GM #15: Winnipeg Jets @ Anaheim Ducks
The Winnipeg Jets have faced challenges during their west coast road trip, losing their first two games to the LA Kings and San Jose Sharks while scoring only one goal against opposing goaltenders. Consequently, the True North franchise’s record has fallen to 9-5-0 at the start of the NHL 2025-26 season.
Injuries have unsettled head coach Scott Arniel’s plans since the beginning of the season, and the team has struggled to reach the level they showed during their President’s Trophy-winning campaign. Although their current record (18 points) is not far behind last year’s pace (26 points), the Jets have not replicated their impressive 13-1-0 start.
Performance Analysis
Looking deeper into the data, especially at 5-on-5 play—which often determines playoff success—the underlying numbers are less promising for Winnipeg.
Goals For Comparison
Despite dropping six spots in overall rankings, the Jets are projecting only six fewer 5-on-5 goals than last season (164 projected vs. 170 last year). Their goals-for-per-game average remains nearly the same.
"Starting off with the Goals For categories, despite dropping 6 spots in the overall rankings, Winnipeg is only on pace for 6 less 5 on 5 goals than last year (170 vs a projected 164) and their Goal For per Game number is almost identical."
This suggests that while the team’s scoring ability at even strength hasn’t fallen drastically, other factors likely contribute to their current struggles.
Summary
Winnipeg Jets’ early season difficulties illustrate the impact injuries and the challenges of maintaining peak performance can have, even for a team with recent championship-level success.
Author’s summary: The Winnipeg Jets’ season opens with struggles impacted by injuries, showing consistent scoring but underlying metrics hint at challenges ahead despite a decent overall record.