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 Central Division in the Western Conference. The franchise was originally established as the Atlanta Thrashers in 1999 and was purchased by True North Sports & Entertainment in 2011, then relocated to Winnipeg for the 2011-12 season. The Jets play their home games at Canada Life Centre in downtown Winnipeg. Despite not having won a Stanley Cup championship, the organization steadily built its competitive presence and won the Presidents’ Trophy and the Central Division championship during the 2024-25 season.
The team is owned by True North Sports & Entertainment, with Mark Chipman serving as executive chairman and governor. Kevin Cheveldayoff serves as general manager and Scott Arniel is the head coach. The Jets’ team colors pay homage to Winnipeg’s Royal Canadian Air Force heritage and feature polar night blue, aviator blue, grey, red, and white. The team’s mascot, Mick E. Moose, is a beloved figure who averages over 100 community appearances per season across Winnipeg and rural Manitoba. The Jets’ affiliation structure includes the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League (AHL) and the Norfolk Admirals of the ECHL.
Founding and Organizational Origins
The NHL awarded an expansion franchise to Atlanta, Georgia on June 25, 1997, naming the team the Atlanta Thrashers. The city of Atlanta had previously hosted the Atlanta Flames, which relocated to Calgary in 1980. The Thrashers organization was built from the ground up, with Don Waddell serving as president from the franchise’s inception. The team began play in the 1999-2000 NHL season, but struggled to build consistent on-ice success during its 12 seasons in Atlanta. The Thrashers qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs only once during their time in Atlanta, during the 2006-07 season, and never won a playoff game.
By the late 2000s, mounting financial losses and lack of playoff success made the franchise vulnerable. Atlanta Spirit, the ownership group, sought a buyer, and the team was taken over by the NHL after the 2008-09 season. True North Sports & Entertainment, the company that owned Winnipeg’s then-MTS Centre and the AHL’s Manitoba Moose, had been quietly exploring the possibility of bringing an NHL team back to Winnipeg since October 2009. True North submitted bids for the Phoenix Coyotes franchise and came within ten minutes of acquiring that team before the NHL secured a municipal subsidy to keep the Coyotes in Arizona. The measured, cooperative approach taken by True North chairman Mark Chipman earned praise from NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and other owners, positioning True North as the preferred buyer when the Thrashers became available.
On May 20, 2011, an agreement in principle was confirmed for True North to purchase the Atlanta Thrashers. NHL commissioner Bettman officially announced the relocation at a press conference at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg on May 31, 2011. The reported purchase price was $170 million, with $60 million going to the NHL as a relocation fee. The NHL Board of Governors approved the sale and relocation on June 21, 2011. True North did not acquire the Thrashers name or logo, so the franchise was renamed the Winnipeg Jets, reviving the name of Winnipeg’s beloved original World Hockey Association and NHL team that had relocated to Phoenix in 1996.
Growth Into NHL Competition
Before the relocation was finalized, True North bought out the remaining contract of general manager Rick Dudley on June 4, 2011. Thrashers president Don Waddell announced he would not relocate with the team. Kevin Cheveldayoff, who had previously served as general manager of the Chicago Wolves and assistant general manager of the Chicago Blackhawks, was hired four days later to lead hockey operations. Cheveldayoff retained Marcel Comeau as director of amateur scouting. The team dismissed head coach Craig Ramsay and instead hired Claude Noel, who had coached the Manitoba Moose, as head coach.
The new Jets formally debuted on October 9, 2011, with a sellout crowd at the MTS Centre watching the Montreal Canadiens defeat Winnipeg by a score of 5-1. Nik Antropov scored the first goal in the history of the relocated franchise. Winnipeg-based rock band Bachman-Turner Overdrive performed at the opening ceremonies, altering the lyrics of “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet” to read “we just got back the Jets.” Season ticket sales had sold out in just 17 minutes when they opened to the general public, and True North established a waiting list that was shut down after 8,000 people signed up in two hours. The team’s logo and color scheme were unveiled on July 22, 2011, featuring a design patterned after Royal Canadian Air Force roundels and incorporating a silhouette of a CF-18 Hornet fighter aircraft.
For the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons, the Jets inherited the Thrashers’ spot in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference. Beginning in the 2013-14 season, the NHL realigned its conferences and divisions, placing the Jets in the seven-team Central Division of the Western Conference, where they remain today. This realignment placed the Jets in the same conference as traditional Canadian rivals such as the Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames, and Vancouver Canucks, intensifying national interest in the franchise.
Winnipeg Jets Competitive Journey
The Winnipeg Jets’ competitive journey spans three distinct eras: the original Winnipeg Jets franchise of the World Hockey Association and NHL from 1972 to 1996, the Atlanta Thrashers from 1999 to 2011, and the current Winnipeg Jets franchise from 2011 to present. The current Jets, as a relocated franchise, built its identity from the relocation’s first season and gradually developed into a consistent playoff contender. Key developmental phases included an early rebuilding period, a breakthrough playoff run in 2018, and a sustained period of competitiveness that culminated in the franchise’s first Presidents’ Trophy in 2025.
Early Seasons and Development (2011-2015)
The Jets’ first four seasons in Winnipeg were characterized by rebuilding and roster development. The team finished near the bottom of the standings in its inaugural season and failed to make the playoffs in each of its first three seasons back in Winnipeg. The organization focused on building through the draft and developing young talent. A pivotal moment came at the 2015 NHL entry draft, when the Jets won the second overall pick through the draft lottery and used it to select Finnish forward Patrik Laine, one of the most highly regarded prospects in years.
The breakthrough came during the 2014-15 season, when the Jets clinched their first Stanley Cup playoff berth since relocating to Winnipeg on April 9, 2015, following a 1-0 shootout loss to the Colorado Avalanche. The Jets secured the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference and faced the top-seeded Anaheim Ducks in the first round. The Ducks swept the Jets in four games, but the playoff berth represented meaningful progress for the young franchise. Blake Wheeler was appointed team captain during the 2015-16 offseason, providing leadership stability as the team entered a new phase.
Breakthrough in the NHL Western Conference (2017-2020)
The 2017-18 season marked the most significant chapter in the history of the Atlanta-Winnipeg franchise. Behind goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, who emerged as one of the top netminders in the league, the Jets secured their second playoff berth since relocation. On April 11, 2018, the Jets won the first playoff game in franchise history, defeating the Minnesota Wild 3-2. Nine days later, the Jets won their first playoff series, defeating the Wild four games to one. This marked the first playoff series victory in 31 years for a Winnipeg-based NHL team. On May 10, 2018, the Jets advanced to the Western Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history, defeating the Nashville Predators, who were the defending Presidents’ Trophy winners, in a grueling seven-game series. The Jets ultimately fell to the Vegas Golden Knights in five games in the conference finals, but the 2018 playoff run established Winnipeg as a legitimate contender in the Western Conference.
The Jets returned to the playoffs in 2019 but were eliminated by the eventual Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues in six games. The 2019-20 season presented unique challenges, as the departure of several prominent defensemen, including Jacob Trouba, Tyler Myers, and Dustin Byfuglien, weakened the blue line. The COVID-19 pandemic suspended the season, and the Jets qualified for the expanded 24-team playoff format. Injuries to star forwards Mark Scheifele and Patrik Laine in the qualifying round series against the Calgary Flames proved costly, and the Jets were eliminated. Connor Hellebuyck was awarded the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s top goaltender for the 2019-20 season. In the 2020-21 season, the Jets won their fourth consecutive playoff berth and swept the Edmonton Oilers in the first round before being eliminated by the Montreal Canadiens in the second round.
Modern Program and Current Direction (2021-Present)
The Jets experienced a step back during the 2021-22 season, finishing sixth in the Central Division and missing the playoffs. Blake Wheeler was stripped of the captaincy at the start of the 2022-23 season, and the team rebounded to qualify for the playoffs that spring but was eliminated by the Vegas Golden Knights in the first round. Before the 2023-24 season, forward Adam Lowry was appointed the team’s tenth captain in franchise history. The Jets finished as the second seed in the Central Division but were eliminated by the Colorado Avalanche in five games in the first round.
The 2024-25 season represented the finest campaign in franchise history. The Jets amassed 56 wins and 116 points to capture the Presidents’ Trophy as the NHL’s top regular-season team. This also secured the team’s first Central Division championship. In the playoffs, the Jets defeated the St. Louis Blues in a seven-game first-round series before falling to the Dallas Stars in six games in the second round. The team is managed by general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff and coached by Scott Arniel. The organization continues to operate from Canada Life Centre and maintains its affiliation with the Manitoba Moose of the AHL and the Norfolk Admirals of the ECHL.
Philosophy and Competitive Strengths
The Winnipeg Jets have built their identity around strong goaltending, defensive structure, and depth scoring. Connor Hellebuyck’s presence in net has provided stability at the game’s most critical position, while the team’s blue-line corps emphasizes physical, two-way play. The Jets’ system under Scott Arniel emphasizes disciplined defensive zone coverage and efficient transition play. The team’s success during the 2024-25 season reflected a balanced attack across all four lines and a commitment to the kind of team-oriented play that True North Sports & Entertainment has advocated since relocating the franchise to Winnipeg.
Key Milestones and Major Moments
Since relocating to Winnipeg in 2011, the franchise has accumulated several landmark milestones. The team sold 13,000 season tickets within hours of opening sales in June 2011, demonstrating the depth of hockey passion in the Manitoba capital. The Jets won their first playoff game on April 11, 2018, and their first playoff series four days later. The May 10, 2018 conference finals advancement marked the deepest playoff run in franchise history at that time. The 2024-25 Presidents’ Trophy win represented the greatest regular-season achievement in the Atlanta-Winnipeg franchise’s history, with 56 wins and 116 points topping the entire NHL. The Winnipeg Whiteout tradition, revived from the original Jets era, continues to create one of the most visually striking home playoff atmospheres in professional sports.
Winnipeg Jets Achievements and Results
The Winnipeg Jets have accumulated meaningful accomplishments across their history, though Stanley Cup championships remain an unfulfilled goal. The franchise won its first Presidents’ Trophy as the NHL’s best regular-season team during the 2024-25 campaign, posting 56 wins and 116 points. The Jets have captured one Central Division championship and have qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs multiple times since relocating to Winnipeg. The 2018 playoff run, which included the franchise’s first playoff series victory and a trip to the Western Conference Finals, stands as the most successful postseason in the Atlanta-Winnipeg history. The organization honors the legacy of the original Winnipeg Jets through its Hall of Fame, which has inducted legends of the city’s hockey heritage.
NHL Achievements
The Winnipeg Jets have won the Presidents’ Trophy once, in the 2024-25 season, when the team posted a record of 56 wins and 116 points to lead the NHL in the regular-season standings. The Jets also captured the Central Division championship in the same 2024-25 season, marking the first division title in franchise history since relocation. The team has qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs on multiple occasions, with notable playoff runs including a first-round sweep of the Edmonton Oilers in the 2020-21 season and the 2018 Western Conference Finals appearance, where the Jets defeated the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Nashville Predators before falling to the Vegas Golden Knights. Connor Hellebuyck’s Vezina Trophy win in the 2019-20 season as the NHL’s top goaltender added a major individual honor to the franchise’s resume.
Western Conference Achievements
Since joining the Western Conference in the 2013-14 season as part of the NHL realignment, the Jets have established themselves as a consistent playoff participant. The team has qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs multiple times within the Western Conference, reaching the Western Conference Finals in 2018. The 2018 run saw the Jets defeat the top-seeded Nashville Predators, winners of the Presidents’ Trophy that season, in a seven-game second-round series. The team’s 2024-25 season as the top seed in the Western Conference represented the highest seeding the franchise has ever achieved. The Jets’ affiliation with the Manitoba Moose of the AHL provides a development pipeline that has contributed significantly to the organization’s depth.
Central Division Achievements
The Winnipeg Jets won their first Central Division championship during the 2024-25 NHL season, securing the title with 56 wins and 116 points. Since moving to the Central Division in 2013-14, the team has become a regular contender within one of the NHL’s most competitive divisions. The Central Division features strong opponents including the Dallas Stars, Colorado Avalanche, Nashville Predators, and Minnesota Wild, making the Jets’ 2024-25 division crown a significant accomplishment. The team has qualified for the playoffs from the Central Division multiple times and has consistently competed for postseason positioning within the division.
Franchise History and Series Achievements
The Atlanta-Winnipeg franchise reached the Stanley Cup playoffs once during its time in Atlanta, during the 2006-07 season, without winning a playoff game. Since relocating to Winnipeg, the franchise has qualified for the playoffs multiple times and achieved its first playoff series victory on April 20, 2018, when the Jets defeated the Minnesota Wild five games to one in the first round. The franchise has never won the Stanley Cup, and its 0 Stanley Cup championships reflect its status as an organization still pursuing its first championship. The Jets’ Presidents’ Trophy win in 2024-25 stands as the most significant regular-season achievement in the history of either the Atlanta Thrashers or Winnipeg Jets franchise.