The 2025 NHL entry draft is now only two and a half days away. The Winnipeg Jets are finalizing their options for who they want to select with the 28th overall pick on day 1 (round 1) of the draft. Before we get into the final days before the draft, it’s time for the finale of the 2024-25 edition of the Jets Nation year in review series. Make sure to check out my previous articles on the “best of the best” players from the Jets 2024-25 season, but now it’s time to look at the “best of the rest”. Several other Jets players hit career highs in points this season, and there were really only a few players who took a “step back” in the Jets 56 win season.

Up first is Vladislav Namestnikov, the Jets centre who had mixed expectations going into this season. With several off-season departures, Namestnikov became the Jets 2nd line centre. Fans weren’t sure if he could handle a top six role, as most of his career thus far was spent on the 3rd or even 4th line. Despite some cold stretches, Namestnikov did a pretty good job at holding down the 2nd forward line with Nikolaj Ehlers and Cole Perfetti. The surprisingly dynamic trio worked together (like the Jets top line did) to help each other post several career highs.

Namestnikov nearly had an identical 2023-24 season in terms of stats, finishing this season with 1 more assist than last year, collecting 11 goals and 27 assists for 38 points in 78 games. There’s a few ways to describe how Namestnikov’s year went overall, but his play was consistently good enough to earn him a new 2 year, $6 million dollar that begins next season. With the arrival of Jonathan Toews next season, an Adam Lowry injury, and a potential 2nd line centre signing upcoming, Namestnikov should be able to replicate his success from this season in a more “controlled” 3rd line role in the 2025-26 season.

Switching over to the blue line, the Jets defensive defenceman Dylan DeMelo had himself a pretty successful 2024-25 season. In terms of points and assists, DeMelo’s production fell off a bit, but when you look at the main role DeMelo plays on this team, he excelled in what he does best. Playing on the Jets top defence pairing with Josh Morrissey, DeMelo’s role continues to be the player who can stay back when Morrissey joins the rush, and he’s always ready when the opposing team attempts to break out of their own zone.

DeMelo played in all 82 regular season games for the 2nd straight season, scoring 3 goals and adding 16 assists for 19 points. DeMelo will be entering year 2 of his 4 year, $19.6 million contract, which aligns with the same year that Josh Morrissey will be a unrestricted free agent. He’s not the flashiest player, but DeMelo is the type of defenceman that every team needs to have at least one of in order to succeed.

The other Dylan on the Jets blue line, Dylan Samberg, was one of the consensus picks (predictions) as the Winnipeg Jets “breakout” player for the 2024-25 season. Samberg only appeared in 60 regular season games, but he made an impact every time he was in the lineup. At one point in the season, the Jets were a remarkable 26-6-1 when Samberg was in the lineup.

His ice time went up from last season, and playing on the 2nd defence pairing with Neal Pionk allowed him to play his preferred two-way style. In 60 games, Samberg scored 6 goals and added 14 assists for 20 points. Samberg is a restricted free agent this off-season, and the Jets qualifying offer must be at least $1.5 million. The Jets would benefit from offering the 26-year old defence a medium length contract at this point in his career, ensuring the Jets keep another important member of their defence core.

There’s a handful of other players who appeared in the 2024-25 season in a Jets uniform that are worthy of praise and a season recap mention. Samberg’s defence partner, Neal Pionk, finished 7th in Jets scoring despite only appearing in 69 regular season games. In those 69 games, Pionk scored 10 goals and added 29 assists for 39 points. Pionk was possibly one of the most “criticized” players last season for his inconsistent play, but this season he proved that he can be a much more consistently reliable top four defenceman. Next season will be very important one for Pionk, as he enters year 1 of his newly signed 6 year, $42 million deal, which will be a chance to show that he has earned this new pricy contract.

Captain Adam Lowry’s 2nd season with the Jets wearing the C was right in line with his previous two seasons. In 73 games, Lowry scored 16 goals (a career high) and added 18 assists for 34 points. Lowry’s leadership skills continue to improve as he ages and becomes more comfortable in the role of an NHL captain, and those skills will only improve as he enters the remaining years of his career.

A “newer” member of the Jets, Nino Niederreiter, had a solid 2nd full season with the Jets. Niederreiter appeared in all 82 regular season games, scoring 17 goals and adding 20 assists for 37 points. Niederreiter added 4 goals in the playoffs, and he continued to excel playing his two-way, protypical “Swiss army knife” style that has brought him success throughout his NHL career.

Mason Appleton might be one of the few Jets players that “disappointed” this season. After setting a career high in points (36) last season, Appleton only managed 10 goals and 12 assists for 22 points in 71 games. Appleton’s style of play still complimented the rest of the 3rd line quite well, but aside from the chemistry being there it just wasn’t Appleton’s best season after looking promising last year. Appleton failed to score in the playoffs, and he had several “tough” moments where he just couldn’t seem to score or make the right play. Appleton is currently an unrestricted free agent, and it may be best for the Jets (and Appleton) to test the free agent market.

Alex Iafallo showed improvement in his 2nd full season with the Jets. Iafallo appeared in all 82 regular season games, scoring 15 goals and adding 16 assists for 31 points. Iafallo recently earned himself a new contract, and much like Namestnikov, will be out to prove himself worthy of his new deal in whatever role the Jets give him.

Brandon Tanev didn’t make as much impact as fans would have hoped the former Jets forward would have. It was expected that Tanev’s addition at the trade deadline was purely a rental, as he will be testing the free agent market on July 1st.

Morgan Barron continued to be a decent member of the Jets 4th line, but it’s unclear if Barron did enough to prove he’s a “long term” fit on the Jets roster. Colin Miller appeared in 60 games this season at the Jets 6th/7th defence, proving he could be a reliable veteran presence who could be used in a sheltered role.

Logan Stanley scored 1 goal for the 5th straight season, but Jets fans can probably agree that he shouldn’t get as much playing time to “prove himself” anymore. Rasmus Kupari was Mr. “Speedy” out there in his 59 games, but he hasn’t developed to his 1st round potential still and will be playing the next 2 seasons is the Swiss National League with HC Lugano.

Luke Schenn was the other Jets trade deadline addition that didn’t really live up to the price that they paid for his services. The veteran defence brought a good physical game, but it’s unclear if Schenn will have a future on this Jets team. Haydn Fleury appeared in 39 games this season, and was decent at times as the Jets 7th/8th defenceman.

David Gustafsson was just “ok” on the Jets 4th line, but much like other members of the Jets 4th line, it’s unclear what their future will hold on the Jets. The other Jets to make appearances this season (3-20 games played) were Nikita Chibrikov, Parker Ford, Brad Lambert, Jaret Anderson-Dolan, Ville Heinola, Dominic Toninato, Dylan Coghlan and Eric Comrie. I don’t have much to comment about these players, except to say that Comrie was a reliable (enough) backup goalie behind Hellebuyck, and Lambert and Chibrikov continue to look like promising prospects that could make an impact on the Jets in a few short seasons.

That’s a wrap for this season’s “Jets Nation year in review” series, stay tuned in the coming days and weeks for plenty of NHL entry draft and free agency content!

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