Home Ice Hockey (NHL)Winnipeg Jets Week Ahead: Schedule & Storylines – Hope Fading, Toews Ovation, Blue Line Pain and More – The Hockey Writers – Winnipeg Jets

Winnipeg Jets Week Ahead: Schedule & Storylines – Hope Fading, Toews Ovation, Blue Line Pain and More – The Hockey Writers – Winnipeg Jets

by Marcelo Moreira

The Winnipeg Jets have a difficult three-game road trip through the Eastern Conference this week, facing stiff competition in New Jersey and Florida. Here are the key storylines and upcoming schedule for the week of Jan. 25 – Feb. 1, 2026.

Playoff Hopes Fading & “Seller” Talk

Following a disastrous stretch that included an 11-game losing streak earlier in the month and a recent “embarrassing” 5-1 home loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Jan. 24, the Jets are spiraling. Sitting 7th in the Central Division with a record hovering around .500 (20-24-7), they are mathematically alive but realistically needing a miraculous run to reach the postseason. The conversation has shifted toward whether the team should embrace being “sellers” at the Mar. 6 trade deadline.

Mark Scheifele’s “Olympic Snub” Revenge Tour

A major narrative continues to be Mark Scheifele’s omission from Team Canada’s roster for the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics. While teammates Josh Morrissey and Connor Hellebuyck were selected, Scheifele was left off. He has responded by playing with a visible “chip on his shoulder,” leading the team’s offense and recording multi-point games recently as he tries to prove the decision-makers wrong.

The Jonathan Toews Homecoming

Hometown veteran Jonathan Toews, who signed with Winnipeg for this season, has been a surprising bright spot. After returning from a long hiatus due to health issues, the 37-year-old has found a spark, recently logging a goal streak and providing stability down the middle. His leadership is viewed as critical as the locker room navigates a losing season.

Toews recently received a standing ovation when he returned to Chicago with the Jets for the first time. The Blackhawks fans cheered and chanted “Jonny, Jonny” during the first break of the game, which the Jets lost 2-0.

Blue Line Injuries

The defensive core is depleted. Neal Pionk is on Injured Reserve (lower body), Haydn Fleury is out (upper body) and Colin Miller is out week-to-week following knee surgery. This has forced the Jets to rely on depth players and prospects like Elias Salomonsson to fill minutes in the top four, further complicating their ability to shut down opponents.

Jets Schedule Jan. 25 – Feb. 1

Date Opponent Time (ET) Venue
Tue, Jan. 27 @ New Jersey Devils 7:00 PM Prudential Center
Thu, Jan. 29 @ Tampa Bay Lightning 7:00 PM Benchmark International Arena
Sat, Jan. 31 @ Florida Panthers 4:00 PM Amerant Bank Arena

AI tools were used to support the creation or distribution of this content, however, it has been carefully edited and fact-checked by a member of The Hockey Writers editorial team. For more information on our use of AI, please visit our Editorial Standards page.

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