Jets Season in Jeopardy: It's Time to Snap Back
The Winnipeg Jets have been a solid team for a few seasons. They’re the kind of team that doesn’t always make headlines but shows up and gets results. This season, though, has been… different. In fact, the team’s below-standard play has been surprising. The Jets aren’t hitting their usual marks, and early struggles have left fans muttering under their breath.
The Hellebuyck Injury Hurts, But There’s More Going on with the Jets
Part of it’s obvious—Connor Hellebuyck’s absence has left a hole in the net that’s hard to cover. But honestly, that’s only part of the story. Something else is off. The chemistry isn’t clicking the way it used to. The pace feels a little off. Flashes of the team we know show up here and there, but consistency? That’s been missing.
Josh Morrissey put it simply after practice: the first 35 games are behind them, and now it’s about getting back on track, mentally and physically, and starting this next stretch right. Kyle Connor echoed him—big games are coming, it’s a push to make up ground, and everyone has to bring it from the jump. You can feel the urgency; they know time is slipping by.
The Jets Aren’t a Broken Team
Here’s the thing: the Jets aren’t broken. Not by a long shot. They’ve still got skill, experience, and depth. But they’re not playing up to the standards they’ve set for themselves. That old smooth, confident Winnipeg rhythm—grinding through every shift, leaning on each other, making the simple plays look effortless—that’s a bit off-kilter right now. You can see it in small things: a missed assignment here, a pass a beat too late there. It adds up.
The players know it’s about focus. Hellebuyck being out is a factor, sure, but you can’t blame one man for a team-wide funk. They need to remember who they are: a team that wins challenging games, stays disciplined, leans on each other, and makes life hard for opponents. Every shift matters, every detail counts. The next few games give the team a chance to rediscover that identity, to remind themselves—and everyone watching—what Winnipeg hockey looks like.
There Have Been Glimpses of the Old Jets, Just Not Enough of Them
It’s not all doom and gloom. There are glimpses of the old Jets. Quick passes that open up space, sharp reads in the defensive zone, and Connor finding the net at the right moment. But the message is clear: coasting won’t cut it. Talent alone won’t carry them back to where they belong. They need commitment, focus, and a return to the habits that made them competitive. The Jets are still in the fight. But unless they snap back, this could be one of those rare seasons where a team that’s been steady for years suddenly finds itself scrambling.