We’re just over 2 months away now from the Jets opening night for the 2025-26 season. Some teams around the league are continuing to assess what’s still available in the free agency, while other seems appear to be satisfied with their roster as it stands. There’s several questions that remain about the Jets roster, and one that was on my mind recently is what the Jets’ 4th line will look like on opening night. I took to Jets Nation on social media to ask that question, and here are a few of the options the Jets could look at for game 1 of the 2025-26 season.

This trio could be a realistic option if the Jets want to give one of their promising prospects (Chibrikov) a shot to make an impression to start the season. Most of the Jets top prospects as of today need a few more seasons to develop into NHL ready players, but Nikita Chibrikov might be the most ready of the bunch. Brad Lambert is close too, but after a slight down year in Manitoba last year, Chibrikov may have rised to the top in terms of Jets forward prospects that are ready for the NHL. Morgan Barron appears to be the consensus 4th line centre, but depending on how Jonathan Toews performs without Adam Lowry to start the season, Barron could see 3rd line minutes. Rounding out this line is Tanner Pearson, an experienced forward who brings a balanced game to the 4th line.

A secondary option for the 4th line would be to start Toews as the 4th line centre. The Jets would love for Toews to become the Jets 2nd line centre, but they may want to ease him back into the NHL on the 4th line. Pearson, a left handed forward, could play either the left or right side, but it may be more beneficial to use him on his natural left side. Cole Koepke is another of the Jets’ new free agent signings, and the 27-year old is fresh off his 1st full season in the NHL. In 73 games, Koepke scored 10 goals and added 7 assists for 17 points. Koepke was playing on a Bruins team that was entering a rebuild, but as the season went on he looked like he deserved to be in the NHL. Although all three of these players are left handed forwards, the combination still works as a smart and defensive 4th line.

This might be the most realistic option that I’ve seen people talking about on social media for the Jets new 4th line. With Adam Lowry out for the start of the season, the Jets will likely use Toews and Namestnikov as the 2nd and 3rd line centres (switching them when needed). Barron looked like a player last season that deserved more time on the 3rd line, but the Jets might be content with him being a reliable 4th line centre. Tanner Pearson and Cole Koepke were both signed to 1 year, $1 million deals, and the Jets want to see what they have with their new signings. I know Jets fans would like to see even just one of the Jets forwards prospects in their lineup to start the season, but it just seems like the Jets made these depth signings with a purpose to use them right away on opening night.

The Jets will have a new looking 4th line on opening night, but nobody really knows who the three forwards could be. The pre-season will be a good time for the Jets to experiment with some of their options before they set their lineup. Regardless of what the Jets decide to go with, it will be fun to watch this team with a handful of new players that are looking to make an impact in the 2025-26 season.