Since the Winnipeg Jets rejoined the NHL during the 2011-12 season, they’ve been one of the NHL’s premier franchises in terms of success with a 519-381-95 record.
During that span, they also finished Top-10 in offence with a goals-per-game average of 2.94 that has them tied with the Edmonton Oilers. Despite being known for being an elite defensive team, Winnipeg has shown it can score goals when needed, and has had a number of difference makers on offensive end.
We look back at which forwards have made the most impact since rejoining the NHL. We will be referring to the Jets’ second coming into the NHL at the start of the 2011-12 season as the Jets new era.
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5. Gabriel Vilardi
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This one may seem like a crazy selection, but his numbers should reflect his positioning here soon enough. Vilardi enters a contract season and should put up big numbers that will earn him a contract extension. He finished his first season in Winnipeg with 22 goals and 14 assists for 36 points in 47 games.
The Kingston, ON. native has improved his point-per-game averages every season and should continue to do so with a top-line placement alongside star forwards Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor. After a few more seasons with the team, Vilardi should find himself near the top of point producers – ahead of names like Nikolaj Ehlers and Bryan Little for players of this generation.
4. Nikolaj Ehlers
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Winnipeg’s 2014 first round pick has once again been involved in trade rumors, but should not be forgotten for his contributions for the Jets. The Denmark product worked as a discounted Kyle Connor, who is a quick, skilled winger that can find open ice although opting for more assists rather than Connor’s goal scoring ability.
Ehlers remains an impact player for Winnipeg and has regularly found himself a 60-point producer like last season, making it the third time he has surpassed the mark in his career. He’s played 605 games for the Jets in which he recorded the fourth-most goals (201), assists (256) and points (457) during the Jets new era.
3. Kyle Connor
This is an obvious choice as Connor has become one of the Jets’ highest valued assets. His goal scoring ability has separated himself from the all-time greats in the Jets organization. The Michigan native finds himself just 12 goals behind Blake Wheeler for second-most and 54 behind Mark Scheifele for the most during the Jets new era.
2. Mark Scheifele
A close second is the man who kicked off the new generation of Jets hockey when being selected seventh overall in the 2011 NHL Draft. Since then, the Kitchener native has been a near point-per-game player with 297 goals and 420 assists for 717 points in 797 games. Scheifele has always been a difference maker with the most goals (298) in the Jets new era as well as the second-most game winning goals (48) in team history.
1. Blake Wheeler
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It’s no secret who was going to be No. 1 on our list. The Minnesota native was with the Jets/Thrashers organization for 13 years, and during the Jets new era, he played 874 games before leaving the team as the Jets’ franchise leader in games played (897), assists (550) and points (812).
Wheeler played a crucial role in the team’s run to the Western Conference Finals during the 2017-18 season, where the Jets were eventually downed by the Vegas Golden Knights. Wheeler led the team with three goals and 18 assists for 21 points in 17 games. He is currently an unrestricted free agent but will always be remembered for his contributions to the Jets.
Honourable Mention – Patrik Laine
The Jets’ 2016 first round pick was with the team for five seasons before being dealt in 2021 to the Columbus Blue Jackets. During his time in Winnipeg, the Finnish winger played 306 games in which he scored 140 goals and recorded 110 assists for 250 points. His 0.82 point-per-game average is among the best for a Jets forward.
The 26-year-old started off his career on a high note with three straight 30-goal seasons. He has since struggled to find the same level of consistency and was traded again on Monday, this time to the Montreal Canadiens.
