Winnipeg Jets 2026 Offseason: Next Steps After Draft & Free-Agent Frenzy – Hockey Writers – Jets Goaltending

The Winnipeg Jets’ 2026 season got off to a busy start, drafting Swedish center Viggo Bjorck eighth overall in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft and six other players and signings in the opening days of free agency, especially defenseman Mario Ferraro and goaltender Stuart Skinner.

Jets general manager (GM) Kevin Cheveldayoff called Ferraro and Skinner “primary targets”, but as it’s early July, he and the organization still have a lot to do before the 2026-27 season. Let’s take a look at the next steps of their offseason.

1: Re-sign Cole Perfetti

Current free agent Cole Perfetti regressed last season offensively, recording just 32 points (12 goals, 20 assists) compared to a career high of 50 (18 goals and 32 assists) in 2024-25. That said, his new contract will still pay a good portion of the Jets’ remaining $10.68 million in available cap space.

Re-signing him well before training camp should be Cheveldayoff’s top priority going forward.

Perfetti filed for arbitration on July 5 as expected; it’s just a process and doesn’t mean there’s any bad blood, as Cheveldayoff warned last week “don’t get too excited… it’s part of the whole thing.” Representation for him and Perfetti are free to continue negotiating until a settlement date is set.

Perfetti missed the first 14 games of last season with an ankle sprain suffered in the team’s final preseason game, and though he returned in November, he didn’t look comfortable until the new year. He admitted in his exit interview that he came back from injury “a hair too fast” and that it “took a while” to get back up to speed.

The 2020 first-rounder didn’t put himself in the best position to justify a huge raise from the $3.25 million average annual value (AAV) that his two-year bridge was carrying. However, a long-term deal still appears to be on the table and could command an AAV of $5-$6 million.

“That (getting a long-term deal) would be a real honor for the team to show that and show that faith in you as a player and as a person,” Perfetti said in April. “(That) they want you to be here for a long time. That they want you to be a player in this organization in the future. But obviously I can’t speak for their side. I know where I stand, but I can’t speak for them.”

2: Unlimited Free Target & Check Trade

While most of the high-profile UFAs have signed by now, a number of potential utility players remain on the market.

Considering the need to re-sign Perfetti, Cheveldayoff really works for $4 or $5 million when it comes to bringing another UFA or two on board. If he’s willing to spend up to $104 million) and still believes his team can return to contention despite a 2025-26 slump, he should spend every dollar he has.

Anthony Mantha is the best UFA forward available, and while his numbers have varied greatly from season to season, he is coming off a resurgent campaign with the Pittsburgh Penguins in which he posted a career high 33 goals and 64 points. The 31-year-old right winger could be the best player in the top six for the Jets and provide some of the secondary scoring that was sorely lacking last season.

Other available UFA forwards who could move the needle and fit into the available slot include Eeli Tolvanen (36 points for the Seattle Kraken last season) and Michael Bunting (33 points between the Nashville Predators and Dallas Stars).

Or, how about Patrik Laine on a cheap contract with performance incentives? Bringing back the Jets’ 2016 second overall pick and fan favorite would be a good public relations move, if nothing else.

Cheveldayoff should also explore getting a center and pick Shane Wright fourth in Seattle in 2021. The Kraken are busy shopping the 22-year-old and the Jets have been linked to him before the 2026 trade deadline. While Wright hasn’t lived up to expectations with 78 points in 169 games, he could benefit from a change of scenery and is affordable with one year remaining on his entry-level contract.

3: Keep Listening to Hellebuyck

Connor Hellebuyck remains a Jet despite all the chatter and Kevin Weekes’ weird and misleading Twitter/X post. While Cheveldayoff doesn’t need to trade for him, he should continue to listen to offers as if he can get wind of hitting the 33-year-old goaltender who is likely to begin his decline in the next few seasons, if not already.

While there are no reliable reports that Hellebuyck – who has five years left on his contract – has actually asked for a trade, many saw his exit interview comments as a sign that he wanted out and Cheveldayoff quelled rumors late last month that he was listening to offers.

The Buffalo Sabers and Carolina Hurricanes have made offers, but Cheveldayoff said last month that none of the offers he’s heard so far are good enough to take. It’s clear that his bid for the three-time Vezina Trophy winner and 2025 Hart Trophy winner is justifiably high; signing Skinner also gives him the ability to explore trades that don’t include an experienced goalie returning as part of the return package.

While there is still a ways to go before the 2026-27 season, training camp is only two months away. The release of the regular season schedule also comes on July 16.