The Winnipeg Jets are back in action (in the regular season) in just 30 days. The Jets prospects showdown is coming up next week, followed by the Jets training camp the following week. News and storylines will be coming out very soon, but for now we’re still in off-season mode. I was looking back at some of the articles that I wrote in late August to early September last year, and I found this rather interesting one. The topic of how the Jets split the starts in net continues to be a popular off season discussion point, and that continues for the upcoming 2025-26 season.

Last season, I made the mistake (or maybe just an incorrect prediction) that Kaapo Kahkonen was going to be the Jets backup goalie in the 2024-25 season. I’ll be honest, I wasn’t expecting Comrie to be as reliable of a backup goalie as he ended up being, which has now solidified the one two combo for the Jets goaltending in the upcoming season. Last season, the Jets were faced with limiting Hellebuyck’s games as the regular season was ending while he was chasing the all-time record for wins by a goalie in a single season. With another Vezina Trophy now in the books, the Jets will need to continue to let Hellebuyck shine in net, but at the same time they need to make sure he’s not too tired headed into the playoffs.

Last season I was hoping the Jets would play Hellebuyck in 57-62 games, but he appeared in 63 regular season games. One of the best goalie seasons in recent memory was the result, as Hellebuyck finished the season with a record of 47-12-3 and a goals against average of 2.00. Is there any way Hellebuyck would be able to top his MVP season? You never know, but the Jets still need to ensure that Hellebuyck isn’t over played before the playoffs begin. It’s all going to come down to a balancing act between monitoring Hellebuyck’s success, Comrie’s overall performance, and the structure of the schedule throughout the season.

Last season Eric Comrie proved that he could be a reliable full time NHL backup goalie. The 30-year old posted the best numbers of his career in his 20 appearances in the 2024-25 season. Comrie’s 9-10-1 record doesn’t do justice as to how he played, as he posted a 2.39 goals against average and a .914 save percentage. Comrie’s 20 appearances was the most he’s played in the NHL in his career (previously it was 19 twice), so there’s room for him to get in the low 20s this upcoming season. Even if Hellebuyck is having another Vezina calibre season, it’s important to give Comrie the games that make sense in terms of scheduling and opponent. It will be intriguing to see how much Comrie plays before and after the Olympic break, because it could be an ideal time for him to make several starts in those given weeks.

The Jets were lucky to avoid any goalie injuries last season, so no other goalie in the organization needed to be used. Thomas Milic and Dom DiVincentiis should have some good opportunities to develop in the AHL/ECHL, but it’s Isaac Poulter that might be the new “3rd” option for the Jets in the 2025-26 season. Poulter is a 23 year old goalie born in Winnipeg that joined the Jets on July 2nd on a two-way contract. Poulter’s numbers with the Utica Comets in the AHL last season were average, posting a 16-3-6 record with a 2.86 goals against average and a .898 save percentage. If the time is right, whether at the end of the season or before an extended break, I’d like to see Poulter appear in net for the Jets for a game or two. It’s good to start seeing the future of Jets goaltending in NHL regular season action, even if it’s just to get a little sample of what’s to come down the road.

What do you think is the ideal number of starts that each Jets goalie should get in the 2025-26 season? There’s not really a “perfect” number, but it’s something to monitor as the regular season comes to a close in April. We’ll see the dynamic duo of Hellebuyck and Comrie back in action in no time, with many more great moments for the both of them ahead.