Winnipeg Jets open 2026-27 healthy as Skinner era begins in goal

The Winnipeg Jets are setting the bar high for 2026-27, targeting a return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs with something they lacked a year ago: a clean bill of health. On Monday they finalized a 23-man roster for Friday’s season-opener in Boston, and for the first time in a while no core player is starting the year on the shelf.

It’s a notable shift from last fall, when pre-season injuries slowed the starts of Cole Perfetti and Dylan Samberg. Both now begin October in the Jets’ preferred lineup, even as the unresolved situation with Connor Hellebuyck hangs over the organization.

Hellebuyck stalemate lingers as Skinner becomes No. 1

Hellebuyck, still under contract for five more years, is holding out in pursuit of a trade, while the Jets maintain they can contend without their longtime starter. Any eventual deal would likely reshape both the roster and Winnipeg’s competitive outlook.

In the meantime, Stuart Skinner has moved from safety net to Plan A in goal. The 27-year-old has reached the playoffs in each of his five NHL seasons, including two trips to the Stanley Cup Final with the Edmonton Oilers. Now he is tasked with replacing a workhorse who averaged 60 starts over his last nine full seasons. Skinner has typically logged around 50 starts, peaking at 57 in 2023-24, and wants more, but the Jets will likely need to manage his workload carefully.

With the regular season now at 84 games, Winnipeg must still cover at least 30 starts beyond Skinner. The internal favourite seemed to be prospect Dom DiVincentiis, who impressed in a 2-1 overtime loss to Edmonton. That plan shifted sharply on Monday when the Jets claimed Clay Stevenson off waivers from the Washington Capitals.

Stevenson arrives following strong numbers with the AHL’s Hershey Bears and a brief but eye-catching stint in Washington, where he went 3-1 with a 2.00 goals-against average and .921 save percentage over four games. It is a small sample, but the Jets, as with many players on this roster, are betting they can get more out of him with an expanded role.

Perfetti joins top line as youth drives forward group

Up front, Winnipeg is elevating Cole Perfetti to the top line with Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor. Fresh off a five-year, $30-million extension and a 50-point campaign, Perfetti is being positioned to unlock more offence for a team that averaged just 2.29 goals per game last season, ranking 26th in the league. Scheifele is coming off career highs of 103 points and 67 assists, while Connor fell one goal shy of another 40-goal season and will be counted on to rebound on the power play after a drop in man-advantage production.

The boldest bet is on the second line, where 18-year-old rookie Viggo Bjorck will be asked to drive play. Talent and hockey sense are not in question; the issue is whether he can quickly adapt to NHL speed, physicality and defensive details. Isak Rosen, who split last season between the AHL and a 21-game stint with the Jets, brings pace and some familiarity for Bjorck as a fellow Swede. Veteran Gabriel Vilardi, who requested greater responsibility in his exit meeting last spring, will anchor the unit and face significant pressure to produce.

Blue line continuity and critical depth roles

On defence, the Jets are sticking with familiar pairings: Josh Morrissey with Dylan DeMelo, and Dylan Samberg beside Neal Pionk in the top four. Free-agent addition Mario Ferraro is slated for the third pair on the left side, alongside either Tyrel Bauer or Jack St. Ivany. Bauer appears to hold the inside track, but both big-bodied defenders are being counted on to add bite to a younger blue line. Elias Salomonsson, who is working toward a mid-October return, is expected to start with sheltered minutes and possibly grow into a larger role, potentially even next to Morrissey.

Down the lineup, the Jets want their third line of Morgan Barron, Adam Lowry and Brad Lambert to regain its identity as a premier shutdown trio. Lowry, who struggled early last season after hip surgery, will be relied upon to reassert his physical presence. Barron, entering the final year of his contract, is aiming to show he can be a consistent power forward, while Lambert prepares for his first full NHL season and must balance offensive skill with defensive reliability.

The fourth line of Nino Niederreiter, Vlad Namestnikov and Alex Iafallo remains more fluid. Strong pre-season showings may have kept Niederreiter and Namestnikov in Winnipeg for now, but any extended dip could open the door for Cole Koepke or for Brayden Yager, who was reassigned to the AHL’s Manitoba Moose when the roster was trimmed to 23 players. For a Jets team intent on returning to the playoffs, that competition for depth roles may prove as important as the star power at the top.