Winnipeg Jets

- 260 Hargrave Street
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 5S5 - 204-987-7825
- https://www.nhl.com/jets/
Historical Moments:
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2011/12: After 15 years without NHL hockey, the city of Winnipeg got a second chance when True North Sports and Entertainment successfully negotiated to buy the Atlanta Thrashers and move them north, after first attempting to return the Phoenix Coyotes to their Winnipeg roots. Before the move could become official True North had to demonstrate they could sell enough season tickets to justify the move. Once tickets went on sale to the general public, it took just 17 minutes to reach Commissioner Gary Bettman’s goal of 13,000 season tickets. The move would get formal approval on June 21st, as the sale of $170 million, which included a $60 million relocation fee, was approved. Once the move became official fans, who wanted the team to carry the old Jets name won out, and the Winnipeg Jets were back. Their first coach will be Claude Noel as Kevin Cheveldayoff was tabbed to be the General Manager. The logo pays homage to the RAF with a fighter Jet superimposed on a Maple Leaf in a blue circle. October 9th was the day fans in Winnipeg have been waiting for 15 years, as NHL hockey returned with the new Jets hosting the Montreal Canadiens. The game was televised nationally, but fans would go home disappointed as the Canadiens won 5-1, with Nik Antropov scoring the lone goal for the Jets. The Jets would lose their first three games, including an October 15th game on the road against the Phoenix Coyotes, the team that once was called the Winnipeg Jets. On October 17th, the Jets would earn their first win of the year against the Pittsburgh Penguins. For most of the first two months, the Jets struggled, as they held a record of 9-11-4 at the end of November. With 12 games at home in December, the Jets had a strong finish the 2011 half of their season, winning ten games as they beat the New Jersey Devils 4-2 on December 3rd, beat the reigning Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins 2-1 three days later. They would also earn a thrilling 1-0 win over the Los Angeles Kings in a shootout, as Chris Mason outdueled Jonathan Quick, as they went into 2012 with a record of 19-14-5. However, with nine games on the road, the Jets would struggle in January, winning just four games as their playoff hopes quickly began to dim. Home games were the best medicine for the Jets who traveled more miles than any other team in the NHL as they remained stuck in the Southeast Division, with the move coming too late for realignment. The Jets would post a 23-13-5 record at the MTS Centre, but they would win just 14 games on the road, as they finished fourth in their division with a record of 37-35-10, missing the playoffs by eight points. Blake Wheeler would lead the team with 64 points, while Evander Kane scored the most goals with 30. In addition, Dustin Byfuglien and Captain Andrew Ladd both topped 50 points. In goal, the Jets were led by Ondrej Pavelec, who had a 2.91 GAA and a.906 save percentage.
2012/13: The Jets hopes of realignment were quickly dashed as an ugly battle for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement led to a lockout that would delay the start of the season over three months. One of the sticking points was the plans for a new alignment that would move the Jets to the Western Conference; this would keep them in the Southeast Division for another season. This would lead to an even greater disadvantage for the new Jets second year in Winnipeg as the revised 48-game schedule would keep all teams in their own conference during the regular season. While other teams had short road trips and no extended trips out of their own time zone, the Jets would be playing all of their road games in the East, with many of them being played in the Southeast. Despite these disadvantages, the Jets played competitive hockey all season, including a stretch at the end of February, where they won four of five games on a tough road trip as they led the Southeast Division into March. However, as the season wore on, the Jets were unable to play on a consistent level as they hovered just over .500. The Jets would make one last run at a playoff spot, winning six straight, including a dramatic 5-4 shootout win over the New York Islanders in their final game at the MTS Centre during the season. However, the Jets would lose their final two games and miss the playoffs by just four points, posting a record of 24-21-3. The Jets got a strong season from Captain Andrew Ladd, who led the team in scoring with 46 points, while Blake Wheeler had a team-high 19 goals.
2013/14: After two seasons of a brutal travel schedule in the Southeast, the Winnipeg Jets finally were placed in a geographically correct division as part of the NHL’s division realignment, placed in the Central Division inside the Western Conference. The Jets started well, winning their first two games a 5-4 win over the Edmonton Oilers season opener and a 5-3 win over the Los Angeles Kings in the home opener. However, the Jets were unable to maintain the strong start as they immediately hit turbulence, losing their next three games. Over the next two months, the Jets would not be able to get much momentum as they hovered near the .500 mark, ending December with a record of 19-18-5. As the New Year began, the Jets went into another tailspin, losing five games in a row to begin January. The losing streak would cost Coach Claude Noel his job, as he was fired on January 12th. Under new coach Paul Maurice the Jets would respond well, beating the Phoenix Coyotes 5-1 to end their losing streak. The Jets would win eight of their first ten games under Maurice and got back into the playoff picture as they went to the Olympics with a record of 28-26-4. However, when the players returned from Sochi, the Jets would be unable to reestablish their momentum as they won just four games in March and faded out of the playoff race. The Jets would finish the season at the bottom of the toughest division in the NHL with a record of 37-35-10. The Jets on the ice were led by Blake Wheeler, who led the team with 28 goals and 41 assists, while Bryan Little also had 41 assists with 23 goals.
2014/15: As Paul Maurice prepared for his first full season behind the bench, the Winnipeg Jets looked for their fourth season to be a franchise turning point. Early struggles would depress any optimism, as the Jets lost four straight after beating the Arizona Coyotes in the season opener 6-2. As October became November, the Jets showed signs of improvement, winning six of eight with both losses coming during a shootout. The Jets would continue to play solid hockey into the New Year, as they ended December with a record of 19-12-7. The Jets’ entire season would be like a mad roller coaster ride, with amazing highs and dizzying lows. January was a prime example as Winnipeg struggled at the start of the month and the end of the month, but in between won six of seven, with the lone loss being another shoot out loss. One player who was struggling all season was Evander Kane, who had never been happy with the move to Winnipeg after being a fan favorite in his first two seasons in Atlanta. Kane would be benched following an undisclosed incident involving several teammates on February 3rd. A week later the Jets would trade Evander Kane along with Zach Bogosian and Jason Kasdorf to the Buffalo Sabres for Tyler Myers, Drew Stafford, Brendan Lemieux, Joel Armia and a first-round draft pick in 2015. Myers and Stafford both had an immediate impact for the Jets, with Myers being the steady defenseman the Jets desperately needed in their quest to make the playoffs. In 24 games, Myers had 15 points and was +9. The arrival of Myers helped take the pressure of the Jets goalies, as Ondrej Pavelec and Michael Hutchinson split time, each topping 20 wins. Meanwhile, the Jets offense was led by Andrew Ladd and Blake Wheeler, who finished first and second in scoring with 62 and 61 points. Wheeler’s 26 goals were the most for Winnipeg, while Ladd tied for second with Bryan Little with 24 goals in the Jets balanced attack. The Jets continued to be streaky after the deal, with another stretch of six wins in seven games in late March that catapulted them into playoff position. The Jets would finish the season strong taking four of five games in April, with the only loss in a shootout, as they grabbed the second Wild Card spot in the Western Conference with a record 43-26-13.
2015 Playoffs: Excitement was palatable as Winnipeg prepared for its first playoff games since returning to the NHL. Before they could get to the MTS Centre, the Jets needed to play two games on the road against the top-seeded Anaheim Ducks. The Jets played well in the opener and had a 2-1 lead entering the third period. The Ducks would rally to win the game as Corey Perry scored twice to win the game 4-2. The Jets also held a 1-0 lead entering the third period of Game 2 but ended up falling again 2-1, with Jakob Silfverberg scoring the game-winner with 21 seconds left. Lee Stempniak gave the Jets an early lead in Game 3 as the new Jets carried on the white tradition at MTS Centre. Like the first two games in Anaheim, the Jets had a one-goal lead entering the third period. Once again, the Ducks would rally and win the game, this time needing overtime for a 5-4 win on a goal by Rickard Rakell. The Ducks would go on to complete the sweep with a 5-2 win in the finale.
2015/16: Hoping to build off their first playoff appearance, the Winnipeg Jets got off to a strong start, winning three of four games on a season-opening east coast road trip before beating the Calgary Flames 3-1 in their home opener. After a strong October, the Jets struggled in November, as they suffered through a five-game losing streak, and posted a record of 4-9-1. The Jets were particularly bad on the road, as they won just two of ten games away from the MTS Centre. The Jets road woes continued in December, as they lost all five games away from Winnipeg while winning six of seven at home. After entering the New Year with a record of 17-18-2, the Jets had a reversal of fortunes in January as they struggled at home and won on the road. These home ice struggles continued in February as the Jets went winless at the MTS Centre. With the playoffs slipping away, the Jets with an eye towards the future traded Captain Andrew Ladd to the Chicago Blackhawks, getting Marko Dano and a pair of draft picks in return. The Jets continued their struggles in March, but finished strong, winning their final four games. However, it was not enough as they finished in last place with a record of 35-39-8. Despite the disappointing season, Blake Wheeler had the finest season of his career, leading the Jets with 78 points.
2016/17: After taking a major step backward, the Winnipeg Jets looked to get a franchise player as Patrick Laine was taken with the second overall pick. While he did not put up the numbers of Auston Matthews, who was chosen number one by the Toronto Maple Leafs, Laine showed right away he would be the player that Winnipeg could build around. In his NHL debut, Patrick Laine had a goal and an assist as the Jets beat the Carolina Hurricanes 5-4 in overtime. Wins did not come easy in the early part of the season, as they lost four of their first six games, including a 3-0 loss to the Edmonton Oilers at Investors Group Field in the Heritage Classic. The Jets were competitive over the first three months, but never put together a string that would put them into playoff contention as they went into the New Year with a record of 17-19-3. The Jets would hover on the edge of the playoffs all season, as they finished the season with a record of 40-35-7. Though they finished seven points behind the Nashville Predators for the last spot in the Western Conference playoffs, the Jets finished strong winning their last seven games. Patrick Laine, had a terrific rookie season with team-best 36 goals while posting 64 points as Mark Scheifele led the Jets in scoring with 82 points, highlighted by 50 assists.
2017/18: All the pieces came together for the finest season the Winnipeg Jets ever had in the NHL. Despite losing their first two games, the Jets showed signs early that the fans of Manitoba were in for a special season. The Jets were strong at home in the early part of the season, as they posted a 14-3-1 record at the Bell MTS Place while heading into the New Year with a record of 23-11-6. A big reason behind the Jets’ improved play was goalie Connor Hellebuyck. Hellebuyck, who had just 39 career wins entering the season, posted a record of 44-11-9, with a 2.36 GAA and a .924 save percentage. As a result, Connor Hellebuyck was an All-Star and a finalist for the Vezina Trophy. The Jets continued their solid play into January and February, as they continued to rule over home ice, winning 32 games in Winnipeg. Late in the season, the Jets were the hottest team in the NHL, making a run at the President’s Trophy as they battled the Nashville Predators, their rivals from inside the Central Division. Despite only losing one of the last 12 games, the Jets fell short of the league’s best record, but at 52-20-10 had easily made the playoffs with the best season in franchise history. While Hellebuyck controlled the crease, the Jets offense was led by Blake Wheeler, who led the team with 91 points, while Patrik Laine had a team-best 44 goals. In addition, Nikolaj Ehlers and Mark Scheifele had 60 points, while Paul Stastny proved to be a valuable late-season pickup from the St. Louis Blues.
2018 Playoffs: Facing the Minnesota Wild, the Winnipeg Jets won the first postseason game in franchise history, as Joe Morrow’s third-period goal was the game-winner as the Jets won the opener 3-2. In Game 2, the Jets defense smothered the Wild, allowing only 17 shots, as they again delighted the crowd dressed in white with a 4-1 win. As the series shifted south to Minnesota, the Wild broke out in a big way in Game 3, winning 6-2. Connor Hellebuyck bounced back in Game 4, with his first career playoff shutout, stopping 30 shots, as the Jets won 2-0, on a pair of goals by Mark Scheifele. The Jets would advance to the second round for the first time in team history, with a 5-0 win in Game 5 as Hellebuyck was hell-a-good, making 30 saves again for his second straight shutout. Facing the Nashville Predators, the only team with a better record in the regular season, the Jets showed in Game 1, the playoffs were a different animal, winning 4-1, as Connor Hellebuyck turned aside 47 of 48 shots, while Scheifele scored twice. Mark Scheifele had another two-goal game in Game 2, but the Jets were stung in overtime 5-4. The Jets got off to a rough start in Game 3 at the Bell MTS Place, as Nashville took an early 3-0 lead. The Jets roared back in the second period, scoring four times to take the lead, including two goals in 18 seconds by Jacob Trouba and Dustin Byfuglien. The Jets would go on to win the game 7-4 as Byfuglien and Blake Wheeler each scored twice. After the Predators bounced back to with a 2-1 win in Game 4, the Jets showed the ability to win a big game on the road as they record a 6-2 win in Game 5, with six different goal scorers. Seeking a trip to the Western Conference Finals, the Jets came up flay in Game 6, losing 4-0 at home. Back in Nashville for Game 7, with the whiteout watching back at home, the Jets hit the afterburners shocking the Predators 5-1, as Mark Scheifele and Paul Stastny each netted two goals. The 2018 Western Conference Finals were as unlikely as can be, as the Winnipeg Jets, a team that never previously won a playoff series, faced the expansion Vegas Golden Knights. Game 1 went just as planned for Winnipeg as the crowd in white got to witness a 4-1 win. However, the rest of the series was nothing but turbulence, as Golden Knights had a 3-1 win in Game 2. As the series shifted to Vegas, the Jets learned the house always wins, as they lost 4-2 in Game 3 and 3-2 in Game 4 and came home in the hole down 3-1 in the series. The Jets would not bounce back as the Golden Knights closed out their unreal trip to the Stanley Cup Final with a 2-1 win in Game 5 at the Bell MTS Place.
2018/19: After the run to the Western Conference Finals, the Winnipeg Jets looked to take the next step, knowing that they would not catch anyone by surprise this time around. The Jets were strong from the start of the season, posting a 6-2-1 record over their first nine games. Again, they excelled at home, posting a 25-12-4 record at the Bell MTS Place. In December, the Jets were strong on the road, winning even of eight, highlighted by three straight wins in the New York metropolitan area. After ending December with a record of 25-12-2, the Jets reestablished home-ice dominance in January, winning all six games in Winnipeg. The next few months would be rough for Winnipeg, as the Jets hovered near .500 the rest of the way, losing their grip on first place as they finished second in the Central Division with a record of 47-30-5. Blake Wheeler was the Jets leading goal scorer with 91 points, highlighted by 71 assists. Mark Scheifele also had a big season with 84 points, including a team-best 38 goals. The Jets also had 30 plus seasons from Kyle Connor and Patrik Laine.
2019 Playoffs: The Winnipeg Jets were matched up against the St. Louis Blues in the first round of the playoffs. The teams finished with identical records in the Central Division with the Jets getting home ice, by having more wins. In the opener, the Jets got an early goal from Patrik Laine but suffered a 2-1 loss as they had no answers for Jordan Binnington. In Game 2, the Blues continued to frustrate the Jets, winning 4-3. With their season on the brink, the Jets went to St. Louis down 0-2, but came out smoking in Game 3, winning 6-3. In Game 4, the game went to overtime, with the Jets winning 2-1, as Kyle Connor scoring the game-winner as Connor Hellebuyck stopped 31 shots. With the series tied 2-2, the Jets came back home with a chance to take control of the series. The Jets looked strong early, taking a 2-0 lead in the first period. However, St. Louis scored three unanswered goals in the third period to win 3-2, as Jaden Schwartz netted the game-winner with 15 seconds left. Schwartz would score twice in Game 6, as the Blues downed the Jets 3-2 to win the series.
©MMXX Tank Productions. Stats researched by Frank Fleming, all information, and team names are property of the National Hockey League. This site is not affiliated with the Winnipeg Jets or the NHL. This site is maintained for research purposes only. All logos used on this page were from Chris Creamer’s Sports Logos Page.
Page created on September 11, 2011. Last updated on March 21, 2020, at 11:20 pm ET.