{"id":159204,"date":"2026-08-07T07:48:55","date_gmt":"2026-08-07T07:48:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/159204\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T07:48:55","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T07:48:55","slug":"winnipeg-jets-2026-27-roster-line-projection-the-hockey-writers-winnipeg-jets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/159204\/","title":{"rendered":"Winnipeg Jets 2026-27 Roster &#038; Line Projection &#8211; The Hockey Writers &#8211; Winnipeg Jets"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Winnipeg Jets will be looking to bounce back this season after regressing by 21 wins and 34 points to miss the playoffs last season.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now that NHL training camps are only about a month out and the bulk of the Jets\u2019 personnel changes seem to have occurred, we can now take a pretty good crack at projecting how their 2026-27 opening-night roster and lines will look.<\/p>\n<p>Forwards<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kyle Connor \u2013 Mark Scheifele \u2013 Gabriel Vilardi<br \/>Cole Perfetti \u2013 Viggo Bjorck \u2013 Brad Lambert<br \/>Nino Niederreiter \u2013\u00a0 Adam Lowry \u2013 Isak Rosen<br \/>Cole Koepke \u2013 Morgan Barron \u2013 Alex Iafallo<br \/>Vladislav Namestnikov<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Also in the mix:\u00a0Nikita Chibrikov, Walker Duehr, Parker Ford, Noah Gregor, Brayden Yager<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The top line of Connor, Scheifele, and Vilardi \u2014 which struck for the majority of the Jets offence last season with a combined 105 goals and 264 points \u2014 is set for another season together. Connor\u2019s eight-year extension <a href=\"https:\/\/thehockeywriters.com\/kyle-connor-winnipeg-jet-for-life-eight-year-contract-extension\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">signed last October<\/a> kicks in this season, Scheifele has four more years left on his deal, and Vilardi\u00a0has five more years left on his deal signed last offseason.<\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Mark-Scheifele-Jets-3-1200x800.jpg\" alt=\"Mark Scheifele Winnipeg Jets\" class=\"wp-image-1609311\"  \/>Winnipeg Jets forward Mark Scheifele is congratulated by forward Gabriel Vilardi for scoring against the Los Angeles Kings (Terrence Lee-Imagn Images)<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Jets are hoping <a href=\"https:\/\/thehockeywriters.com\/winnipeg-jets-viggo-bjorck-trajectory-becoming-clearer\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">2026 eighth-overall pick Viggo Bjorck<\/a> can immediately be the bona fide second-line centre they\u2019ve been lacking for a number of seasons, and he\u2019ll likely get a chance to at least start the season in that role after opting out of his Swedish Hockey League contract. If the 18 year old struggles and needs some time in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Manitoba Moose, Barron or Namestnikov are candidates to fill the role.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It seems Lambert\u2019s AHL days are behind him after he showed well down the stretch for the Jets last season and he likely needs a top-six role to succeed, considering his skill set. Perfetti, with a brand-new <a href=\"https:\/\/thehockeywriters.com\/winnipeg-jets-sign-cole-perfetti-five-year-contract\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">five-year extension<\/a> in his back pocket, will likely have to switch wings to accommodate Lambert, but it shouldn\u2019t be a huge problem as he shoots left.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lowry, Niederreiter, and Rosen will make up a third line capable of producing some offence if Lowry and Niederreiter can bounce back after down seasons and the young Rosen \u2014 acquired from the Buffalo Sabres at the 2026 Trade Deadline \u2014 can take a step forward in what appears will be his first full NHL season. The Jets sorely lacked in secondary scoring last season, so they\u2019ll need this trio to take some pressure off the top six if they want to compete in a tough-as-ever Central Division.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The fourth line should be miserable for opponents to play against with the speedy and relentless Koepke and the wily and versatile Iafallo flanking the big-bodied Barron, who set a career high in points last season and was tasked to play up the middle more often. Iafallo and Rosen could also be swapped.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Chibrikov, Duehr, Ford, Gregor, and Yager will all challenge to be among the first Moose call-up options. Duehr, Ford, and Yager all spent some time up with the Jets last season.<\/p>\n<p>Defence<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Josh Morrissey \u2013\u00a0 Dylan DeMelo<br \/>Dylan Samberg \u2013 Neal Pionk<br \/>Mario Ferraro \u2013 Elias Salomonsson<br \/>Haydn Fleury<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Also in the mix: Isaak Phillips, Henry Thrun, Jack St. Ivany<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Jets\u2019 top four will likely be unchanged from last season, with the longtime DeMelo\/Morrissey pairing and Samberg\/Pionk pairing remaining in tact.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Free-agent signing Ferraro, who played a top-four role for the San Jose Sharks for a number of seasons, will be a big upgrade on the third pairing\u2019s left side. Salomonsson, whose <a href=\"https:\/\/thehockeywriters.com\/winnipeg-jets-elias-salomonsson-proving-he-belongs-nhl\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">rapid ascension to a dependable NHL defenseman<\/a> was one of the few positive Jets storylines of last season, should be healthy to start the season after requiring surgery due to an injury sustained in the 2026 Calder Cup Playoffs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s possible Pionk, the Jets\u2019 highest-paid defenseman whose production dipped last season amidst injuries, could be bumped to the third pairing if he struggles again and Salomonsson promoted to the top four.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Elias-Salomonsson-Winnipeg-Jets-1200x800.jpg\" alt=\"Elias Salomonsson Winnipeg Jets\" class=\"wp-image-1617606\"  \/>Elias Salomonsson, Winnipeg Jets (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/jmstarr_\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jess Starr<\/a>\/The Hockey Writers)<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fleury, Phillips, St. Ivany, and Thrun provide viable depth as all have at least some NHL experience. Fleury has by far the most with 345-career games played, so it appears he has the inside track to be the seventh defenceman and that the other three will start with the Moose.<\/p>\n<p>Goaltenders<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Connor Hellebuyck<br \/>Stuart Skinner<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Also in the mix: Domenic DiVincentiis, Thomas Milic<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The biggest question mark the Jets have is if Hellebuyck will start the season as a Jet. However, he remains with the team as of writing and trade rumours have died down a lot since the 2026 Draft and the early days of free agent frenzy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If Hellebuyck stays, he\u2019ll shoulder the bulk of the workload as usual but likely not make as many starts as he\u2019s accustomed to with a more-experienced backup in Skinner behind him. A 54\/30 split seems likely.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If Hellebuyck is dealt, it\u2019ll be the Skinner show. The Jets <a href=\"https:\/\/thehockeywriters.com\/winnipeg-jets-2026-free-agent-signings-ferraro-gregor-skinner\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">signed the 27 year old<\/a> former Edmonton Oiler and Pittsburgh Penguin to a two-year deal on July 1 for that exact scenario.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"830\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Stuart-Skinner-Penguins-2-1200x830.jpg\" alt=\"Stuart Skinnner Pittsburgh Penguins\" class=\"wp-image-1613063\"  \/>Stuart Skinnner, Pittsburgh Penguins (Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images)<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If Hellebuyck is traded and the return includes an NHL-calibre goaltender, Skinner could be relegated to backup again. If the Hellebuyck trade return doesn\u2019t include one, the Jets could either go with DiVincentiis or Milic as Skinner\u2019s backup, or sign a free-agent veteran to a one-year deal if they think neither youngster is ready for a full-time NHL role.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Jets will be a younger and faster team than last season, but whether that translates into more success that last season remains to be seen. Keep following The Hockey Writers for more coverage as the season creeps closer.<\/p>\n<p class=\"thw-substack-cta__label\">Free Newsletter<\/p>\n<p class=\"thw-substack-cta__title\">\n        Get Winnipeg Jets coverage delivered to your inbox        <\/p>\n<p class=\"thw-substack-cta__desc\">In-depth analysis, breaking news, and insider takes &#8211; free.<\/p>\n<p>        <a href=\"https:\/\/thehockeywriters.substack.com\/s\/winnipeg-jets\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" class=\"thw-substack-cta__btn\"><br \/>\n        Subscribe Free \u2192<br \/>\n        <\/a><\/p>\n<p>            <script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Winnipeg Jets will be looking to bounce back this season after regressing by 21 wins and 34&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":159205,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[33663,446,3076,27997,84],"class_list":["post-159204","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-winnipeg","tag-2026-27-nhl-season-preview","tag-connor-hellebuyck","tag-stuart-skinner","tag-viggo-bjorck","tag-winnipeg"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/159204","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=159204"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/159204\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/159205"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=159204"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=159204"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=159204"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}