On a recent edition of the FAN hockey showNHL insider Elliotte Friedman has detailed what he thinks is going wrong with the Winnipeg Jets this season. The conversation focused on the team’s problems in a fast-paced competition and the significant gap left by the absence of Nikolaj Ehlers in their lineup. As Jets fans know all too well, one of their favorites has moved on to the Carolina Hurricanes during the offseason.
Secondary scores are lacking, and that hits the Jets hard
Friedman’s main concern is the lack of secondary scores. The Jets were already in a tough division – what he calls “Death Valley” – against teams like the Colorado Avalanche, the Dallas Stars and the Minnesota Wild. Unfortunately, Friedman says the Jets are digging themselves into holes that will be difficult to climb out of. The simple fact is that, aside from the players on the team’s top line, no one else is stepping up.
Ehlers’ absence has hit the Jets hard. Friedman admitted he was cautious about making early predictions about who would move forward. The numbers now show that the team is missing its scoring spark. Fiddling with line changes hasn’t helped, and the top scorers are carrying too much of the burden, which isn’t sustainable.
Friedman also points out that the Jets appear slow. When they face teams like the Bruins or the Capitals, it’s obvious. In today’s NHL, where speed and quick transitions are so important, being behind the game like this makes winning even harder.
The Jets aren’t the only team learning to adapt without key players
Both the Jets and Toronto Maple Leafs are feeling the impact of missing some of their previous contributors this season. Winnipeg is missing Ehlers, and the secondary scoring just isn’t there. And as mentioned, others have yet to step in and fill the void. The Maple Leafs have had their own challenges with Mitch Marner heading to Las Vegas and other key players out with injuries. Even strong teams have to learn to adapt, and right now the Jets can’t do that.
How they do over the remainder of the 2025-26 regular season will say a lot about their depth and toughness.
The end result for the Jets
For Friedman, the Jets’ struggles go beyond just missing one player. It’s about the team moving too slowly and not having enough depth. As the season progresses, he says, the supporting cast will have to increase. If they don’t, Winnipeg won’t last in such a tough division.
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