Yes, we know that this is taking a while!
As many of you know, we at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the top 50 of each major North American sports team. That being said, we maintain and update our existing Top 50 lists annually. As such, we are delighted to present our post-2024/25 revision of our top 50 Winnipeg Jets.
As for all of our top 50 players in hockey, we look at the following:
1. Advanced Statistics.
2. Traditional statistics and how they finished in the National Hockey League.
3. Playoff accomplishments.
4. Their overall impact on the team and other intangibles that are not reflected in a stat sheet.
Last year, the Jets won the President’s Trophy, meaning they had the most regular-season points, but it only got them as far as the second round. Let’s remember that this ranking ONLY considers this incarnation of the Jets, including their time as the Atlanta Thrashers.
Crazy, right?
Sadly, until the NHL officially recognizes the original Winnipeg Jets as part of its statistical canon (though culturally they are), we have to keep it this way.
As always, we present our top five, which saw two changes.
1. Connor Hellebucyk
2. Mark Scheifele
3. Blake Wheeler
4. Ilya Kovalchuk
5. Kyle Connor
You can find the entire list here.
Connor Hellebuyck, who took over the number one spot last year, expanded his lead at the top. Last season, Hellebucyk won his third Vezina, but his first Hart Trophy, which was the first in franchise history.
Mark Scheifele moved up from #4 to #2.
Kyle Connor made it into the top five (at #5). He was ranked at #6 last year.
Defenseman Josh Morrisey edged up one spot to #6.
Nikolaj Ehlers, who is now with Carolina, remained at #8.
Defenseman Neal Pionk advanced three spots to #12.
Left Wing Adam Lowry went up one spot to #18.
Defenseman Dylan DeMelo skyrocketed from #32 to #20.
The highest debut is Defenseman Dylan Samberg, who enters at #36.
Center Cole Perfetti makes his first appearance on the list at #39.
Fellow Center Gabriel Vilardi debuts at #46.
The last new entrant was Mason Appleton, whose second run with the Jets ended in the offseason. He comes in at #48.
We thank you for your continued support of our lists on Notinhalloffame.com.
Yes, we know that this is taking a while!
As many of you know, we at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the top 50 of each major North American sports team. That being said, we have existing Top 50 lists and consistently look to update them when necessary and based on necessity. As such, we are delighted to present our post-2023-24 revision of our top 50 Winnipeg Jets.
As for all of our top 50 players in hockey, we look at the following:
1. Advanced Statistics.
2. Traditional statistics and how they finished in the National Hockey League.
3. Playoff accomplishments.
4. Their overall impact on the team and other intangibles that are not reflected in a stat sheet.
First, as mentioned on the main Winnipeg Jets page, this takes on the lineage of the original Atlanta Thrashers, as that is the history they own, despite the acknowledgment of their previous incarnation throughout the city, team, and home arena. This is why you won’t find Dale Hawerchuk here!
Last year, the Jets had their best regular season, but they were bounced in five games in the first round. There were many changes in the Top 50, with two new entrants.
As always, we present our top five, which saw a new number one:
1. Connor Hellbucyk
2. Blake Wheeler
3. Ilya Kovalchuk
4. Mark Scheifele
5. Dustin Byfuglien
You can find the entire list here.
Hellebucyk took over the top spot at #1 off his second Vezina Trophy-winning season.
Another top five change was Mark Scheifele moving from #5 to #4.
Notably, Kyle Connor, who had a decent season, remains at #6
Defenseman Josh Morrissey went up two spots to #7.
Right behind Morrissey is Left Wing Nikolaj Ehlers, who advanced from #10 to #8.
Defenseman Neal Pionk advanced from #18 to #15.
Left Wing Adam Lowry climbed to #25 from #19.
Defenseman Dylan DeMelo went up to #32 from #36.
The first new entrant is Brenden Dillon, who appears at #35.
The second debut is Nate Schmidt, who enters at #43.
We thank you for your continued support of our lists on Notinhalloffame.com.
Undrafted from the University of Minnesota-Duluth, Defenseman Neal Pionk signed with the New York Rangers and made the team late in the 2017/18 season. After a full season on Broadway, Pionk was dealt to the Jets, where he found a greater role.
Pionk found a role on the power play and the second defensive pairing while securing 45 Points in his first Winnipeg campaign. The native of Omaha, Nebraska, has not broken 40 Points since (though he has had at least 32 Points in the last five years), but the smooth skater is beginning his seventh year with the Jets and is young enough to add to his ample skills.