Winnipeg Jets – Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Jets’ Adam Lowry, front left to right, Nino Niederreiter and Alex Iafallo celebrate Niederreiter’s goal against the Vancouver Canucks during the first period of an NHL hockey game, in Vancouver, on Tuesday. (Darryl Dyck / The Canadian Press)

Morrissey leads the Jets to 5-3 win over Canucks

Ken Wiebe 8 minute read Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025

VANCOUVER – Josh Morrissey took matters in his own hands.

With the Winnipeg Jets in the midst of a three-game losing streak, the top-pairing defenceman and alternate captain was the picture of calm after the morning skate.

While acknowledging that the Jets were working through some issues, Morrissey exuded a quiet confidence when laying out some thoughts on what needed to change for his team to get back on track.

“For us, we feel that there is another level — or multiple levels — to our game,” said Morrissey. “Obviously, we’ve got some new faces but we’re 15 games in now. Everyone should know the system and structure and be comfortable in it. So now, it’s about let’s get on the gas and let’s get playing here.

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Jets’ Niederreiter officially a Swiss flag bearer for Milan Cortina opening ceremonies

Ken Wiebe 7 minute read Preview

Jets’ Niederreiter officially a Swiss flag bearer for Milan Cortina opening ceremonies

Ken Wiebe 7 minute read Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026

Nino Niederreiter has ample experience leading the Swiss national hockey program. But on Friday, the Winnipeg Jets winger will be leading an entire nation on the world’s largest stage.

Niederreiter was unveiled as one of the flag bearers for Switzerland on Thursday, which is an incredible honour for the 33-year-old forward who is set to participate in his second Olympic games.

Niederreiter, who also played for Switzerland’s men’s hockey team in 2014, will be joined as a flag bearer by ski cross veteran and two-time Olympic bronze medallist Fanny Smith.

Following Wednesday’s 5-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens (and before the official announcement had been made), Niederreiter shared his enthusiasm about what was on the horizon.

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Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026

JOHN WOODS / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES
Winnipeg Jets forward Nino Niederreiter was named an opening ceremonies flag bearer for Switzerland on Thursday.

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.

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.

‘He’s becoming a leader for us’

Ken Wiebe 7 minute read Preview

‘He’s becoming a leader for us’

Ken Wiebe 7 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).

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

Ken Wiebe 7 minute read Preview

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

Ken Wiebe 7 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.

Move to Detroit eye-opening for Appleton

Ken Wiebe 5 minute read Preview

Move to Detroit eye-opening for Appleton

Ken Wiebe 5 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.

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

Mike McIntyre 8 minute read Preview

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

Mike McIntyre 8 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.

Returning to the ’Peg always special for Maurice

Ken Wiebe 8 minute read Preview

Returning to the ’Peg always special for Maurice

Ken Wiebe 8 minute read Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026

During a lifetime of hockey experiences, Paul Maurice rarely runs into something he either hasn’t seen before or simply stops him in his tracks.

But after touching down to the deep freeze that all Manitobans are currently experiencing, the former head coach of the Winnipeg Jets hustled over to Hockey For All Centre to witness something that gave him great joy.

Behind the bench of the St. Mary’s Academy Flames stood his daughter, Sydney, who is a coach with the Manitoba Women’s High School Hockey League team that is tied for top spot in the Division 1-2 West standings.

Coming back to the place where he resurrected his NHL coaching career is always special for Maurice, but adding a proud dad moment was something that had him bursting with pride and grinning from ear to ear.

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Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026

JOHN MCDONNELL / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice said the first thing he did when his plane touched down in Winnipeg was watch his daughter, Sydney, coach a St. Mary’s Academy Flames game.

Winning streak continues as Jets steamroll Wild

Mike McIntyre 8 minute read Preview

Winning streak continues as Jets steamroll Wild

Mike McIntyre 8 minute read Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026

ST. PAUL, Minn. — From fragile to ferocious. Slumping to surging. Dormant to dominant.

Oh, what a difference a week can make for Winnipeg Jets.

Three straight wins against average opponents on home ice had stopped the bleeding and snapped an 11-game slide. That was notable enough.

What happened Thursday night here in St. Paul was something else entirely. The Jets didn’t just beat the Minnesota Wild, who are one of the NHL’s top teams. They steamrolled them, delivering a 6-2 dismantling that looked every bit like a statement.

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Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026

Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele (55) takes control of the puck from Minnesota Wild left wing Marcus Foligno during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Craig Lassig)

Jets call-up Moose defenceman over batch of blue-line injuries

Mike McIntyre 6 minute read Preview

Jets call-up Moose defenceman over batch of blue-line injuries

Mike McIntyre 6 minute read Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Elias Salomonsson knew the learning curve would be steep. But the young defenceman figures a tough introduction to life in the National Hockey League will ultimately benefit him in the long run.

Salomonsson, 21, was back in the lineup for the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday night against the Minnesota Wild, fresh off his second career call-up from the Manitoba Moose.

“I’m way more comfortable,” he said following the morning skate at Grand Casino Arena.

The first promotion happened back in late November, when the smooth-skating Swede was thrown into the deep end in his debut against the Washington Capitals in D.C. He went minus-two in a 4-3 loss, which included a misplay that led to Connor McMichael’s third-period breakaway game-winning goal.

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Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026

MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS FILES
Defenceman Elias Salomonsson was first promoted to the Winnipeg Jets back in late November. He has eight points (1 goals, 7 assists) in 25 games with the Moose so far this season.

Jets make it three in a row with 5-4 win over Isles

Mike McIntyre 9 minute read Preview

Jets make it three in a row with 5-4 win over Isles

Mike McIntyre 9 minute read Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026

Turns out some home cooking sprinkled with a dose of desperation was just what the Winnipeg Jets needed.

A 5-4 victory over the New York Islanders on Tuesday night was the club’s third straight at Canada Life Centre, showing there’s still some fight left in a team many had written off for dead.

“We are making some hay in the last three and that is what is most important. Just keep grinding and finding a way to get points,” said Jets head coach Scott Arniel.

This one was a back-and-forth affair filled with momentum swings, with the Jets building a 3-0 lead, watching it evaporate in rapid fashion, jumping back out in front and then hanging on for dear life in the waning seconds.

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Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026

Fred Greenslade / THE CANADIAN PRESS
Winnipeg Jets’ Kyle Connor celebrates his goal against the New York Islanders with Alex Iafallo (9), Dylan DeMelo (2) and Mark Scheifele (55) in the first period.

Zhilkin fired up to face Oilers in NHL debut

Ken Wiebe 7 minute read Preview

Zhilkin fired up to face Oilers in NHL debut

Ken Wiebe 7 minute read Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026

The topic nearly brings a tear to the eyes of Danny Zhilkin and it’s easy to understand why, once you peel off a few layers of his back story.

Making sacrifices are an essential part of the long and winding journey for every player that realizes the dream of making it to the NHL, but it doesn’t often include moving to a foreign land at a young age just to enhance your opportunity.

That’s part of why Zhilkin couldn’t wipe the smile off his face as he prepared to make his NHL debut for the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday against the Edmonton Oilers.

Zhilkin was recalled from the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League on Monday and the first call he made after hearing the news was to his parents.

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Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES
Manitoba Moose forward Danny Zhilkin makes his first NHL start with the Winnipeg Jets Thursday night against the Edmonton Oilers.

Jets’ Arniel demands more effort to spark turnaround

Ken Wiebe 8 minute read Preview

Jets’ Arniel demands more effort to spark turnaround

Ken Wiebe 8 minute read Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026

Josh Morrissey slowly built to a crescendo.

On an afternoon where a multitude of questions had been asked of the star defenceman, Morrissey calmly expressed his displeasure with the predicament the Winnipeg Jets currently find themselves in.

When a team with high expectations suddenly sits dead last in the NHL after going in with serious Stanley Cup aspirations, it’s natural to think frustration would be setting in at some point.

But the alternate captain reinforced his belief in the group and gave a passionate answer when asked what his message to fans would be now that this season-long losing skid (0-6-4) has reached 10 games going into Thursday’s tilt with the Edmonton Oilers.

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Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026

John Woods / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES
One option Winnipeg Jets head coach Scott Arniel is yet to try is splitting up forwards Mark Scheifele (left) and Kyle Connor (centre) in an effort to try and have each player drive their own lines.

Moose’s Zhilkin on verge of making NHL debut

Ken Wiebe 6 minute read Preview

Moose’s Zhilkin on verge of making NHL debut

Ken Wiebe 6 minute read Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026

That Haydn Fleury was able to spend some time with teammates around the rink instead of laying in a hospital bed was already a clear sign of progress.

The Winnipeg Jets defenceman left Tuesday’s game against the Vegas Golden Knights on a stretcher after he crashed heavily into the end boards with 6:44 left in the first period.

Fleury was on the receiving end of a hit from Golden Knights forward Keegan Kolesar and because he was so far away from the boards when he lost his balance, the brunt of the impact was taken by his back, though there were other injuries sustained on the play as well.

“Originally, we thought he was staying in the hospital all night. He ended up coming home, I don’t think he wanted to hang around (the hospital),” said Jets head coach Scott Arniel, noting the injury isn’t as serious as originally feared. “He’s got the broken nose, he’s got a bruised back. So, he’s banged up pretty good. He felt it. But, (it was) great seeing him here and seeing him around the room.”

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Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026

JOHN WOODS / FREE PRESS FILES
Danny Zhilkin (right) celebrates his goal with Kevin He in pre-season action in September.

Jets look to climb out of league’s basement during homestand

Mike McIntyre 8 minute read Preview

Jets look to climb out of league’s basement during homestand

Mike McIntyre 8 minute read Monday, Jan. 5, 2026

You’ll forgive Logan Stanley for losing track of just how deep the current nosedive has become. The Winnipeg Jets defenceman, speaking with the media on Monday, was asked about the keys to climbing out of an extended slump like the one his team is experiencing.

“Not taking a shift off or a period off or a night off. We miss a little bit of compete and passion sometimes, and that’s tough when you’re losing 10 in a row and you’re down in the dumps,” said Stanley.

A slight correction: the Jets have lost nine in a row so far, though double digits could be looming as they open a five-game homestand Tuesday night against the Vegas Golden Knights. Stanley won’t be able to try and help the cause as he serves a one-game suspension for sucker-punching Brady Tkachuk during Saturday’s 4-2 loss in Ottawa.

He explained himself to the media, essentially reiterating what he told the NHL’s department of player safety during a phone hearing.

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Monday, Jan. 5, 2026

February 10, 2026

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