Connor Hellebuyck remains suspended as the Winnipeg Jets head toward training camp, leaving Stuart Skinner with the first opportunity to seize the crease after a decade in which Hellebuyck defined the club’s goaltending. The Jets open the 2026-27 regular season on Sept. 29 with Scott Arniel entering his third season behind the bench.
Hellebuyck said Aug. 27 that he had asked for a trade months earlier and did not report for camp. The three-time Vezina Trophy winner, who also captured the Hart Trophy in 2025 and helped the United States to Olympic gold in 2026, has five years left on his contract. General manager Kevin Cheveldayoff said Sept. 17 that Hellebuyck remains part of the organization unless that changes, and the possibility of a return has not been closed.
For now, Skinner is the man at the front of the line. He joined Winnipeg on July 1 on a two-year deal worth $7.5 million, carrying a $3.75 million annual cap hit. Replacing Hellebuyck’s workload and results will require more than Skinner alone, especially after the Jets finished 35-35-12, seventh in the Central Division, and outside the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season.
More scoring has to reach the depth lines
Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor gave Winnipeg plenty at the top. Scheifele finished with 36 goals and 103 points, while Connor produced 39 goals and 92 points. Along with Colorado and Edmonton, Winnipeg was one of only three clubs with two skaters clearing both 35 goals and 90 points.
But Gabriel Vilardi was the only other Jet to reach 15 goals and 60 points. Winnipeg will need more production through its middle six and bottom six to give its new goaltending arrangement some breathing room.
Vilardi enters the year after setting personal NHL highs in goals (30), assists (39), points (69), power-play goals (13), shots (150) and games played (82). He has scored at least 20 times in each of the past four seasons and has improved his goal, assist, power-play goal, ice-time and shot totals in both of his seasons with Winnipeg.
The 27-year-old has scored 25 power-play goals over the past two seasons, tied for 10th in the League in that span, while continuing to work alongside Connor and Scheifele at even strength and on the man advantage. His 23 high-danger goals last season tied him for eighth across the NHL. He also ranked in the 97th percentile among forwards in offensive-zone start percentage at 45.4 percent and the 96th percentile in high-danger shots with 85. His average fantasy draft position sits at 146.0, but his role points to more upside.
Ferraro brings edge to the blue line
Mario Ferraro should add a harder layer to Winnipeg’s defense corps. The 28-year-old signed for three years and $12 million on July 1, with a $4 million cap hit, after posting career highs of seven goals and 23 points in all 82 games for the San Jose Sharks.
His value is likely to show up first without the puck. Ferraro recorded 137 hits and 150 blocked shots last season, totals that would have led Winnipeg defensemen. Over the last six seasons, he has averaged 139 hits and 143 blocks.
Rosen and Bjorck are the young wild cards
Isak Rosen may begin in a bottom-six assignment, but the 23-year-old has the skating and offensive instincts to climb the lineup. Acquired from Buffalo on March 6, Rosen scored three goals in 21 games after arriving in Winnipeg. He finished the season with six goals and 10 points in 37 NHL games, his largest body of work since the Sabres selected him 14th overall in the 2021 NHL Draft.
Viggo Bjorck is another forward pushing for a spot immediately. Winnipeg chose the 18-year-old eighth overall in the 2026 draft, and he scored on a wraparound against Montreal in his first NHL Prospect Challenge game on Sept. 12.
Bjorck already has experience against older players. He recorded six goals and 15 points in 42 games with Djurgarden in the Swedish Hockey League last season, then added a goal and five assists in six games for Sweden at the 2026 IIHF World Championship. He has made clear that he wants to stay in the NHL, and a second-line center role is possible from opening night.
Projected opening lineup
| Unit | Projected players |
|---|---|
| First line | Kyle Connor — Mark Scheifele — Cole Perfetti |
| Second line | Alex Iafallo — Viggo Bjorck — Gabriel Vilardi |
| Third line | Morgan Barron — Adam Lowry — Nino Niederreiter |
| Fourth line | Isak Rosen — Vladislav Namestnikov |
| Defense pair | Josh Morrissey — Dylan DeMelo |
| Defense pair | Dylan Samberg — Neal Pionk |
| Defense pair | Mario Ferraro — Jack St. Ivany |
| Goaltenders | Stuart Skinner, Thomas Milic |
| Suspended | Connor Hellebuyck |
After the horn
Winnipeg’s season turns on whether Skinner can stabilize the crease and whether the forward group can avoid putting all of its scoring burden on Scheifele, Connor and Vilardi. Ferraro’s shot blocking and physical work should help, while Rosen and Bjorck offer the Jets potential internal answers if the lineup needs more jump.
Next puck drop
The 2026-27 NHL regular season begins Sept. 29.
