The Winnipeg Jets and the rest of the NHL continue to make their final roster decisions ahead of opening night. We’re now just Neal Pionk (4) days away from seeing the Jets hit the ice at Canada Life Centre against the Dallas Stars to begin their 2025-26 regular season. The NHL pre-season officially ended last night, and now we’ve entered the handful of days before the season begins that is filled with transactions, including injury news and players being placed on waivers.

Last night Scott Arniel confirmed that Jets forward Cole Perfetti will be out of the lineup week-to-week with an ankle injury. The 23-year old forward was poised for a breakout season, but he suffered this injury in the Jets final pre-season game against the Calgary Flames. Perfetti had almost 9 minutes of ice time on Friday, where he recorded 1 assist.

Towards the end of the 2nd period there was a moment where Perfetti went to finish a hit, and the result was an awkward follow through. Perfetti could be seen in some pain and he was shaking his right leg as he left the ice. Perfetti didn’t return for the 3rd period, and although Jets fans were hoping it was just pre-cautionary, the tough news announced last night sees a tough blow for the scoring in the Jets top six.

The other intriguing piece of Jets news today saw the Jets place defenceman Ville Heinola and forward Walker Duehr on waivers, for the purpose of assigning them to the AHL with the Manitoba Moose.

This time of the season in the NHL there is several players from each team being placed on waivers, as teams are trying to finalize their opening night rosters. The Jets (along with every other team) need to submit their 23-man rosters to the league by Monday at 4 PM CT, and today was the the final day that teams could use waivers to help meet the requirements.

Ville Heinola going to waivers is notable, as the Jets 2019 1st rounder has been a player that hasn’t been able to earn a full time spot in the NHL. Injuries have played a factor, but this move might give other teams around the league a chance to give Heinola a fresh start at this point in his career. Walker Duehr will likely clear waivers, and he will definitely help provide more depth for the Manitoba Moose, who on paper look like they should be a much improved team from last year’s team.

With Cole Perfetti out to begin the season, Nikita Chibrikov, who signed a two-year extension yesterday, could be his replacement on the opening night roster. Heinola and Duehr on waivers leaves the Jets with one more move to make, as they currently now have 24 players on the roster. The final player to be sent down to the Manitoba Moose seems like it could be either Brad Lambert and/or Parker Ford.

Stay tuned here at Jets Nation in the coming days for the finalized Jets opening night roster.