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Late start to the season leads to down year for the captain: Adam Lowry Jets Nation year in review

Connor Baldwin — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 02:55:51 GMT

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Welcome back to the third edition of the “Jets Nation year in review” series to wrap up the Winnipeg Jets 2025-26 season. This series continues to look at the individual seasons from Jets players throughout the 2025-26 season, recapping their season and looking ahead to their 2026-27 seasons. Some of the depth players and prospects will be grouped together in an article later in the series. Tonight, the captain of the Winnipeg Jets, Adam Lowry, is the player who will be recapped. After missing the start of the season due to injury, Lowry struggled during parts of the season, leading to a down year.

After a mostly healthy 73 game 2024-25 season, Lowry played in 70 games this season. Lowry was forced to miss the first 12 games of the season while he was recovering from off-season hip surgery. The surgery was performed on May 27th, 2025, and after a full recovery Lowry made his season debut on November 4th, 2025. Just over two weeks later, the Jets decided it was the right time to give Lowry a five-year, $25 million contract extension, which will begin next season.

Lowry’s expectations entering the season were somewhat mixed. The optimistic view on Lowry was that he would get more ice time due to the Jets missing a true 2nd line centre and the uncertainty around Jonathan Toews’ return to the NHL. The not-so optimistic view was that Lowry is getting older, and that he shouldn’t be playing as many minutes as he used to recently. Lowry split his season between the 2nd and 3rd forward lines, getting a variety of different linemates throughout the ups and downs of the season. Lowry had a very slow start to the season, scoring just 1 goal and 2 assists for 3 points in his first 18 games back from injury.

By the end of the season Lowry had a handful of games where his line was the main “scoring producers” for that night. In 70 games, Lowry had 5 goals and 16 assists for 21 points. Lowry’s 5 goals is the 2nd lowest of his entire career, and his shooting percentage dropped from 16.2% last season (16 goals on 99 shots) to just 7.0% this season (5 goals on 71 shots). It’s difficult to pinpoint why this big dip happened, but it just looked like Lowry was less of a scoring threat when he was on the ice. Lowry had 32 penalty minutes, a little less than he’s averaged in recent seasons, and he finished the season with a -6 +/- rating, only the second time in his career he’s finished with a minus rating.

Just like Jonathan Toews, Lowry was great in the faceoff dot. Lowry won 522 out of the 951 faceoffs he took for a 54.9% win percentage, a bump from his recent averages which were around 50%. As previously mentioned, there seemed to be less offensive flair in Lowry’s game on most nights. His defensive play remained just as sharp as usual, providing valuable minutes on the penalty kill.

Lowry’s off-season began with Lowry fully healthy, which will hopefully benefit him going into the first season of his new contract. The 33-year old 2nd/3rd line centre is going into year 1 of 5 of his new five-year, $25 million contract at $5 million a season. Captain Lowry will likely remain a Jet for the rest of his career, so it’s important that he regains his form from the past three seasons, where he averaged 35 points. Lowry’s cap hit is very reasonable for his role on the Jets, and with the salary cap going up soon it was ideal that the Jets got his new deal done during the season rather than after the season ended.

The Winnipeg Jets captain didn’t have the best season overall, but he’s just one example of a player who didn’t provide enough of the much needed depth scoring on this team. The leadership and defensive skills were still there, and that’s just as important when looking at the value of Lowry’s upcoming contract. If the Jets find a 2nd line centre this off-season, Lowry will be able to settle into his role as a full time 3rd line centre, providing important penalty killing minutes and an overall balanced game, making him a key player on this Jets roster.

Up Next

The 2026 NHL Draft will take place at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York on June 26th and June 27th. The Winnipeg Jets will be selecting 8th overall in the first round. Stay tuned for the next edition of the Jets Nation “year in review” series article coming in a few days!

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Inspiring homecoming for the future hall of famer: Jonathan Toews Jets Nation year in review

Connor Baldwin — Sat, 06 Jun 2026 00:40:41 GMT

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Welcome back to the second edition of the “Jets Nation year in review” series to wrap up the Winnipeg Jets 2025-26 season. This series takes a look at the individual performances from Jets players throughout the season, recapping their year and previewing what they might be doing in the 2026-27 season. Several depth players and prospects may be “grouped together” in an article later in the series. Today’s player in the spotlight is the hometown future hall of famer Jonathan Toews, who made an inspiring comeback to the NHL after two seasons away from hockey.

After playing 53 games in the 2022-23 season with the Chicago Blackhawks, Toews stepped away from the NHL to focus and manage his health. Toews was diagnosed with Chronic Immune Response Syndrome (CIRS) as well as effects and symptoms connected to Long COVID. After a lengthy time of recovering, where Toews was transparent about what he was dealing with, Toews agreed to sign a one year deal with the Jets on June 20th, 2025. The deal was formally made officially on “free agency day”, July 1st, 2025, and Toews was officially a member of the team where he was born on a 1 year, $2 million deal with other performance related bonuses.

The expectations for Toews were uncertain entering the season, and it was difficult for fans to know what kind of player he would be after his lengthy absence from the league. My personal prediction for Toews before the season started was a 36 point year with roughly 70 games played. Fast forward to opening night, where Toews would be the Jets 2nd line centre due to an injury to Adam Lowry. Toews spent time on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th line this season, so he had a handful of different linemates throughout the season. By the end of the season, Toews went into the off-season with an overall successful return to the NHL given his lengthy absence and the health issues he had to overcome to get to what he was able to do with the Jets.

Toews appeared in all 82 regular season games for just the third time in his lengthy NHL career. At the end of the season, Toews had 11 goals and 18 assists for 29 points. Toews had 38 penalty minutes, which is around the total he’s averaged throughout his career, and he had a +/- rating of -20, the second lowest of his career. When you compare these totals to the rest of Toews’ career the numbers of course seem a little low, but considering the circumstances it was still a productive year for Toews. The Jets lacked depth scoring throughout their roster, but Toews did his fair share when needed, finishing tied for 6th on the team in points.

One very impressive stat from Toews was his 62.1% faceoff win percentage. Toews was always the go to faceoff taker when a win on the draw was needed, and he took a total of 1026 faceoffs on the season. Only Claude Giroux from the Ottawa Senators had a higher faceoff win percentage in the league at 63.1%, and Giroux took a total of 799 faceoffs this season. Toews had 637 faceoff wins this season, which is a fantastic underrated stat which centres don’t get enough appreciation for enough.

With the Jets not making the playoffs, Toews’s off-season came earlier than he was used to in his career, often making the playoffs during the Blackhawks dynasty where he won three Stanley Cups. Toews enters the off-season with an uncertain future in the NHL, with reports suggesting that this may the end of his career. Retirement is expected (but not confirmed) for Toews, who could leave the NHL on good terms knowing he got to play a season in the place he grew up in. Toews’ contract was for $2 million, and the Jets will surely be in the market for a new centre this off-season.

Everything considered, Toews’ return to the NHL in the 2025-26 season should be seen as an all-around positive story in the hockey world. If Toews decides to officially call it quits this off-season, he’ll end his historic career on a positive note with the Winnipeg Jets. Looking back at his entire career, Toews appears to almost be a lock to be a future hall of famer once he becomes eligible.

Up Next

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Could Patrik Laine return to Winnipeg this summer?

Evan Waldner — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 23:40:10 GMT

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It was a season to forget for former Winnipeg Jets forward Patrik Laine.

Laine played just five games this season with the Montreal Canadiens before undergoing surgery in late October to repair a core muscle injury. At the time, the Canadiens announced he would be out for three to four months and placed him on injured reserve. He remained on injured reserve for the rest of the season and playoffs despite practising in a full-contact jersey since January.

During Montreal’s exit interviews, Laine was asked whether he was still injured at the end of the season, and his answer was simple: “No.”

The Finland native later confirmed that Montreal’s medical staff had given him the green light to return, though he couldn’t recall exactly when that happened.

“I don’t remember when, exactly. But I did get a green light, yes. I don’t remember the exact date, might have to check my calendar on that.”

Now, the 28-year-old’s tenure with the Canadiens has come to an end as he is set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, meaning he’ll be looking for a new opportunity.

There isn’t a day that goes by where I don’t see someone on X talking about a potential reunion between the former second-overall pick and the team that drafted him in 2016. Is it possible? Absolutely. But is it a good idea?

Looking at Laine’s statistics, it’s easy to see where the drop-off in production began. After being traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets alongside Jack Roslovic in exchange for Pierre-Luc Dubois in January 2021, Laine managed just 21 points in 45 games during the 2020-21 season. However, he rebounded with at least 50 points in each of the next two seasons, suggesting he may have been rediscovering the form he showed in Winnipeg. Unfortunately, things began to unravel the following year.

Laine was limited to just 18 games in 2023-24 after suffering a broken clavicle in mid-December. He later entered the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program to focus on his mental health before being cleared to return months later.

Another fresh start appeared to be on the horizon after he requested a trade out of Columbus and was dealt to Montreal ahead of the 2024-25 season. Things initially looked promising before another injury struck. Laine suffered a scary knee-on-knee collision during a pre-season game, sidelining him until December when he finally made his Canadiens debut.

Patrik Laine is forced to leave the game with a knee injury after colliding with Cedric Pare. pic.twitter.com/3rAOIRrfrQ

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) September 28, 2024

He went on to play 52 games with Montreal, recording 33 points while adding an assist in two playoff appearances. Laine still proved dangerous on the power play, scoring 14 of his 20 goals with the man advantage.

3 POWER PLAY GOALS FROM PATRIK LAINE FOR THE HAT TRICK 🤯🎩 pic.twitter.com/rTBrX5LFTc

— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) December 18, 2024

There is still potential in Laine’s game. At just 28 years old, he should have plenty of hockey left in him. However, his injury history and recent struggles could make teams hesitant to hand him a significant opportunity.

In my eyes, if the Jets consider bringing him back, it would be another experiment, similar to Gustav Nyquist, which didn’t work out as hoped, or Jonathan Toews, who improved as the season went on. Laine’s offensive upside is still there, particularly on the power play, an area the Jets desperately need to improve if they want to take the next step.

We’ll see whether the Jets or another team are willing to take a chance on Laine when free agency opens.

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Winnipeg Jets reportedly exploring management role for Shane Doan

Evan Waldner — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 19:40:15 GMT

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An OG Winnipeg Jet could be joining the business side of the organization very soon.

Mike McIntyre of the Winnipeg Free Press confirmed on Monday that the Jets are in discussions with Shane Doan about a potential management role with the club.

The #NHLJets are not waiting until July 1 to pursue a free agent they believe can help their hockey club.

Talks are underway with Shane Doan about a potential management role with the organization.@WiebesWorld and I have the latest here: 👇https://t.co/8PKBrmZpmN

— Mike McIntyre (@mikemcintyrewpg) June 1, 2026

According to McIntyre, Doan was in Winnipeg last week meeting with co-owner and chairman Mark Chipman while also touring the team’s facilities. Nothing is official yet, as discussions remain in the exploratory stage.

Adding Doan to management would mark a significant change for the organization. General manager Kevin Cheveldayoff and his assistants, Larry Simmons and Craig Heisinger, have held their positions since the franchise relocated from Atlanta in 2011.

As for experience, Doan spent the past three seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs as a special advisor to general manager Brad Treliving. Following Treliving’s departure and replacement by John Chayka last month, Doan and the Maple Leafs mutually agreed to part ways.

The Winnipeg market is already familiar with Doan, who made his NHL debut with the original Jets in 1995. He appeared in 74 games before the franchise relocated to Phoenix. Doan would go on to play 1,466 additional games, all with the Coyotes organization, before retiring in 2017.

He later returned to the Coyotes in 2021 as chief hockey development officer, a position he held for two seasons before joining Toronto’s front office.

Doan is also a minority owner of his former junior team, the Kamloops Blazers (WHL), having purchased a share of the franchise in 2007 alongside fellow NHL players Jarome Iginla, Mark Recchi, and Darryl Sydor.

Bringing Doan into the organization’s management group would be a solid move. After missing the playoffs, the Jets could benefit from a fresh perspective, and the former long-time Coyotes captain may be able to provide exactly that.

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All signs point toward Jonathan Toews retiring after comeback season

Evan Waldner — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 18:55:46 GMT

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It’s not official yet, but it appears Jonathan Toews will be retiring from professional hockey following his comeback season.

Darren Dreger stated on X this morning that nothing has been finalized regarding Toews’ status, but all signs are pointing toward the Winnipeg native hanging up the skates.

Nothing official, but at this point it seems likely Jonathan Toews is retiring.

— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) June 3, 2026

This shouldn’t come as a surprise to most people. Toews’ homecoming was one of the more unique stories in the NHL, especially for the city of Winnipeg, but ultimately it’s up to him to decide whether his body can handle another season. The NHL schedule is also set to increase from 82 to 84 games moving forward.

Toews recorded 11 goals and 18 assists for 29 points in 82 games this season. He also won 62.1 percent of his faceoffs and was named a finalist for the Bill Masterton Trophy despite the Jets missing the postseason for the first time since 2021-22.

The 38-year-old centreman signed a one-year, $2 million contract with Winnipeg in June 2025.

If Toews officially announces his retirement, the three-time Stanley Cup champion will finish his Hall of Fame-worthy career with 912 points (383 goals, 529 assists) in 1,149 games dating back to the 2007-08 season. In 137 playoff games, he recorded 119 points (45 goals, 74 assists).

Toews remains the fifth-youngest captain in NHL history, having been named captain of the Chicago Blackhawks at just 20 years and 79 days old.

If Toews were to return for another season, he’d likely slot in as a solid fourth-line centre for the Jets. His speed isn’t what it once was, but his hockey IQ and reliability in the faceoff circle remain strong. That said, Dreger has already indicated it’s highly unlikely that Toews plays another year.

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Historic season for the man from Kitchener: Mark Scheifele Jets Nation year in review

Connor Baldwin — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 06:20:00 GMT

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Welcome to my third year of doing the season-end “Jets Nation year in review” series to wrap up the Winnipeg Jets season. This is a series where I take a look individually at the seasons of the Winnipeg Jets players, recapping their year while looking ahead to the 2026-27 season. Some of the depth players or prospects will get lumped together in a future article, but today we’re starting off with easily the best Jets player from the 2025-26 season: Mark Scheifele.

After a heartbreaking end to Scheifele’s 2024-25 season, the Jets first line centre took the off-season to reset in preparation for this season. After hitting several milestones last season, Scheifele further cemented his Jets legacy throughout the 2025-26 season. Perhaps the most notable of the handful of milestones Scheifele achieved this season was setting the most points (in a career) for a Jets 2.0 player in history. This milestone was achieved early in the season, and now Scheifele has 907 career points as a Jet, 95 more than the 2nd place Blake Wheeler. Near the end of the season, Scheifele became the first Jets 2.0 player in history to reach 100+ points in a season.

It still doesn’t really feel like Scheifele just completed his 13th full year in the NHL with the Jets. The 33-year old from Kitchener, Ontario is on the path to retiring as a Jet, and he’s already had so many memorable moments since he made his NHL debut in the 2011-12 season. Fast forward to the 2025-26 season, where Scheifele continued to play his 1st line centre role. Alongside Scheifele was his trusty linemates Kyle Connor and either Gabriel Vilardi or Alex Iafallo. Both trios improved their already fantastic chemistry together this season, and it’s extremely likely one of these combos will be the top line again season.

Scheifele appeared in all 82 regular season games for the 2nd straight season, scoring 36 goals and adding 67 assists for 103 points. In terms of goals, Scheifele was six shy of his career high of 42 from back in the 2022-23 season, but his 67 assists and 103 points were easily career highs. Scheifele’s penalty minutes (43) were a dip down from last season which is always nice to see, and another notable stat was that Scheifele’s +/- rating was 0. This even number was a result of both being on the ice for more goals against, while balancing it out by being on the ice for Jets goals more often.

As the Jets weren’t in the playoffs, Scheifele took his talents over to Team Canada for the IIHF World Championship in Switzerland, where he had a solid tournament with 3 goals and 4 assists for 7 points in 10 games. Now officially in his off-season, Scheifele can rest up after an excellent A+ season. Scheifele’s contract situation continues to look very good for the Jets, as he’s signed with the team with a matching contract to Connor Hellebuyck’s until the end of the 2030-31 season. Scheifele’s $8.5 million cap hit looks very reasonable when you look at his excellent production, and the salary cap will be going up enough over the next few seasons to soon make his contract look even better.

To say that Scheifele’s 2025-26 season was a success would be an understatement. Despite the Jets not making the playoffs, Scheifele did everything he could throughout the season to give the team a chance at winning on a nightly basis. There was less than a handful of games the whole season where Scheifele made no noticeable impact, and you can only except the same thing to happen going into an important 2026-27 season. Looking ahead to next season, Scheifele will hopefully have a new 2nd line forward that can join him up on the Jets top powerplay unit in a four forward, one defenceman set up. Whatever the Jets roster looks like next season, you can count on Scheifele being there as the number one centre, and he’ll be ready to do whatever it takes to get the Jets back in the playoffs.

Up Next

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Two former Winnipeg Jets set to face off in 2026 Stanley Cup Final

Evan Waldner — Sun, 31 May 2026 22:38:35 GMT

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It’s that time of year again: the Stanley Cup Final. This year, two former Winnipeg Jets will battle for the chance to hoist Lord Stanley’s Cup.

The Carolina Hurricanes and Vegas Golden Knights will face off in this year’s championship series, with Games 1 and 2 set for June 2 and 4 at Lenovo Center in Raleigh.

Former Jet and speedy Dane Nikolaj Ehlers will be taking part in Carolina’s first Stanley Cup Final appearance since 2006, when the Hurricanes defeated the Edmonton Oilers in seven games to capture their first championship in franchise history.

After recording 63 points last season with Winnipeg, Ehlers elevated his game even further following his free-agent move to Carolina. The 30-year-old set new career highs in both points (71) and assists (45), while scoring 26 goals, just three shy of matching his career-best total of 29 from the 2017-18 season. Through 12 playoff games this year, Ehlers has contributed nine points (4G, 5A), including a highlight-reel overtime winner.

SO FLY!! ✈️

NIKOLAJ EHLERS GETS THE @ENERGIZER OVERTIME WINNER IN GAME 2!! 🙌 #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/HhyvPsgEMp

— NHL (@NHL) May 24, 2026

Drafted ninth overall by Winnipeg in the 2014 NHL Draft, Ehlers is making his first Stanley Cup Final appearance.

On the other side, former Jet and Manitoba Moose defenceman Dylan Coghlan will suit up for Vegas in the franchise’s third Stanley Cup Final appearance in its nine-year history.

Coghlan appeared in just six games for Winnipeg during the 2024-25 season but played 36 contests with the Moose, posting 12 goals and 16 assists for 28 points.

The 28-year-old had previously appeared in AHL playoff action but had never played in an NHL playoff game before this season. Now, he’ll be skating in his first Stanley Cup Final. In eight playoff games this spring, Coghlan has recorded three points (1G, 2A).

FIRST CAREER PLAYOFF GOAL FOR DYLAN COGHLAN AND VEGAS OPENS THE SCORING IN GAME 1 🤯🚨 pic.twitter.com/59lTc8TTpu

— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) May 21, 2026

No matter which team comes out on top, a former Winnipeg Jet will soon have his name added to hockey’s most coveted trophy.

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Ville Heinola wins gold with Team Finland at the 2026 IIHF World Championship

Connor Baldwin — Sun, 31 May 2026 21:15:17 GMT

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The Winnipeg Jets continue their off-season with just under a month until the 2026 NHL Draft. As tomorrow is the start of the June, the start of the Jets Nation “year in review” series is right around the corner. The series will likely begin with some of the standout players from the Jets, followed by others throughout the Jets lineup in no specific order. Before June, there’s a final update to be done on the 2026 IIHF World Championship in Switzerland.

Heading into yesterday’s semifinals, all five Jets players at the tournament were still alive for a chance at a gold medal. Nino Niederreiter and Team Switzerland were heading into the semifinals with a perfect record. Their opponent was Team Norway, the “surprise” team of the tournament who have exceeded all expectations up until this point, including defeating Czechia and Sweden in round robin play.

The other semifinals featured four Jets players. Team Canada had Mark Scheifele, Gabriel Vilardi and Dylan DeMelo, all three of which have made solid contributions throughout the tournament in different ways. Canada’s opponent was Team Finland, who had Ville Heinola. Going into the tournament it was unknown what Heinola’s role would be, but he ended up being one of Finland’s most important defenders.

Team Switzerland continued their perfect tournament with a 6-0 win over Norway on Saturday. Norway showed why they deserved to make it to this point of the tournament, keeping this game close for a while, but eventually the host Swiss rolled away to victory. Six different players scored for Switzerland, but Niederreiter wasn’t able to pick up any points in this game.

Semifinals number two was much closer throughout the game. After an early goal from Finland, Team Canada scored two goals in the 1st to take a 2-1 lead into the 1st intermission. Dylan DeMelo picked up a secondary assist on Dylan Holloway’s go ahead goal. The 2nd period was where things went wrong for Canada, with Finland scoring 3 goals including two in less than two minutes. Heinola didn’t get any points this game, but he contributed in shutting down Canada in the 3rd period to secure the 4-2 upset win to advance to the gold medal game against Team Switzerland.

The bronze medal game on Sunday morning saw Team Canada taking on Team Norway for the second time in this tournament. Despite the final shots on goal being 46-24 for Canada, Norway found a way to win their first ever medal at the IIHF World Championship. Early in the game it was Norway who played the style they wanted, and they managed to take a 1-0 lead into the 1st intermission.

After a second Norway goal halfway into the game, Canada started to pick up the pace, but Norway continued to shut them down. Robert Thomas scored two goals in the final 90 seconds of the 3rd period to send this game to overtime, but Noah Steen was the hero in the 3 on 3 overtime for Norway, scoring the goal to win the bronze medal game for his country. Scheifele had some chances this game, but none of the Jets three players picked up a point in Canada’s final game, as they finished in a disappointing 4th place.

The gold medal game was a battle between Ville Heinola and Team Finland against Nino Niederreiter and Team Switzerland. Finland was looking for their 5th gold medal at this tournament, while Switzerland were looking for their first gold medal after four silver medals since 2013.

The first twenty minutes was scoreless, but the game featured a handful of penalties, a disallowed goal and a high energy Swiss crowd. Switzerland opened the 2nd period with a 5 on 3, but were unable to score the game’s opening game. Finland outshot the Swiss in the 1st period, but the 2nd period saw Switzerland in control for the majority of the time minus one powerplay for Finland. This was a tightly contested game, and the first goal of the game seemed like it wouldn’t happen until the 3rd period.

At least that’s what most people thought, but instead the game went a full 60 minutes without a goal. For the second straight IIHF World Championship gold medal game, an overtime was needed to decide a scoreless game. After an entertaining championship game and overtime, it was Konsta Helenius who eventually scored the overtime goal to win the championship and gold medal for Team Finland. Ville Heinola leaves the IIHF World Championship with a gold medal to add to his young career.

Up Next

The 2026 NHL Draft will take place at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York, and it will begin on June 26th. The Winnipeg Jets will be selecting 8th overall in the first round, as the Jets will add their newest top prospect to their prospect pool.

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Winnipeg Jets RFA Rasmus Kupari signs extension with HC Lugano

Evan Waldner — Fri, 29 May 2026 22:30:18 GMT

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A former Winnipeg Jets forward whose NHL rights are still held by the club has signed an extension in Switzerland.

Almost exactly one year ago, Jets forward Rasmus Kupari signed a two-year contract with HC Lugano of Switzerland’s National League. Now, just a year later, the Finnish forward has agreed to an extension with the club.

Although he’s now committed to Lugano for the foreseeable future, things haven’t been easy for Kupari. In his first season with the team, a concussion limited him to just seven regular-season games, where he recorded one goal and one assist. He also appeared in four playoff games, tallying one goal and two assists.

“Rasmus has had a very tough season behind him. His injury lasted longer than hoped, and he did everything possible to return as soon as he could,” said Lugano general manager Janick Steinmann in a statement. “When he got back on the ice, he showed his speed and skills, and in the playoffs he was one of our top forwards. I have a lot of faith in him, and I believe that in the coming seasons we can see his very best version.”

The 26-year-old was selected 20th overall by the Los Angeles Kings in the first round of the 2018 NHL Draft.

In 87 games across two seasons with Winnipeg, Kupari recorded five goals and four assists for nine points while adding 20 penalty minutes.

Kupari was part of the blockbuster trade that sent Pierre-Luc Dubois to Los Angeles in exchange for Gabriel Vilardi, Alex Iafallo, Kupari, and a second-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. The Jets later used that pick to select defenceman prospect Alfons Freij.

For those wondering how Kupari is still connected to the organization, he remains a restricted free agent (RFA) whose NHL rights are held by Winnipeg through 2027, according to PuckPedia. However, with this latest extension keeping him in Switzerland through the 2027-28 season, a return to North America appears increasingly unlikely.

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Semifinals Saturday at the 2026 IIHF World Championship includes all five Jets players at the tournament

Connor Baldwin — Fri, 29 May 2026 20:25:36 GMT

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The Winnipeg Jets are exactly a month away from selecting 8th overall at the 2026 NHL Draft. While off-season questions and rumours continue to swirl around, the five Jets players at the 2026 IIHF World Championship in Switzerland have all advanced to the semifinals. Each of the four quarterfinals games were competitive in their own ways, setting up the two intriguing semifinals matchups. A final reminder that the Jets Nation “year in review” series will start in June, but for now the focus continues to be the IIHF World Championship.

Ville Heinola and Team Finland kicked off the quarterfinals with a 4-1 win over Team Czechia. Heinola didn’t get on the scoresheet, but he continued to excel in his role as a “top 4” defenceman on this team. Heinola is tied for second on his team among defencemen with 6 points in 8 games.

At the same time as this game, Team Canada defeated their rivals, Team USA, in a tightly contested 4-0 win (with 2 empty net goals late). Mark Scheifele led the Canadians with 2 points (2 assists), while Gabriel Vilardi and Dylan DeMelo were held off the scoresheet. Blue Jackets goaltender Jet Greaves was Canada’s player of the game after a stellar 34 save shutout.

The second “pair” of quarterfinals games featured Nino Niederreiter and Team Switzerland against Team Sweden. The host Swiss have been the overall best team in this tournament (as hosts), and that continued against a fairly young Swedish team. It was a rather physical game at times, but Switzerland managed to play their game and come out with a 3-1 win. Niederreiter didn’t get any points, but he continues to play like a veteran leader on this well-balanced team.

The final quarterfinals game featured two teams that probably weren’t expected to even make the quarterfinals. This was a very defensive game, and Norway managed to hold on for a 2-0 win. Shots on goal were even for most of the game, but after Latvia’s push in the 3rd, the final shots on goal were 35-24 for Latvia. With this win, Norway is headed to the semifinals at the IIHF World Championship for the first time in their history.

After these four quarterfinals games on Thursday, the stage is set for the semifinals on Saturday. The first semifinals game will feature Nino Niederreiter and Team Switzerland against Team Norway. Switzerland will be big favourites in front of their home fans, but this Norway team has been nothing short of great this tournament. Norway is now 6-2 overall in this tournament, with both of their losses being one goal games.

The second semifinals game is a rather “familiar” matchup between Team Canada and Team Finland. These two countries always seem to meet in the semifinals at the biggest hockey tournaments of the year, and that will be the case again on Saturday. Scheifele and Vilardi both have 7 points in 8 games now, and Dylan DeMelo’s ice time for Canada will be increased for the rest of the tournament, as right-handed defenceman Evan Bouchard was injured early in Canada’s 4-0 win.

Looking ahead to Sunday, both the 3rd place and championship games look like they will be fantastic matchups. Team Switzerland would love to win it’s first Gold Medal as the host country, Team Canada wants another championship to add to their grand total, Team Finland would like to add a 5th title, and Team Norway’s “legacy run” at this tournament could be capped off with their first ever medal at this tournament.

Make sure to catch the action on TSN on Saturday and Sunday, as it will be a great weekend of hockey that will serve as a transition into the start of next week for the Stanley Cup Finals.

Up Next

Nino Niederreiter and Team Switzerland’s semifinals will be against a young and surprisingly successful Norway team at 9:20 am CT. Mark Scheifele, Gabriel Vilardi, Dylan DeMelo and Team Canada will take on Ville Heinola and Finland tomorrow at 1:00 pm CT. The 2026 IIHF World Championship finals will be on Sunday, May 31st at 1:20 CT, with at least one Jets player guaranteed to be playing in this final game.