The Colorado Avalanche will not be playing in an easy division by any means. While Colorado is certainly the class of the Central Division, the other clubs will be looking to dethrone the Avs as the top team.
While the entire division looks solid, there’s one team that the Avalanche might not know what to expect from: The Winnipeg Jets.
Last season, the Jets fell from their perch as the 2024-25 Presidents’ Trophy. They went from the class of the NHL during the regular season to a playoff miss.
This time around, the Jets could return to form and make life needlessly hard on the Avs. The Jets certainly have the roster to do it. As long as they have all-world goalie Connor Hellebuyck in the fold, the Jets are capable of turning anyone inside out.
But that’s just the thing. Hellebuyck has been mired in trade rumors all summer. Nothing has materialized, but that’s no guarantee that a trade can’t happen. If the Jets lose Hellebuyck, it could mean the Jets might struggle to get back into the playoffs.
As it stands, that’s just a major if.
Jets could be on the verge of rebuild while Avalanche thrive
Unfortunately for the Jets, they could be on the verge of a rebuild. The potential loss of Hellebuyck could leave the organization reeling, as they look to figure out the path forward.
Such an outcome for the Jets would be a sharp contrast to the Avalanche. Colorado remains very much in its competitive window, even if Colorado is one of the oldest teams in the NHL.
The Avs are still young enough to compete for the next half-decade or so. While that’s something that could change in short order, there’s enough runway for Colorado fans to remain optimistic heading into the 2030s.
That’s not something that the Jets can say. The team might find it tough to attract high-end free agents or have players waive their no-trade clauses to head there. Moreover, the Jets lack the sort of top-tier prospects that could turn the lineup over in short order.
That’s a challenging situation, possibly leading the Jets into a full-on rebuild as soon as this season.
A lot of that is just speculation at this point. It largely depends on the Jets being able to hold onto Hellebuyck and maximize their current talent. If things work out, Winnipeg could return to its Presidents’ Trophy form, potentially giving the Avalanche a run for their money in 2026-27.
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