The Jets are poised for a significant step back from last season

It hasn’t been an ideal start for the defending Presidents’ Trophy winners, with many wondering if they can ramp things up this season.

After a franchise-best season, the Winnipeg Jets have not looked anything like the team that finished atop the league standings in 2024-25. The offense that was quietly one of the best in the league last year hasn’t been able to produce at the same rate. Two-time reigning Vezina Trophy winner and last year’s Hart Trophy winner, Connor Hellebuyck, hasn’t been as dominant between the pipes. Not to mention the fact the star goaltender is on the shelf with an injury.

On Wednesday’s edition of Daily Faceoff LIVE, Tyler Yaremchuk and Carter Hutton discuss why the Jets are not the same team as they were last year, and it could lead to them missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Carter Hutton: The Winnipeg Jets are the team, if I had to pick one, to miss [the playoffs], just because of where they’re at with Connor Hellebuyck being out of the lineup, and Eric Comrie having to carry the mail. We might see Thomas Milic tonight against Washington in that matchup, which is going to be a good one from the World Junior days….He hasn’t really made that big adjustment to the professional game yet.

If they go on a run here where they drop a ton of games with [Hellebuyck] out and next thing you know you’re really trying to chase it and the game starts to tighten up, and they already don’t really generate a ton of offense in that sense…I don’t know, it could be ugly in Winnipeg, and it would be sad to see that. Then you would really understand why Connor Hellebuyck is the Hart Trophy winner if they miss the playoffs.

You can watch the full segment and entire episode here…