We’re in the NHL offseason — and to help you get ready for the upcoming campaign, we’ll be highlighting the top 10 players on each team over the next month. Last but not least... Here are the Winnipeg Jets!
Connor Hellebuyck
His ability to read plays and make high-pressure saves makes him one of the most reliable goaltenders in the NHL.
Hellebuyck’s presence in net gives the Jets confidence to play their game, knowing they have a proven performer guarding the crease. Despite facing a high volume of shots, he consistently delivers elite performances, proving year after year why he’s considered among the league’s top goaltenders.
Neal Pionk
Neal Pionk has built his reputation as a good offensive defenseman. Is he perfect defensively? No.
Not really, actually.
But his puck skills make him an important player in Winnipeg—especially on the power play, where he's used on the second wave of his club's power play.
He's not the one who makes a lot of noise on the ice, but he can really help the Jets by contributing offensively when needed. He's not a must-have player, but we're still talking about an important player for his club.
Josh Morrissey
Morrissey’s ability to make clean, effective breakout passes helps the Jets maintain control and generate offense from the back end. Even against high-pressure situations, he rarely makes mistakes, which provides stability to a young defensive corps.
His skating, hockey IQ, and ability to read the game make him one of the most dependable defensemen in the NHL. For Winnipeg, he’s not just a defenseman—he’s a key leader on the ice.
Adam Lowry
Adam Lowry isn't a player who makes other teams drool. But if he wears the C on his jersey in Winnipeg, it's not for nothing either. He plays with intensity night after night, and that's what allows him to be the undisputed leader of his team.
He sets an example for his teammates and has a good voice in the room too.
On the ice, we're talking about a player who can excel in all three zones of the rink... but it's his leadership that really stands out. A true leader, the likes of which few exist in the National Hockey League.
Nino Niederreiter
Nino Niederreiter is a highly reliable depth forward for the Winnipeg Jets, providing consistent contributions night after night.
His ability to score timely goals, win puck battles, and play responsibly in all three zones makes him an invaluable part of the team.
Niederreiter’s experience and steady presence allow the Jets to roll multiple effective lines, giving them flexibility and balance throughout the lineup. His work ethic and versatility make him a player coaches trust in various situations, from penalty kills to crucial offensive moments. He’s the kind of depth player who quietly elevates the entire team’s performance.
Gabriel Vilardi
Gabriel Vilardi set career-highs in almost every statistical category in 2024/25, and Winnipeg is hoping the trend will continue in 25/26.
If Vilardi takes another step this season, he will become a legitimate top-line forward; if not, we've already seen his ceiling: a high-end second-line winger.
At 26 years old, he's still very young. He has all the tools to become one of the best offensive player in the game : hands, shot, speed, vision...
He's really becoming a dominant player when he's healthy. But therein lies the biggest problem with him: he has to find a way to stay injury-free because the Jets will need him if they want to have as big a season as they did in 2024-25.
1. Cole Perfetti - Winnipeg Jets
Jonathan Toews
Jonathan Toews recently signed with the Winnipeg Jets, returning to his hometown after a long and storied career elsewhere.
Even though he has been away from the NHL spotlight for some time, his experience, leadership, and understanding of the game remain invaluable. Toews brings a calming presence on the ice and in the locker room, and he can still contribute both offensively and defensively when deployed in the right situations.
While it may take a short adjustment period, his hockey sense and veteran poise could make him a stabilizing force for the Jets’ lineup. Fans will be eager to see how he adapts and what kind of impact he can have this season.
Kyle Connor
Kyle Connor is quite the hockey player. His shot is as accurate as it is powerful, allowing him to be consistently dangerous on the ice.
He's established himself as one of the NHL's top offensive players, and he's a deadly one-two punch when he plays on the same line as Mark Scheifele, who also has exceptional skills as a center. The two complement each other perfectly.
And as long as Connor is a member of the Winnipeg Jets, the team will have one of the league's top players.
Mark Scheifele
Mark Scheifele—like Connor—is one of the NHL's greatest players. He's good in the faceoff circle, he can kill penalties, he's a huge force for his club on the power play... and he's equally excellent at five-on-five, which makes him extremely reliable for his club every time.
Players like him who average 80 points per season aren't common in the National League. And that's perhaps his greatest strength: his consistency.
He's never slowed down, he consistently has great seasons... and the Jets have the luxury of having an excellent centerman when he's on the ice.