Morgan Barron is fresh off a newly inked two-year contract heading into the 2025–26 NHL season, and he may be about to take on a role that may be both challenging and a key learning opportunity.

With Adam Lowry sidelined following offseason hip surgery—expected to return sometime between late November and early December—the Jets now face a hole at the third-line centre position. The big question: who’s going to fill that spot?

I strongly believe Morgan Barron will have a real shot at taking on that role, depending on how well Jonathan Toews performs early in the season. The Jets’ third line has long been known as a tone-setting unit—previously driven by captain Adam Lowry, alongside Nino Niederreiter and former Jet Mason Appleton, who has since signed with the Detroit Red Wings. That third line is going to look a lot different without Lowry steering the ship.

Looking at Toews, I’d expect him to begin the year on the fourth line and work his way up. That leaves Barron with an opening to take the 3C spot, at least initially, flanked by Niederreiter and whoever takes the right-wing role. But the key question becomes, what if Barron thrives in that position? If that line finds success with Barron in the middle, would it make sense to move him down if Toews starts to click?

Obviously, once Lowry returns, he’ll reclaim his spot down the middle. But until then, the focus shifts to who can fill that role in his absence. It all comes down to performance. If Toews thrives as the fourth-line centre, there’s no doubt he’ll earn a shot at the 3C role—potentially bumping Barron back down to the fourth line.

Barron, 26, appeared in 74 games during the 2024–25 regular season, registering 8 goals and 7 assists for 15 points. It was a statistical dip from his previous campaign, but there were positives—he fired 92 shots on goal, delivered 122 hits, and notably improved in the faceoff circle, winning 52.1% of his draws despite playing six fewer games than the season before.

Of course, Barron isn’t the only unknown heading into the new season—frankly, just about everyone beyond the top line and top four defensemen carries a question mark. The second line is expected to feature Cole Perfetti and Vladislav Namestnikov out of the gate, but where does Gustav Nyquist fit? Second or third line? We’ll start to get some answers come training camp, but for now, the Jets’ forward depth chart remains wide open.