Winnipeg Jets Overview
The Winnipeg Jets are a professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Western Conference’s Central Division. Owned by True North Sports & Entertainment, the franchise plays its home games at the Canada Life Centre in downtown Winnipeg. While the franchise has not won a Stanley Cup, the Jets captured their first Presidents’ Trophy and division championship during the 2024–25 season, marking a high point in the modern era.
The current Jets were established in 1999 as the Atlanta Thrashers and relocated to Winnipeg in 2011 after being purchased by True North Sports & Entertainment, led by executive chairman and governor Mark Chipman. The team adopted the Winnipeg Jets name to honor the city’s original WHA and NHL franchise. Kevin Cheveldayoff serves as general manager, Scott Arniel as head coach, and Adam Lowry as team captain. Mick E. Moose entertains fans as the official mascot, and the team’s colors of polar night blue, aviator blue, grey, red, and white pay tribute to the Royal Canadian Air Force.
Founding and Organizational Origins
The franchise that would become the current Winnipeg Jets was created when the NHL awarded Atlanta an expansion team, the Atlanta Thrashers, on June 25, 1997. The Thrashers began play in the 1999–2000 NHL season and played their home games at Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. Although they qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs only once, during the 2006–07 season, and never won a playoff game, the organization built a foundation that would later transition into a new chapter in a different city.
True North Sports & Entertainment, owned by Mark Chipman, had long expressed interest in bringing NHL hockey back to Winnipeg after the original Jets relocated to Arizona in 1996. True North previously operated the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League out of the MTS Centre in Winnipeg. The company pursued the financially troubled Phoenix Coyotes before shifting its attention to the Atlanta Thrashers, whose owners were seeking a path to sell or relocate the franchise after years of struggle to draw fans.
Growth Into NHL Competition
On May 31, 2011, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman confirmed that True North had purchased the Thrashers and would relocate the franchise to Winnipeg for the 2011–12 season. The reported purchase price was $170 million, with $60 million directed to the NHL as a relocation fee. Season ticket sales opened on June 1, 2011, and 13,000 packages sold out in a brief window, generating a waiting list of thousands.
Kevin Cheveldayoff was hired as general manager in June 2011, and Claude Noel, who had led the Manitoba Moose, was named head coach. The team made its regular-season debut on October 9, 2011, falling 5–1 to the Montreal Canadiens in a sold-out arena, with Nik Antropov scoring the franchise’s first Winnipeg-era goal. Beginning in 2013–14, the Jets moved to the Western Conference and joined the newly configured Central Division, completing their integration into the NHL’s modern alignment.
Winnipeg Jets Competitive Journey
The Jets have steadily built their competitive profile since returning to Winnipeg, evolving from a rebuilding franchise into a regular playoff contender within the Central Division. After early growing pains, the team recorded its first playoff series victory and reached the Western Conference Finals in 2018. The club continued to qualify for the postseason in most subsequent years before reaching a new peak in 2024–25 with a Presidents’ Trophy and division title.
Early Seasons and Development (2011–2015)
The Jets’ first few seasons in Winnipeg focused on roster construction and identity building. After firing Claude Noel in January 2014, the organization hired veteran coach Paul Maurice to guide the next phase. The club worked to develop young talent, including draft picks such as Mark Scheifele, while building a culture focused on speed, structure, and two-way responsibility.
On April 9, 2015, the Jets clinched their first Stanley Cup playoff appearance since relocating, finishing as the second wild card in the Western Conference. The team faced the top-seeded Anaheim Ducks in the first round and was swept in four games. Despite the result, the playoff appearance confirmed the franchise’s competitive direction and energized the Winnipeg fan base.
Breakthrough in Central Division (2015–2020)
Following a difficult 2015–16 campaign, the Jets earned the second overall pick in the 2016 NHL entry draft and selected Finnish winger Patrik Laine. The team also appointed Blake Wheeler as captain, signaling a new leadership era. With goaltender Connor Hellebuyck emerging as a franchise cornerstone, the Jets returned to the playoffs in 2017–18 and posted historic results.
In the 2018 playoffs, the Jets won the first playoff game in franchise history on April 11, defeating the Minnesota Wild 3–2. They then won their first-ever playoff series with a five-game triumph over the Wild and advanced all the way to the Western Conference Finals before falling to the expansion Vegas Golden Knights. The run represented the deepest postseason journey for either version of the Winnipeg Jets and re-established the city as a passionate hockey market.
Modern Program and Current Direction (2020–Present)
The Jets added further playoff appearances in 2019 and 2020, though the 2019–20 season was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic. After missing the playoffs in 2021–22, the Jets returned to the postseason in 2022–23, falling to the eventual champion Vegas Golden Knights. Ahead of the 2023–24 season, Adam Lowry was named team captain, and the Jets secured the second seed in the Central Division before losing to the Colorado Avalanche.
During the 2024–25 season, the Jets achieved their strongest regular season on record, winning 56 games and 116 points to capture the Presidents’ Trophy and the Central Division title. They defeated the St. Louis Blues in seven games in the first round before being eliminated by the Dallas Stars in six games. Under general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff and head coach Scott Arniel, the team continues to build around a young core anchored by Hellebuyck, Scheifele, and Lowry.
Philosophy and Competitive Strengths
The Jets build their identity around structured defensive play, goaltending excellence, and a balanced offensive attack that emphasizes speed and transition. Connor Hellebuyck’s presence anchors the team’s defensive system, while a steady pipeline of skilled forwards provides depth throughout the lineup. The organization values accountability and two-way hockey, traits that have defined its most successful modern seasons.
Key Milestones and Major Moments
The franchise’s most significant modern milestones include the first playoff series victory in 2018, the Western Conference Finals appearance that same year, Connor Hellebuyck’s Vezina Trophy in 2019–20, and the Presidents’ Trophy and Central Division championship in 2024–25. Cultural touches, including the Winnipeg Whiteout tradition and the reuse of the Jets name, have reinforced the bond between the team and the city.
Winnipeg Jets Achievements and Results
Although the franchise has not captured a Stanley Cup, the Winnipeg Jets have compiled a strong record of competitive accomplishments since relocating. Their most celebrated achievement came in the 2024–25 season, when they earned both the Presidents’ Trophy and the Central Division title. The team has also recorded multiple playoff series victories and developed several award-winning players.
NHL Achievements
The Jets won their first Presidents’ Trophy in 2024–25, recognizing the team with the most points in the regular season. Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck earned the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s top goaltender in 2019–20. These awards highlight the franchise’s arrival among the league’s elite regular-season teams.
Conference Achievements
The Jets advanced to the Western Conference Finals for the first time in 2018, defeating the Nashville Predators in seven games before falling to the Vegas Golden Knights. That run remains the deepest postseason push in franchise history and marked the first time either version of the Jets had moved past the second round of the playoffs.
Divisional Achievements
The Jets captured their first Central Division championship in 2024–25, finishing atop a competitive division with 116 points. Prior to that title, the team regularly contended within the Central, earning multiple top-three finishes and frequent playoff berths. The division crown cemented the franchise’s status as a perennial contender in the Western Conference.
Series Achievements
The 2018 playoff series victory over the Minnesota Wild was the first in franchise history, ending a 31-year drought for the city of Winnipeg. The Jets have since added series wins over the Edmonton Oilers and St. Louis Blues, demonstrating their ability to perform in best-of-seven matchups. These series victories form the foundation of the franchise’s growing postseason résumé.