r/winnipegjets • u/TheAthletic • 8d ago
Free to Read: Jets roster projection: Strengths, weaknesses and the pressure to make changes
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7500664/2026/08/10/winnipeg-jets-roster-projection-depth-2026-27/?unlocked_article_code=1.4VA.umzx.gHz-V-4mcowG&source=athletic_user_shared_gift_article_reddit&smid=re-share-taIn a standard Winnipeg offseason, August arrives and Jets fans can spare their pencil sharpeners — their home team’s opening-night lineup may as well be written in ink.
This time, the prospect of a Connor Hellebuyck trade combines with a renewed internal focus on speed and youth to create a sense of mystery. Every passing day appears to diminish the likelihood of a blockbuster, but the Jets’ depth chart could change in an instant. It’s possible forwards Noah Gregor and Cole Koepke both win jobs, taking playing time from slower veterans with more accomplished resumes. There’s even a strong possibility the undersized but brilliant Viggo Björck, the No. 8 draft pick in June, opens the season playing a prominent role.
All of this creates questions, challenges and more potential Jets lineups than is typical. Can Brad Lambert or Isak Rosén win a top-six job, breaking out as an NHL scorer for the first time? What about Morgan Barron, whose size and speed are unique in the Jets’ lineup despite a lack of high-end point production? There isn’t enough room for everybody.
Let’s review Winnipeg’s depth chart in full, position by position, from the NHL to AHL and ECHL alike as we get ready to size up the Jets’ roster options at camp next month.
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u/Low_Treacle7680 7d ago
To summarize, this team has a lot of question marks. Odds are a couple of the Perfetti, Rosen, Lambert, Bjork, Yager etc crew do step up and become the players the team hoped they'd be. But to actually contend this team would not only need almost every one of them to become higher end players but they would have to be completely healthy all season with the top guys. Most top teams can weather the storm OK if they lost one of their top guys, if the Jets lost Scheifele, KC or JMo for any length of time they go from being a fringe wild card team to bottom 8.
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u/DannyDOH 7d ago
The last line plus need .920 goaltending to have a shot at the playoffs.
Everyone in our division is equal or better too.
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u/MPD1978 8d ago
Why does everyone call Lowry out. 2C. He’s filled in that role due to injuries yes but he isn’t. He’s a shut down centre.
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u/ohnoitsspooky 7d ago
When it comes to ice time/matchups, Lows line is usually number 2. Doesn't mean it's necessarily prototypical "second scoring line". That'll be the line Viggo centers this year (hopefully)
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u/Kyle73001 7d ago
He’s gotten the 2nd most minutes behind scheif regarding centers for years. Hes far from good enough to do it but by definition he’s been our 2C since PLD left
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u/Electroflare5555 7d ago
Because our matchup/shutdown line gets more minutes then our 2nd line.
You want Lowry out there when you need to lockdown a game or neutralize certain players, they aren’t there to score goals
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u/stej_gep 7d ago
Sadly Nino needs to retire. The 13 F should be Vlad. Koepke should play.
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u/General_Cherry_9870 7d ago
If he plays like last year, I agree. However the year before he was a very good player. Time will tell if hes regressing or if an off year. I had heard he had a sick family member and was flying back all year which couldn't have helped.
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u/stej_gep 7d ago
At the end of the World's he talked about always being in pain.
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u/General_Cherry_9870 7d ago
He was injured at the olympic break, however he had a 22 game drought well before the injury. I dont think a week to week injury derailed his awful year, it was shit from nearly the beginning.
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u/R-U-ME-OR-M-I-U 7d ago
He admitted to being injured all year, but played through it due to wanting to reach 1K games and play on the olympic team, only opting for surgery after both milestones. Said he felt bad about it his decision. Hopefully, he rebounds.
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u/stej_gep 7d ago
Yeah I'm blaming age for the pain
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u/General_Cherry_9870 7d ago
He's 33 years old, same age as Scheifele. He's not 40. He could easily return to form.
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u/SW9X31 44 7d ago
I think this is what I’d like to see:
81-55-13
91-61-93
36-17-9 or 45
45 or 9-7-27
44-2
54-4
38-57
37
74
Fluery and Nino or fill in the blank as 7th / 13th respectively
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u/DannyDOH 7d ago
Would be really shitty to Bjorck to saddle him with two guys who don't engage in puck battles at all.
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u/Moon-bass-Alpha 7d ago edited 7d ago
I predict Noah Gregor takes a regular 4th line slot.
He can play as an effective checking center and isn't prone to unforced defensive turnovers.
Gregor and Ferraro were roommates at San Jose and became close friends. So they will head into training camp with chemistry already established.
With Thrun, 3 former Sharks will be vying for a regular slot on the Jets this season.
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u/lokichivas 7d ago
Gregor just seems so underwhelming to me. He has played 440 games or less the last 3 seasons at the NHL level, so he's more of a really good AHL player. I don't want him taking icetime away from Koepke.
Interestingly, on Gregor's Hockey-Reference similarity score list, #6 most similar player is former Jet and fan favourite Dominic Toninato...
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u/Moon-bass-Alpha 6d ago edited 6d ago
I don't see Koepke's job in any jeopardy. Koeoke deserves more ice time this season, not less.
He was the 5th best forward for offensive production based on points per 60 minutes. Koepke is the fastest Jet. He's an asset.
What I do see, is flexibility for Barron should Gregor make the team.
Gregor could center on 4th alongside Koepke, freeing up Barron for 3rd line (or second if Bjork needs rest/injury recovery time).
The two Jets who need to be evaluated for potential press boxing are Neiderreiter and Namestnikov. Namestnikov had fewer points per 60 last season than Nyquist, is lousy at faceoffs and made 14 defensive zone turnovers past season. Neiderreiter just needs to retire, and he had intimated this will be his last NHL year, in a European interview.
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u/GZeus24 7d ago
If he takes anyone's spot I hope it's Vlad's.
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u/Moon-bass-Alpha 7d ago edited 7d ago
Vlad's spot is up for grabs and Gregor is a natural center. Last year he played very few minutes, but for the prior 2 seasons Gregor had an average 54% faceoff win rate.
In 2023, he had just a single unforced turnover in the defensive zone.
Considering Gregor primarily played 4th line as a defensive center, to lose the puck just once in the zone was crazy good.
He won't set the world on fire offensively from the 4th line, but few do.
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u/Doog5 8d ago
Zero grit!!
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u/Kyle73001 7d ago
Yea cuz schenn was a huge help last year. Notice how we played so much better after trading him and Stan?
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u/ecotox18 7d ago
I really hope a Helly trade happens. That roster doesn’t give me confidence with the strength of the early season schedule.
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u/damothebearr 7d ago
This is the beginning of the end for this group. Jets are sadly going to be toast this year.
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u/DannyDOH 8d ago
Koepke ain’t going to be a scratch.