The NHL is officially back from the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics break, and there is a massive amount of news buzzing around the franchise right now. Here are the key storylines for the Winnipeg Jets this week and their upcoming schedule.
Hellebuyck’s Olympic Gold & MVP Honors
Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck is returning to Winnipeg riding incredibly high. He just led Team USA to a 2-1 overtime gold medal victory against Canada yesterday, making 41 saves in the final.
He was named the tournament’s best goaltender, finishing with a perfect 5-0-0 record, a 1.18 goals-against average, and a sparkling .956 save percentage. Kyle Connor also returns with a gold medal, though he was largely a healthy scratch for the Americans.
Morrissey’s Injury Status
Defenseman Josh Morrissey returns with a silver medal for Team Canada, but he missed Sunday’s gold medal game due to an injury suffered earlier in the tournament. His availability for the Jets’ return to play this week is doubtful. According to insiders, Morrissey will miss a “good chunk of time” with an upper-body injury.
Trade Deadline Sell-Off Rumours
With the NHL Trade Deadline rapidly approaching on March 6, the Jets are dominating the rumour mill as expected sellers. Defenseman Logan Stanley, who is having a career year (nine goals, 18 points) and is a pending unrestricted free agent, has publicly acknowledged the trade noise, stating he is taking it “day by day.” Other notable names floating in trade rumors include hometown veteran Jonathan Toews, Nino Niederreiter, Luke Schenn, and Gustav Nyquist.
The Playoff Push & Pionk’s Return
Despite the noise, captain Adam Lowry and Mark Scheifele have openly stated the locker room hasn’t given up on a late-season playoff push even though they currently sit 11 points out of a wild-card spot. They will get a boost on the blue line this week, as head coach Scott Arniel confirmed that defenseman Neal Pionk is healthy and ready to return after missing 11 straight games.
Upcoming Schedule Outlook
The Jets are kicking off a three-game Pacific Division road trip to restart their season. This is a “do-or-die” stretch for the current roster. Playing against the Vancouver Canucks, Anaheim Ducks, and San Jose Sharks gives them a realistic chance to gain some much-needed momentum, but you can bet general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff will be evaluating these exact games to finalize his strategy before the trade deadline.
Jets Schedule This Week
| Date | Opponent | Location | Time (EST) |
| Wednesday, Feb. 25 | Vancouver Canucks | Rogers Arena | 10:00 PM |
| Friday, Feb. 27 | Anaheim Ducks | Honda Center | 10:00 PM |
| Sunday, Mar. 1 | San Jose Sharks | SAP Center | 4:00 PM |
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