The Winnipeg Jets won the Presidents’ Trophy last yr, but fell in need of the Western Conference Final. Despite losing Nikolaj Ehlers to the Carolina Hurricanes, there are still high expectations in Manitoba. Connor Hellebuyck could win his fourth Vezina Trophy easily, but that isn’t a breakout candidate. The Jets could get breakout seasons from Cole Perfetti and Brad Lambert this season.
The Jets got incredible offensive seasons from Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele last season. Connor led the team with 41 goals, 56 assists, and 97 points. He’s entering the ultimate yr of his contract, which might be an enormous negotiation for Winnipeg’s future. Schiefele followed him up with 39 goals, 48 assists, and 87 points. But 62 points from Ehlers have to be replaced.
Which Jets forwards are the almost certainly to interchange Ehlers’ production?
The Jets need an enormous season from Cole Perfetti
The Jets drafted Cole Perfetti tenth overall within the 2020 NHL Draft. They’ve gotten solid middle-six production out of him, with 125 points in 232 games, all before his twenty fourth birthday. But this yr, when he’ll turn 24 on January 1, they need him to grow to be a superstar. Developing home-grown talent is the important thing to the Jets being a Stanley Cup contender. Perfetti must be the following homegrown star.
Perfetti’s breakout could be a 25-goal, 65-point campaign, not less than. That might set profession highs in all three offensive categories while still being a solid two-way center. It might also arrange a captivating negotiation within the offseason, as he’s heading toward restricted free agency. A fantastic season could earn him a seven-year deal to remain in Winnipeg, which could be huge for the team.
The present success of the Jets has been built on homegrown talent and will crumble in free agency. They’re among the many smallest markets in all of North American sports, and the growing salary cap probably won’t help them. That is the time for the breakout season from Perfetti.
Brad Lambert may very well be a star rookie
If Perfetti goes to assist fill Ehlers’ spot, someone has to fill Perfetti’s role. That might be an age-23 or younger player with high upside that would surprise some people. For the Jets, 2022 first-round pick Brad Lambert could fill that role. He has played only six games within the NHL up to now and may very well be primed for an enormous rookie season.
The Jets saw Lambert have a wonderful season within the AHL in 2023-24, with 55 points in 64 games. But he was snake-bitten last yr, with only seven goals in 61 games for the Manitoba Moose. Just like Perfetti, Lambert must be great for the Jets to be a contender for the remaining of the last decade.
Dylan Samberg is already a star, but he’s becoming more mainstream
The Jets avoided arbitration with defenseman Dylan Samberg, giving him a three-year deal value $5.75 million per yr. At 26 years old, he has his prime ahead of him after one other great season in 2024-25. His stardom is not going to be built through point totals or big, clutch goals, but through elite defensive plays in a loaded Western Conference.
The Jets are built from the back, with Hellebuyck and a high-priced blue line leading them to great regular seasons the last two years. Samberg might be more recognized as an element of that success this yr than he has been up to now. Josh Morrisey gets the offensive attention while Neal Pionk gets the massive contract. Samberg is locked in for 3 years and may very well be an enormous unrestricted free agent when that deal is completed.
The Jets are contenders within the strong Western Conference even after losing Nikolaj Ehlers. These three players, all under 27 years old, may very well be reasons they make their first Stanley Cup Final in franchise history.