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.

Enjoying two runs (2018-21 & 2021-25) with the Jets, Mason Appleton filled every team’s need as the Center of a checking line, and/or a penalty kill, and as such, he often flew under the radar.

Appleton’s best year with Winnipeg was in 2023-24, when he had 36 Points, a plus-16 16 and 44 Blocked Shots.  Overall, he scored 121 Points in 351 Games with the Jets.

Pierre Luc-Dubois wanted to be traded out of Winnipeg, and the Jets were able to pull the trigger, netting three players and a pick for him.  One of those men was Gabriel Vilardi, and if it were one-for-one just for him, Winnipeg might be declared the winner of the deal.

Playing at Center, Vilardi’s puck skills and shooting have improved in Winnipeg in the brief two years he has played in the province of Manitoba.  Scoring 22 Goals in his first year as a Jet, he increased that to 27 last year, with 61 Points overall.  Proving his worth on the power play, Vilardi begins this season with a fresh six-year contract and a prime period to jump into.

A two-time NCAA Champion with the Minnesota Golden Gophers, Dylan Samberg was a Second Round Draft Pick by the Jets in 2017.  Samberg, who was drafted before his three-year run in Minnesota, was nearly NHL-ready when he signed his first contract with Winnipeg.

Samberg has thus far played four seasons with Winnipeg, and although he is not much of an offensive threat (although he did have 34 Points last year), his rock-hard defense has given Winnipeg two straight years of at least 110 Blocked Shots.

As Samberg just signed an extension with Winnipeg, he is likely to continue to climb this list.

Setting records with Saginaw in the OHL, Cole Perfetti parlayed that into Winnipeg’s tenth overall pick in the 2020 Draft.

Perfetti only needed one year to first crack into the Jets lineup, and he quickly showed his offensive versatility and patented wrist shot.  Last season, he scored 50 Points for the first time.  Although he begins this year on the shelf, when he returns, his PPG could be his greatest yet.

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.

Brenden Dillon was an undrafted Defenseman who had already logged nearly 12 years of pro service before he was traded from Washington to Winnipeg in the summer of 2021.

Dillon brought size and toughness to the Jets' blueline, and while he was known for his defensive acumen, he also had his best offensive numbers with Winnipeg, compiling three straight 20-Point years, including 8 Gals in 2023-24, which turned out to be his last year in Winnipeg as he signed in the 2024 off-season with New Jersey.

He left Winnipeg with 63 Points, 651 Hits, and 327 Blocked Shots.

Nate Schmidt was an eight-year NHL veteran when the Defenseman was traded to the Winnipeg Jets from Vancouver.  In the three seasons in Manitoba, he was a stay-at-home defenseman who could provide offensive punch in situational play. 

Schmidt accrued 65 Points with 286 Hits and 148 Blocked Shots

Yes, we know that this is taking a while!

As many of you know, we here at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the 50 of each major North American sports team.  That being said, we have existing Top 50 lists out and we always consistently look to update them when we can and based on necessity.  As such, we are very happy to present our post 2022/23 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 not reflected in a stat sheet.

Last year, Winnipeg snuck into the playoffs, but this is such a strange list to do.  The Jets technically do not own the history of the original team (although they honor that period), so we have to do his list based on this rendition which began as the Atlanta Thrashers.  There was one new entry and several fluctuations.

As always, we present our top five, which saw one change:

1. Blake Wheeler

2. Connor Hellebucyk

3. Ilya Kovalchuk

4. Dustin Byfuglien

5. Mark Scheifele

You can find the entire list here.

Hellebucyk, a former Vezina Trophy winner, took over #2, and should overtake Wheeler with a good year for the top spot on the next list.  Scheifele, who is still active, did not do enough to move up over Byfuglien.

Left Wing, Kyle Connor, climbed to #6 from #9.

Defenseman, Josh Morrissey, had a breakout year, and reached #9 from #16.

Danish Left Wing, Nikolaj Ehlers, moved up two spots to #10.

Defenseman, Neil Pionk, had a nice jump, advancing to #18 from #29.

We welcome your input and comments and as always, we thank you for your support.

Left Wing, Adam Lowry, went to #25 from #37.

Forward, Pierre-Luc Dubois, who is now with the Los Angeles Kings, rocketed from #49 to #31.

The lone new entry was Defenseman, Dylan DeMelo, who enters the list at #36.

We thank you for your continued support for our lists on Notinhalloffame.com.

The Winnipeg Jets were very fortunate to have traded for Defenseman, Dylan DeMelo at the 2020 Trade Deadline.  This was not just because of defensive skills, but because they had a player who wanted to be in the tundra of Winnipeg.

DeMelo plays hockey with a simple credo: protect your end of the ice.  An excellent penalty killer, DeMelo rarely puts the puck in the net, but can provide solid passing when needed.  In 2022/23, DeMelo had his 27 Points, with 120 Hits, and two years ago, he had his best offensive season to date with career-highs in Points (31), plus/Minus (+46, which was second overall), Blocked Shots (139), and Hits (167).   He has also been in the top five in Defensive Point Shares the last two seasons.

Going into this year, DeMelo is a quiet contributor to a very good team and has posted a Plus/Minus of +77 over the last two years.

Yes, we know that this is taking a while!

As many of you know, we here at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the 50 of each major North American sports team.  That being said, we have existing Top 50 lists out and we always consistently look to update them when we can and based on necessity.  As such, we are very happy to present our post 2021/22 revision of our top 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 not reflected in a stat sheet.

Last year, the Jets failed to make the playoffs, but as this is our first update in two years, there were three new entries and multiple changes.  Please note that Winnipeg technically does not have the lineal history to the original Jets, so this Top 50 is based on the franchise that originated as the Atlanta Thrashers.

As always, we present our top five:

1. Blake Wheeler

2. Ilya Kovalchuk

3. Dustin Byfuglien

4. Connor Hellbuyck

5. Mark Scheifele

You can find the entire list here.

Wheeler advanced to the top spot, though his time with Winnipeg might be coming to an end.  Hellebuyck moved from #5 to #4, overtaking Scheifele, who stayed at #5.

Kyle Connor makes the top ten for the first time, elevating to #9 from #17.

Nikolaj Ehlers, moved up two spots to #12.

Defenseman, Josh Morrissey, reaches #16 from #21.

Center and now New York Ranger, Andrew Copp, rose from #39 to #28.

Our highest debut is Defenseman, Neal Pionk, who enters at #29.

Left Wing, Adam Lowry edged up to #37 from #41.

Forwards, Paul Stastny, who is now with the Carolina Hurricanes, enters at #45, and Pierre-Luc Dubois comes in at #48.

We welcome your input and comments and as always, we thank you for your support.

Pierre-Luc Dubois began his career with the Columbus Blue Jackets, where he played three years and change before he requested a trade out of Ohio.  He arrived in Winnipeg in January 2021, though that was not necessarily where he wanted to go.

In Dubois's first full year with the Jets, he had his best season since his sophomore campaign with a 28/30/60 line.  He followed that with 63 Points, breaking his previous best, but it was well known that he had no intention of staying in Manitoba when his contract expired, so in the 2023 offseason, he was traded to Los Angeles.  Dubois had a solid run with 143 Points in 195 Games for Winnipeg.

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.

Already a Stanley Cup Champion (with Chicago) when Dustin Byfuglien was traded to the Thrashers in what would be their last year in Atlanta, he was moved back to his natural blueline position and essentially became a more valuable hockey player. 

In that lone year in Atlanta, Byfuglien scored 53 Points and was an All-Star.  As the team relocated to Winnipeg, the blueliner was cemented as their defensive star, reaching the 50 Point mark three times and cracked 40 another two.  Byfuglien was seventh in Norris voting in 2010-11, and he received Norris votes five more times.  A three-time All-Star as a Jet, Byfuglien is easily the best Defenseman in the young franchise's existence.  

Sadly, it was an acrimonious end for Byfuglien in Winnipeg as he had personal problems in 2019, and requested a leave of absence, which led to a suspension.  He was released in 2020, but his 525 career Points is an impressive tally.

Yes, we know that this is taking a while!

As many of you know, we here at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the 50 of each major North American sports team.  That being said, we have existing Top 50 lists out and we always consistently look to update them when we can and based on necessity. As such, we are very happy to present our first revision of our top 50 Winnipeg Jets of all-time.

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 not reflected in a stat sheet.

This one went a complete overhaul, which was reflected in our top five as seen below.

The complete list can be found here, but as always, we announce our top five in this article.  They are:

1. Ilya Kovalchuk                 

2. Blake Wheeler

3. Dustin Byfuglien

4. Mark Sheifele

5. Connor Hellbuyck

In the top five alone, Kovalchuk remains at the top, but Wheeler moves up from #6 to 2.  Mark Sheifele came from #19 to #4.  The biggest change in this group is Hellbuyck, who was not on the previous list, and is the reigning Vezina Trophy winner.  The Goalie looks to have the number one spot in sight.

Many more significant changes are present on our new top fifty, with eight new additions.

Finnish Right Wing and one-time All-Star, Patrik Laine, debuts at #11.  

Jacob Trouba, who was traded to the New York Rangers last year, moved up ten spots to #13.  

Danish Wing, Nikolaj Ehlers makes his first appearance at #14.

Current Vancouver Defenseman,Tyler Myers shot up from Mathieu Perreault also breaches the top twenty, moving from #38 to #20.

The other new entries are Ben Chiarot (#38), Andrew Copp (#39), Adam Lowry (#41) and Dmitry Kulikov (#50).

We welcome your input and commentsand as always, we thank you for your support.

After his rookie year at the University of Michigan, Andrew Copp was selected in the Fourth Round by the Winnipeg Jets.  Two years later, Copp was the team captain of the Wolverines, and he decided to sign his pro contract rather than play his senior year.

From the state of Michigan, Kyle Connor naturally played his college hockey at the University of Michigan, where he was one of the most decorated players in school history.

Nikolaj Ehlers came to the National Hockey League by way of Denmark, making him one of the first true stars from the small Northern European nation.

Ben Chiarot was drafted by the Winnipeg Jets in 2009 when the team was still located in Atlanta, and four years later he played a single game for the team in the 2013-14 Season.  Chiarot was a regular afterwards, utilizing a stay-at-home defensive game, which every team needs.

As of this writing, Adam Lowry has played eleven seasons in the NHL, all of which as a Winnipeg Jet.