Winnipeg signs 25 year old left shot defenceman, Henry Thrun, who just won an AHL championship with Toronto. Two way deal, worth $850k when in the NHL.

I like Winnipeg's NHL signings — Stuart Skinner and Mario Ferraro — and think they arrived with sensible contracts. But the #NHLJets roster still comes with plenty of questions ⤵️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/741...

After a quiet first day of free agency, Jarmo Kekalainen expressed confidence in the Sabres’ roster. Thoughts on Buffalo’s patient approach to the offseason

#NHLJets IN: Stuart Skinner Mario Ferraro Jack St. Ivany (by trade) Noah Gregor (two-way deal) #NHLJets OUT: Eric Comrie Jonathan Toews (retired) Colin Miller Jacob Bryson Ville Heinola Mason Shaw David Gustafsson (by trade) (to be continued)

I like the #NHLJets' Stuart Skinner signing but the Connor Hellebuyck question remains unanswered — for now. Here's my unlocked 🔓 story on Winnipeg's smart signing, one missed opportunity, and its next moves ⤵️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/741...

#NHLJets IN: Stuart Skinner Jack St. Ivany (by trade) Noah Gregor (two-way deal) #NHLJets OUT: Eric Comrie Jonathan Toews (retired) Colin Miller Jacob Bryson David Gustafsson (by trade) (to be continued)

"As of right now, me and Helle are teammates. He's the best goalie in the world." Stuart Skinner says he doesn't know much about the rumors or Hellebuyck's future. Says his decision to join Winnipeg was more about Winnipeg than knowing how all of the dominoes will fall.

Canucks sign Luke Schenn. One year, $2.25M.

Stuart Skinner signs two-year contract with the #NHLJets. What could it mean for Connor Hellebuyck? And what's the relevant backstory from Skinner's time in Pittsburgh? A collab with Josh Yohe www.nytimes.com/athletic/740...

Winnipeg signs Stuart Skinner to a two year, $3.75 million AAV contract. Skinner, 27, wasn't -the guy- the Oilers needed as their No. 1, but he has a career .902 save percentage and could be a capable 1B. (Who's 1A? We tend to assume it's the Connor Hellebuyck trade return.)

One of my favourite unsung players of Florida's Cup runs. Luostarinen played in all three zones like he'd have given a limb if that's what it took.

Mavrik Bourque + Jack Drury: Nashville has acquired two mid-20's centers from cap crunched Central Division rivals this summer. Neither had trade protection. Seems like good bets to make. Wrote about them for Winnipeg.

Eric Comrie loves Winnipeg and would be open to signing in Winnipeg. But he starts the day in a bit of a tough spot, with Winnipeg in a state of Hellebuyck uncertainty. I wonder if he aims to lock up a job off the hop or wait until the dust clears.

Winnipeg Jets UFA primer — unlocked for all to read 🔓 🏒 Will Connor Hellebuyck be traded 🏒 What UFA aisles will the Jets be shopping in? 🏒 Reunion stories? 🏒 On the NHL potential of Brayden Yager, Viggo Björck, and more www.nytimes.com/athletic/740...

Colin Miller signed with Lausanne HC in Switzerland 🇨🇭 Colin Miller rejoint le Lausanne Hockey Club – Lausanne HC share.google/d6xTMw7zS6ce...

Asked Alfons Freij about Winnipeg becoming One Great Swede-y 😉🫣

Brayden Yager hadn't heard Kevin Cheveldayoff's media, where the #NHLJets GM called Yager a possible solution at centre. I surprised him with it in a 1v1 chat. How does he feel about the opportunity? And is that really Winnipeg's plan next season? ⤵️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/740...

Winnipeg Jets UFA primer — unlocked for all to read 🔓 🏒 Will Connor Hellebuyck be traded 🏒 What UFA aisles will the Jets be shopping in? 🏒 Reunion stories? 🏒 On the NHL potential of Brayden Yager, Viggo Björck, and more www.nytimes.com/athletic/740...

Brayden Yager hadn't heard Kevin Cheveldayoff's media, where the #NHLJets GM called Yager a possible solution at centre. I surprised him with it in a 1v1 chat. How does he feel about the opportunity? And is that really Winnipeg's plan next season? ⤵️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/740...

The Gus Bus has left the #NHLJets station. Winnipeg has acquired 6-foot-4, right-shot defenceman Jack St. Ivany from Pittsburgh for David Gustafsson. St. Ivany, 26, has played 53 NHL games over parts of the past three seasons the Penguins. 162 AHL games in that time frame.

The #NHLJets sent qualifying offers to Cole Perfetti and Tyrel Bauer. They did not make a qualifying offer to Jaret Anderson-Dolan, who's now a pending UFA. Believe they signed Anderson-Dolan in the first place when L.A. didn't qualify him two years ago.

Viggo Björck on the prospect of playing in the NHL this season: "That would be super cool. But I have to talk with… We haven't really decided if I'm going back to Sweden or (made) those decisions. But I mean, everyone wants to play in the NHL... But we'll see."

This is so good. Once again @doubleemmartin.bsky.social's words made me emotional. How Scott & Anne Oake turned their heartache into healing for others is incredible. They are an example of true class.

Samuel Hrenák was overjoyed. Beaming, the big Slovakian goaltender called Connor Hellebuyck "the best goalie in the NHL." He even dared to dream of No. 37 as his mentor. But what happens next for the #NHLJets? That, plus more takeaways from Winnipeg's draft⤵️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/739...

Samuel Hrenák was overjoyed. Beaming, the big Slovakian goaltender called Connor Hellebuyck "the best goalie in the NHL." He even dared to dream of No. 37 as his mentor. But what happens next for the #NHLJets? That, plus more takeaways from Winnipeg's draft⤵️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/739...

Winnipeg Jets 2026 Draft Class 🎓: 🏒The picks, analysis, and scouting reports from @coreypronman 😶‍🌫️ A few thoughts from me ‼️ And some of the most effusive praise for Viggo Björck from Director of Scouting, Mark Hillier, that you'll ever see ⤵️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/737...

I asked #NHLJets director of amateur scouting, Mark Hillier — who is clearly passionate about Viggo Björck — if he feels that Björck could be ready -this- season? "I think he's got a chance ... We drafted him keeping an open mind that he's going to be given the opportunity."

Winnipeg Jets 2026 Picks: 8: Viggo Björck, C, Djurgårdens (SHL) 71. Samuel Hrenak, G, Fargo (USHL) 116: Zach Wooten, LW, Green Bay (USHL) 135: Alexandre Taillefer, LD, Québec (QMJHL) 167: Landon Hafele, C, Green Bay (USHL) 199: Noa Ta'amu, LD, Edmonton (WHL) 220: John Parsons, G, Providence (NCAA)

The Winnipeg Jets select left shot defenceman Noa Ta'amu at No. 199. Ta'amu, the first of two Jets picks in the seventh round, picked up 12 points and 81 PIM in 62 games for the Edmonton Oil Kings last season.

The Winnipeg Jets take 18 year old centre Landon Hafele at No. 167 overall -- Zachary Wooten's teammate at Green Bay. The 6-foot-0 Alaskan scored 42 points in 52 games in the USHL last season, finishing sixth in team scoring.

The Winnipeg Jets take left-shot defenceman Alexandre Taillefer from the Quebec Remparts with their fifth-round pick at No. 135

The Winnipeg Jets take left wing Zach Wooten at No. 116, with the Edmonton Oilers' fourth-round pick (acquired from Buffalo as part of the package for Logan Stanley + Luke Schenn.)

"Today, when I was awake at 4 a.m., I couldn't think of wearing any other jersey than the Winnipeg Jets. I'm not saying that because it sounds good but that's kind of the truth. And I'm excited and I'm so grateful that I can be part of this amazing organization." — Samuel Hrenak

I'm not sure if I've ever seen a prospect grin as widely or speak as enthusiastically as Samuel Hrenak just did in his #NHLJets media Zoom. Positively beaming, he said he couldn't imagine himself wearing any other jersey. He was up at 4:00AM thinking about it and hoping for it.

The Winnipeg Jets select goaltender Samuel Hrenak from the Fargo Force of the USHL at No. 71. The 6-foot-3, left-catching goaltender is from Slovakia and got into 9 games for Fargo last season, posting a .918 save percentage.

Why the Winnipeg Jets selected Viggo Björck with the NHL Draft’s No. 8 pick www.nytimes.com/athletic/739...

Kevin Cheveldayoff offered nothing new re: Connor Hellebuyck: "Again, I had addressed that earlier. Just, we're having conversations and again, I can't handicap anything one way or another."

Kevin Cheveldayoff says "you can't forget this interview" when describing Viggo Björck's character and how infectious his personality was when they spoke at the combine.

Kevin Cheveldayoff says he had a trade in place to move down, depending on how the draft went but had no interest in consummating it when Viggo Björck was available.

Viggo Björck's Zoom is underway. But first, Kevin Cheveldayoff showed up as a "guest star" to tell Björck he's excited to see him at development camp.

What the Winnipeg Jets are getting in Viggo Björck (by @scottcwheeler.bsky.social) www.nytimes.com/athletic/liv...

The Winnipeg Jets select right-shot centre, Viggo Björck from Djurgårdens IF of the SHL. His work ethic is Mark Scheifele coded: first on the ice, last off the ice. His all-around game is lauded like no current #NHLJets forward. At 5-foot-9, people will always question his size.

Among those available to Winnipeg coming right up at No. 8: Keaton Verhoeff Viggo Bjorck Tynan Lawrence

Farm strength is real. Had some tough, tough days against strangers from Grunthal, Arborg, etc. back in the day. May Carson Carels make the NHL and excel.

Calgary, then Seattle, then Winnipeg. All of Chase Reid, Carson Carels, and Keaton Verhoeff on the board. Same goes for Viggo Bjorck. It's a tricky top end... But more and more it looks like the #NHLJets will do well today. (FWIW, I think CGY takes Carels or Bjorck. We shall see!)

Three picks before Winnipeg at No. 8. All of Chase Reid, Carson Carels, Alberts Smits, and Keaton Verhoeff on the board. The #NHLJets are a lock to have at -least- one of the high-end D available. And perhaps Swedish C, Viggo Bjorck.

Every situation is different, but the #NHLJets did not love the situation they made for Dave and Adam Lowry. Adam Lowry, to me: "It changed the whole dynamic of the player/coach relationship that we had at the rink." "It was hard on my teammates." www.nytimes.com/athletic/633...

Less than two hours away from this year's NHL Draft. We have a liveblog up and running at @theathletic.com www.nytimes.com/athletic/liv...

Tune-in to the ‘The Athletic Hockey Show x FloHockey #NHLDraft Live’ TONIGHT from 7-11p ET to catch the best analysis of this year's draft and the future stars of the NHL🌟 📺: FloHockey and The Athletic channels, FloHockey 24/7 on Amazon Prime, Bell, Fubo, and YouTube