A season after winning the President’s Trophy as the NHL’s best regular season team and advancing to the Western Conference Semifinal, the Winnipeg Jets failed to return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2025-26 after a miserable start to the campaign.
While the Jets were eventually able to battle back in the standings to a respectable record, it proved to be too little, too late for them, and they had to watch as former forward Nikolaj Ehlers helped the Carolina Hurricanes win the Stanley Cup in his first campaign since leaving Winnipeg for Raleigh as an unrestricted free agent.
And while there is still a major question facing the Jets regarding the future of goaltender Connor Hellebuyck with the franchise, one NHL Insider is giving them a positive outlook for the upcoming campaign.
NHL Insider Predicts The Winnipeg Jets To Return To The Playoffs In The Upcoming Season
Recently, NHL Insider Vin Santoro included the Jets in his list of teams that he’s predicting to return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs in the upcoming season after missing in 2025-26.
He began by stating the obvious fact that they need more from their players throughout the lineup that aren’t named Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor, and Gabe Vilardi.
“The Jets had a season to forget, and they need a bounce-back,” Santoro wrote. “They need their stars to produce, and the team needs balance in their offense. It can’t just be Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor, or Gabe Vilardi doing all of the work.”
He then concludes by saying it’s a positive sign for the franchise that Hellebuyck remains a Jet for now despite the trade rumors.
“Head Coach Scott Arniel made the need to break those three up to create a more balanced team offensively. There were rumors that the Jets may be trading Connor Hellebuyck, but he remains with the team, which is the right move. Last year, simply, was a year to forget, and they should be a better team.”
Connor Hellebuyck Remains With The Jets For Now
GettyConnor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets.
The Jets have been rumored to be shopping goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, one of the best players at his position in the NHL and who also helped Team USA win the gold medal over Team Canada earlier this winter in the 2026 Milan Olympics.
But for now, with Training Camp less than a month away, Hellebuyck remains with the Jets and is penciled in as their starter, with newly-signed Stuart Skinner as the backup.
Jets Given Encouraging Prediction After Missing Playoffs In 2026