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Cole Koepke carving out a role on the Jets’ fourth line
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Photo credit: © Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images
Evan Waldner
Jan 28, 2026, 21:44 EST
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After a slow start to the season, being held scoreless in his first 17 games, forward Cole Koepke appears to be fitting right in on the Winnipeg Jets’ fourth line, with goals in his last two games and three in his last nine.
Koepke was one of the players Kevin Cheveldayoff brought in during free agency last summer, alongside the additions of forwards Jonathan Toews, Gustav Nyquist and Tanner Pearson.
Through 52 games, Nyquist’s signing has not worked out as the Jets had hoped. The 36-year-old has yet to score and has recorded eight assists in 32 games, spending much of January as a healthy scratch. That has opened the door for Koepke to earn fourth-line minutes in Nyquist’s place.
A major concern around the club has been secondary scoring. While the Jets have received consistent contributions from their top line, the bottom nine has struggled for much of the season. Since Christmas, however, the Jets have begun to see offence from throughout the lineup. The production hasn’t been consistent, but there have been stretches where they’ve piled up goals, followed by dry slumps, including a recent three-goal stretch over three games.
The Jets did get contributions from Koepke and Nino Niederreiter in Tuesday’s 4-3 win over the New Jersey Devils.
“We need the secondary scoring. We’ve talked about it all year long,” said Jets head coach Scott Arniel. “We’ve gone through stretches where we haven’t been getting it. If you’re going to win on the road, everybody’s got to contribute, and that was kind of what we got from everyone.”
Along with his speed and hard-checking, Brandon Tanev-like presence, Koepke has also started to chip in offensively, scoring five goals in his last 19 games. That’s the type of production the Jets need from their secondary forwards, including players like Cole Perfetti (4G, 11A), Adam Lowry (4G, 8A), Vladislav Namestnikov (7G, 6A) and Niederreiter (8G, 11A), who have had off years so far.
Arniel also had plenty of praise for Koepke after his performance on Tuesday.
“When he puts his speed on display like that, he’s a hard player to defend,” said Arniel. “We’re trying to get him in positions where we can get him in foot races against people. He’s also a good penalty killer. He closes quickly and does a good job that way. There’s a role to play, and he recognizes it and does the best he can.”
After going 17 games without a goal to open the season, Koepke has found his groove, scoring five times over his past 19 contests.
That’s the type of production the Jets were hoping for after Koepke produced a career-high 10 goals and 17 points in 73 games with the Boston Bruins last season, and now they’re finally starting to get it.
Koepke, 27, was drafted 183rd overall in the sixth round of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Two Harbors, Minnesota product has recorded 16 goals and 15 assists in 135 career NHL games.

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