender Stuart Skinner (74) saves the Colorado Avalanche shot during second period NHL hockey action in Winnipeg on Wednesday.

Jets goaltender quickly taking on folk hero status with hot start

Ken Wiebe 7 minute read Preview

Jets goaltender quickly taking on folk hero status with hot start

Ken Wiebe 7 minute read Friday, Oct. 9, 2026

Stuart Skinner is giving the hometown crowd plenty to cheer about.

The Winnipeg Jets new No. 1 netminder came up with another brilliant performance, making 32 saves — including several of the highlight-reel variety — to propel his team to a 3-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday night at Canada Life Centre.

With each save he makes and each win he records, Skinner is doing what he can to help turn the page on the Connor Hellebuyck era.

“I would say that they are big shoes to fill 100 per cent, but I’m not looking into the scenario of filling his shoes,” said Skinner, who lowered his goals-against average to 2.62 and raised his save percentage to .920 through three starts. “My job’s the same job as any other goalie in this league. So it’s a little bit of a difficult question for me to truly answer.”

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Friday, Oct. 9, 2026

NHL

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES Winnipeg Jets defenceman Mario Ferraro said his No. 38 jersey happened by chance, but he’s kept it ever since.

Get know your Jet: Mario Ferraro

Mike McIntyre 8 minute read Preview

Get know your Jet: Mario Ferraro

Mike McIntyre 8 minute read Friday, Oct. 9, 2026

“Give it 110 per cent.” “Get pucks in deep.” “One shift at a time.” “Play our game.” “Keep it simple.”

Hockey has a language all its own. Unfortunately, after hearing the same phrases repeated often enough, that language can start to sound a lot like white noise.

So we’re going to try something different.

The Free Press will occasionally sit down with a Winnipeg Jets player at his locker-room stall for a wide-ranging conversation about the stuff you don’t always hear in a media scrum.

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Friday, Oct. 9, 2026

Hockey

Senators forward Eklund out for ‘extended’ period with ankle injury

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Friday, Oct. 9, 2026

OTTAWA - Ottawa Senators forward William Eklund will be out for an "extended" period of time with an ankle injury, head coach Travis Green said Friday.

Eklund left Ottawa's 2-1 win over visiting Philadelphia on Thursday night after taking a hit from defenceman Simon Benoit.

The 23-year-old Swede has a goal and an assist in four games so far this season.

Green did not have a specific timeline for Eklund's return, but said he expects the forward back this season and doesn't think he needs surgery. 

Hockey

Winnipeg Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey listed as day-to-day with upper-body injury

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Friday, Oct. 9, 2026

WINNIPEG - Winnipeg Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey is listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

Head coach Scott Arniel says the Canadian Olympian was feeling better Friday but did not take part in the team's morning skate.

Morrissey was injured in Wednesday's 3-2 win over Colorado when he missed a bodycheck and crashed into the glass in the opening period.

He was seen holding his right hand as he left the ice and returned briefly in the second period before leaving the game for good.

NHL

John Woods / THE CANADIAN PRESS Winnipeg Jets centre Viggo Bjorck said Thursday he’s battled some early butterflies, but he’s just focused on improving his game and not concerned about getting his first NHL point.

Bjorck banking on patience that first NHL point will come

Mike McIntyre 6 minute read Preview

Bjorck banking on patience that first NHL point will come

Mike McIntyre 6 minute read Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026

Viggo Bjorck believes it’s just a matter of time.

But the 18-year-old rookie forward for the Winnipeg Jets says he’s not worrying about his first NHL point after plenty of close calls and near misses so far.

The more important number is 3-0-1 — his team’s record at this point as they head into action on Friday night, hosting the Anaheim Ducks at Canada Life Centre to close out a busy stretch of five games in eight days.

“Just got to keep trying. Eventually it will come, I believe,” Bjorck said following his team’s optional skate on Thursday, which he participated in.

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Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026

NHL

Gene J. Puskar / The Associated Press Files Winnipeg Jets’ Mark Scheifele, centre, recorded two assists in the Jets’ win over the Avalanche, Wednesday.

Scheifele’s scoring ‘drought’ ends with pair of assists in win over Avs

Mike McIntyre 5 minute read Preview

Scheifele’s scoring ‘drought’ ends with pair of assists in win over Avs

Mike McIntyre 5 minute read Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026

Mark Scheifele insisted he wasn’t worried.

But make no mistake: When a prolific point producer coming off a career-best offensive season puts up zeroes in his first three games, people are going to start talking.

Is this an ominous sign, some fans wondered? Is Father Time starting to catch up, others pondered?

Let the record show the so-called drought officially ended on Wednesday night in a big way when Scheifele assisted on Cole Perfetti’s second-period goal, then set up Kyle Connor’s dramatic game-winner with 60 seconds left in regulation.

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Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026

Winnipeg Jets

John Woods / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Winnipeg Jets starting goaltender Stuart Skinner said he’ll be putting his heart on the line every time he’s in net.

Netminder no stranger to heavy workload as Jets new No. 1 readies for regular-season start

Ken Wiebe 8 minute read Preview

Netminder no stranger to heavy workload as Jets new No. 1 readies for regular-season start

Ken Wiebe 8 minute read Wednesday, Sep. 30, 2026

Stuart Skinner is quick to admit that he wasn’t always wired this way.

As the Winnipeg Jets new starting goalie prepares for his fifth NHL season, Skinner conceded that the accountability aspect that is now synonymous with his character took some time to build up.

“As I grew up and got older, you go through certain things in life that either build character or make things worse for you. It depends on your choice and your decision,” Skinner said during a recent conversation with the Free Press. “I learned it through trial and error. I learned that, sometimes, it’s hard to get honest with yourself… For me, it’s definitely been a road for me to get to a place like this.

“It definitely is one of my pillars. Accountability is so important because that brings you into a spot of what you’re going to do next. It’s easy to let yourself off the hook. I’m more in the business of putting myself on the hook.”

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Wednesday, Sep. 30, 2026

Winnipeg Jets

Mike McIntyre / FREE PRESS Landon Ferraro returns to Winnipeg as the colour commentator for TSN’s regional Winnipeg Jets broadcasts.

Ferraro gets call-up to the Jets

Mike McIntyre 6 minute read Preview

Ferraro gets call-up to the Jets

Mike McIntyre 6 minute read Wednesday, Sep. 30, 2026

Landon Ferraro vividly recalls the moment his NHL career came to an extremely painful end — Oct. 20, 2017, in downtown Winnipeg.

“My last play was a breakaway on Connor Hellebuyck,” Ferraro told the Free Press this week.

“I tried to poke the puck past the first D. It was me and (Dustin) Byfuglien chasing it down. I thought he was going to throw me across the ice, so I tried to cut in on him, and he moved. I overextended, and I literally ripped my abductor off the bone and gave myself a hernia.”

Ferraro — at the time playing forward for the visiting Minnesota Wild — said he managed to get off a weak shot that hit the Jets goaltender square in the chest. But his 77th appearance in the big leagues would be his last following previous stops with Detroit (which drafted him 32nd overall in 2009) and Boston.

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Wednesday, Sep. 30, 2026

NHL

NICK WASS / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES Former Washington Capitals goalie Clay Stevenson is joining the Jets and will immediately step into the role as backup goalie.

Jets pick up netminder as relatively new 23-man roster announced

Mike McIntyre 7 minute read Preview

Jets pick up netminder as relatively new 23-man roster announced

Mike McIntyre 7 minute read Monday, Sep. 28, 2026

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.

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Monday, Sep. 28, 2026

Winnipeg Jets

John Woods / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Winnipeg Jets defenceman Tyrel Bauer has proven his stickhandling ability is just as useful than being the tough guy on the ice.

Bauer ‘better and better every year’

Ken Wiebe 8 minute read Preview

Bauer ‘better and better every year’

Ken Wiebe 8 minute read Monday, Sep. 28, 2026

Tyrel Bauer makes no apologies for the pugilistic piece of his path.

The Winnipeg Jets defenceman is ready to drop the gloves and throw down when the situation calls for it and he takes great pride in protecting his teammates.

It’s a big part of the reason Bauer will be among the 23 players submitted by the Jets on the opening-day roster on Monday.

“I’ve fought and clawed, both metaphorically and literally and now I just want to show that I can play as well,” Bauer said during a chat with the Free Press during training camp. “(Toughness) is always something that I have, it’s always something in my back pocket and something that I take a lot of pride in doing, for my teammates, for the city and the people who invest in this hockey club. That will never change.

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Monday, Sep. 28, 2026

Manitoba Moose

BROOK JONES / FREE PRESS FILES Nikita Chibrikov is still working his way back to peak form.

Four Jets clear waivers to join Moose

Ken Wiebe 3 minute read Preview

Four Jets clear waivers to join Moose

Ken Wiebe 3 minute read Saturday, Sep. 26, 2026

The Winnipeg Jets organizational depth has yet to take a hit on the waiver wire.

On Saturday afternoon, all four players exposed to waivers — defenceman Isaak Phillips and forwards Nikita Chibrikov, Noah Gregor and Parker Ford — cleared, which means they can be assigned to the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League.

Owing to injuries to captain Adam Lowry and winger Cole Perfetti, both Chibrikov and Ford started last season on the NHL roster but spent the bulk of last season with the Moose.

Chibrikov, chosen in the second round of the 2021 NHL Draft, has dealt with multiple lower-body injuries during the prior two seasons and is still working his way back to peak form.

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Saturday, Sep. 26, 2026

NHL

JOHN WOODS / FREE PRESS Winnipeg Jets power-play unit stalwart Kyle Connor (left) was involved in the penalty kill skate on Thursday, suggesting the forward could see some double duty at times this season depending on the circumstances.

Jets focus on power play and penalty kill as shortened pre-season winds down

Mike McIntyre 6 minute read Preview

Jets focus on power play and penalty kill as shortened pre-season winds down

Mike McIntyre 6 minute read Thursday, Sep. 24, 2026

You can point the finger of blame in a number of directions when it comes to finding fault with last season’s Winnipeg Jets.

A lineup that was too old and too slow. Injuries to key players. Regression from other core members. Inconsistent goaltending. The list goes on.

Well, here’s another culprit that doesn’t get talked about nearly enough: spotty special teams. More specifically, a power play that was anything but potent and a penalty kill that was far too porous.

That has to change — and fast — if this team is going anywhere.

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Thursday, Sep. 24, 2026

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