Winnipeg Jets Overview
The Winnipeg Jets are a professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The Jets compete in the National Hockey League as a member of the Central Division of the Western Conference. The franchise plays its home games at the Canada Life Centre and is owned by True North Sports & Entertainment, with Mark Chipman serving as executive chairman and governor.
The organization was originally founded in 1999 as the Atlanta Thrashers and began NHL play during the 1999–2000 season. After True North Sports & Entertainment purchased the team in May 2011, the franchise relocated to Winnipeg for the 2011–12 season. 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 serves as head coach, Adam Lowry serves as team captain, and Mick E. Moose serves as the team’s mascot.
Founding and Organizational Origins
The franchise traces its administrative origins to June 25, 1997, when the city of Atlanta was awarded an NHL expansion franchise. Named the Atlanta Thrashers, the team began competitive play during the 1999–2000 season. The original Winnipeg Jets were a separate organization founded in 1971 as a charter member of the World Hockey Association. That original Jets franchise joined the NHL in 1979 through the WHA–NHL merger and later relocated to Arizona in 1996 after a sale of the club.
Atlanta’s expansion franchise struggled with attendance and on-ice results throughout much of its history. The Thrashers qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs only once, during the 2006–07 season, and never won a playoff game in twelve seasons. The team’s limited postseason success contributed to ongoing financial challenges and difficulty drawing fans to home games during its final years in Atlanta.
Growth Into NHL Competition
As early as October 2009, reports indicated that True North Sports & Entertainment had been invited to consider bidding on the Coyotes, the relocated successor of the original Winnipeg Jets. True North submitted a series of bids before ultimately turning its attention to the Thrashers. On May 31, 2011, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman confirmed at a press conference held at the MTS Centre that True North had purchased the Thrashers and would relocate the franchise to Winnipeg.
The reported purchase price was $170 million, which included a $60 million relocation fee paid to the NHL. Following the announcement, True North prepared to move its AHL affiliate, the Manitoba Moose, to St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. Season ticket sales for the new Jets began on June 1, 2011, and the team reached its goal of 13,000 season tickets quickly. The general public offering sold out in just seventeen minutes, and a waiting list of roughly 8,000 names was assembled in only two hours.
Winnipeg Jets Competitive Journey
Following the relocation, the new Winnipeg Jets inherited the Atlanta franchise’s roster and inherited a place in the league standings. The organization moved to the Western Conference and the Central Division beginning with the 2013–14 season. Across more than a decade of play, the Jets have built a steady competitive identity, reaching the Stanley Cup playoffs in most seasons since 2014–15 and advancing to the Western Conference Final in 2018.
Early Seasons and Development (2011–2014)
The Jets made their formal regular season debut on October 9, 2011, when the Montreal Canadiens defeated Winnipeg 5–1 at a sold-out MTS Centre. Nik Antropov scored the first-ever Jets goal in the modern franchise era. The team initially competed in the Southeast Division before league realignment took effect for 2013–14. The club cycled through several early head coaches, with Claude Noel guiding the team before being replaced by Paul Maurice in January 2014.
The roster was largely inherited from the Thrashers, and on-ice results were uneven during these formative seasons. The organization placed a strong emphasis on building a season-ticket base and reconnecting with the city’s hockey identity. The franchise also reconnected with historic Winnipeg hockey traditions, including the Winnipeg Whiteout, which had first taken shape during the original Jets era.
Breakthrough in the NHL (2014–2018)
On April 9, 2015, the Jets clinched their first Stanley Cup playoff appearance since relocating to Winnipeg, finishing in the second wild-card spot. They faced the top-seeded Anaheim Ducks in the first round and were swept in four games. The following season brought roster turnover, with team captain Andrew Ladd traded to the Chicago Blackhawks and Blake Wheeler later appointed as the new captain. The Jets used the second overall pick in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft to select Finnish forward Patrik Laine.
The 2017–18 season marked a turning point. The Jets clinched their second playoff spot since relocation and, on April 11, 2018, won the first playoff game in the combined Atlanta/Winnipeg franchise history by defeating the Minnesota Wild 3–2. Winnipeg then captured its first playoff series in franchise history with a 5–0 victory in Game 5 against Minnesota. Advancing further, the Jets eliminated the Nashville Predators in seven games to reach the Western Conference Final for the first time in either Jets incarnation. They ultimately fell to the Vegas Golden Knights in five games after winning the series opener 4–2.
Modern Program and Current Direction (2018–Present)
The Jets remained a playoff contender through the late 2010s and early 2020s, highlighted by goaltender Connor Hellebuyck’s Vezina Trophy recognition following the 2019–20 season. After missing the playoffs in 2021–22, the team returned to the postseason in 2022–23 and again in 2023–24, when Adam Lowry was named team captain. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman publicly stated in February 2024 that relocation was not a concern for the franchise.
During the 2024–25 season, the Jets achieved their finest regular-season results since relocation, winning the Presidents’ Trophy and the Central Division championship with 56 wins and 116 points. They defeated the St. Louis Blues in seven games in the first round before being eliminated in six games by the Dallas Stars. The franchise continues to operate under general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff and head coach Scott Arniel, with long-term priorities centered on sustained playoff success and a deeper postseason run.
Philosophy and Competitive Strengths
The Jets have built their modern identity around goaltending, structured defensive play, and a balanced offensive core. The franchise’s strongest results have come when Connor Hellebuyck has been at the top of his game, supported by contributions from marquee forwards such as Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor. The team’s playoff breakthroughs in 2018 and again in 2024–25 reflect a continued emphasis on two-way responsibility and disciplined team defense.
Key Milestones and Major Moments
Among the most significant milestones in the modern Jets era are the franchise’s first regular-season game on October 9, 2011, the first playoff appearance in 2014–15, the first playoff win in April 2018, the first playoff series victory in thirty-one years for the city of Winnipeg, and the run to the 2018 Western Conference Final. The 2024–25 Presidents’ Trophy and division title stand as the latest landmark achievements.
Winnipeg Jets Achievements and Results
The Winnipeg Jets have not yet won a Stanley Cup championship, but the modern franchise has accumulated meaningful regular-season success and playoff experience since 2011. The team’s defining accomplishment to date is the 2024–25 Presidents’ Trophy, awarded to the club finishing first in the overall NHL standings.
NHL Achievements
The Jets captured their first Presidents’ Trophy during the 2024–25 season, a milestone that coincided with the franchise’s first division title since relocation. They finished that year with 56 wins and 116 points, both franchise bests. Despite the regular-season success, the team was eliminated in the second round by the Dallas Stars.
Conference Achievements
The Jets have not won a Western Conference championship. Their deepest run came in 2018, when they advanced to the Western Conference Final before falling to the expansion Vegas Golden Knights. The franchise has reached the second round of the playoffs multiple times since 2018.
Divisional Achievements
The Jets won one Central Division championship during the 2024–25 regular season. The club has finished among the top teams in the Central Division in several recent seasons, including a second-place divisional finish during the 2023–24 campaign.
Series Achievements
Winnipeg’s first playoff series victory came in 2018 against the Minnesota Wild in the first round. The Jets later defeated the Nashville Predators in seven games to reach the 2018 Western Conference Final. In 2020–21, the team swept the Edmonton Oilers in the first round before being swept in the second round by the Montreal Canadiens. The 2024–25 postseason saw the Jets defeat the St. Louis Blues in seven games in the opening round.
