Winnipeg Jets

Origins and WHA Dominance (1972 to 1979)

The Winnipeg Jets franchise was established on December 27, 1971, as one of the founding members of the World Hockey Association. The Jets were a consistent playoff contender, missing the postseason only once during their seven WHA seasons, in 1974-75. They captured the league's championship, the Avco Cup, three times, with victories in 1976, 1978, and 1979. The team also appeared as Avco Cup finalists in 1973 and 1977, meaning they played for the championship in five of their seven WHA seasons. This era was defined by high-profile signings like Bobby Hull and the development of future stars within a strong developmental system. The team's success and solid fan base in Winnipeg made it an attractive candidate for inclusion when the NHL sought to merge with the surviving WHA teams at the end of the decade.

NHL Entry and Competitive Challenges (1979 to 1996)

In 1979, the Jets were one of four WHA teams absorbed into the NHL alongside the Edmonton Oilers, Quebec Nordiques, and Hartford Whalers. The terms of the merger, particularly a restrictive expansion draft, left the team with a depleted roster. The Jets struggled immensely in their first two NHL seasons, compiling a combined record of 29 wins, 106 losses, and 25 ties. A period of modest competitiveness followed, as the team qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs every season from 1981-82 through 1987-88. However, they managed only two winning records during that seven-year span, in 1984-85 and 1986-87. Those were also the only two times the original Jets franchise advanced beyond the first round of the playoffs until the modern era in 2018. Financial pressures mounted in the 1990s within the smaller Winnipeg market. After the 1995-96 season, owner Barry Shenkarow sold the team to American businessmen Steven Gluckstern and Richard Burke, who initially considered moving the team to Minnesota before finalizing an agreement to relocate to Phoenix, Arizona. The franchise played its final game as the Winnipeg Jets on April 28, 1996, before becoming the Phoenix Coyotes.

The Atlanta Thrashers Expansion Era (1999 to 2011)

Following the departure of the Jets, the NHL awarded an expansion franchise to Atlanta, Georgia, on June 25, 1997. Named the Atlanta Thrashers, this was the city's second NHL team after the Atlanta Flames moved to Calgary in 1980. The Thrashers began play in the 1999 to 2000 season. Over twelve seasons in Atlanta, the franchise experienced profound on-ice struggles. The team qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs only once, during the 2006-07 season. In that lone postseason appearance, the Thrashers were swept in four games by the New York Rangers, failing to win a single playoff game in their history. This lack of success contributed to dwindling attendance and financial instability. By 2011, the ownership group was actively seeking a buyer for the franchise, which opened the door for a return to Winnipeg.

Purchase, Relocation, and Rebranding (2011)

The return of the NHL to Winnipeg was orchestrated by True North Sports & Entertainment (TNSE), a company led by chairman Mark Chipman that owned the Canada Life Centre and the AHL's Manitoba Moose. TNSE had previously submitted serious bids to purchase the bankrupt Phoenix Coyotes, with the league even drafting a tentative schedule with Winnipeg in place of Phoenix. Although that bid failed, TNSE's professional approach raised its profile with the NHL. When the Atlanta Thrashers became available, TNSE reached an agreement in principle in May 2011. The sale was confirmed by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman on May 31, 2011, and formally approved by the NHL Board of Governors on June 21, 2011, for a reported $170 million, which included a $60 million relocation fee. A critical season ticket drive aimed at selling 13,000 packages was launched to prove the market's viability. Season tickets sold out to the general public in 17 minutes, and a waiting list attracted 8,000 names in two hours. The team's name was kept secret until the 2011 NHL Entry Draft on June 24, when Chipman announced the selection of Mark Scheifele "on behalf of the Winnipeg Jets." The NHL, which owned the old Jets' trademarks through its control of the Coyotes, granted permission for the new team to use the historic name and logos.

Front Office and Coaching Staff Establishment

True North moved swiftly to establish a new hockey operations department after the relocation was confirmed. On June 4, 2011, the organization bought out the contract of Thrashers general manager Rick Dudley. Thrashers president Don Waddell also chose not to move with the team. Kevin Cheveldayoff, formerly the assistant general manager of the Chicago Blackhawks, was hired as the new general manager on June 8. The team retained Marcel Comeau as director of amateur scouting. After a re-interview process, Thrashers head coach Craig Ramsay was dismissed on June 20. Claude Noël, the head coach of the Manitoba Moose, was named the first head coach of the new Jets on June 24. His assistant coaches were Charlie Huddy, Pascal Vincent, and Wade Flaherty. This new management team was tasked with building a competitive roster from the inherited Thrashers lineup and guiding the franchise through its inaugural season.

Modern Competitive Era and Playoff Breakthroughs

The modern Jets made their regular season debut on October 9, 2011, losing 5-1 to the Montreal Canadiens in front of a sold-out crowd at Canada Life Centre. After playing two seasons in the Southeast Division, the team moved to the Western Conference's Central Division in 2013-14 as part of league realignment. The franchise clinched its first playoff berth in Winnipeg on April 9, 2015, but was swept in the first round by the Anaheim Ducks. A significant season occurred in 2017-18. Led by goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, the Jets clinched a playoff spot and won the first playoff game in the combined history of the Atlanta/Winnipeg franchise on April 11, 2018, against the Minnesota Wild. They won their first playoff series that same round, defeating the Wild four games to one. The Jets then advanced to the Western Conference Final for the first time by defeating the Presidents' Trophy-winning Nashville Predators in seven games, marking the first time either iteration of the Jets advanced beyond the second round. Their run ended with a loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. The Jets returned to the playoffs in 2019, 2020, and 2021. In the 2020-21 season, they swept the Edmonton Oilers in the first round before being swept themselves by the Montreal Canadiens. Connor Hellebuyck won the Vezina Trophy as the league's best goaltender for the 2019-20 season.

Recent Seasons and Franchise Unification

The Jets missed the playoffs in the 2021-22 season, finishing sixth in the Central Division. Before the 2022-23 season, long-time captain Blake Wheeler was stripped of the captaincy. The team returned to the playoffs that season but lost in the first round to the Vegas Golden Knights. Adam Lowry was appointed team captain prior to the 2023-24 season. The Jets qualified for the playoffs again in 2024 but lost in the first round to the Colorado Avalanche. The 2024-25 season was a historic regular season success, as the Jets won their first Presidents' Trophy and a division championship with 56 wins and 116 points. They defeated the St. Louis Blues in a seven-game first-round series before losing to the Dallas Stars in the second round. A landmark administrative change occurred on September 24, 2026, when the NHL announced the consolidation of the statistical history of the original Jets franchise with the Thrashers and modern Jets under the current Jets banner. This retroactively deactivated the original Jets from 1996 to 1999, with the franchise resuming operations as the Atlanta Thrashers. As of the 2026-27 season, the team is coached by Scott Arniel and faces decisions regarding key pending free agents and the future of goaltender Connor Hellebuyck.

Uniform and Logo Evolution

The visual identity of the Jets has undergone significant changes across its history. The original WHA Jets debuted in blue and white uniforms with red trim, featuring a futuristic wordmark. In 1974, they adopted their classic roundel logo and a more traditional striping pattern. Upon entering the NHL in 1979, the team unveiled new uniforms influenced by the New York Rangers' design of the era, with thick shoulder and waist stripes. A final redesign in 1990 introduced an updated crest and a return to red pants. When the franchise returned in 2011, True North developed a new brand identity distinct from the original. The primary logo, unveiled on July 22, 2011, is patterned after Royal Canadian Air Force roundels and features a silhouette of a CF-18 Hornet. The colour scheme is primarily blue and silver, with red used as a secondary colour via a maple leaf element, incorporated with permission from the Toronto Maple Leafs. The team's game uniforms were unveiled at 17 Wing in Winnipeg. For the 2018-19 season, the Jets introduced their first alternate uniform, using a base colour called aviator blue and a wordmark logo, with striping inspired by the 1990-96 uniforms of the original Jets.

Questions about Winnipeg Jets

Are the current Winnipeg Jets the same team as the original Jets?

The current Winnipeg Jets are the direct continuation of the Atlanta Thrashers franchise that relocated in 2011. The original Jets franchise moved to Phoenix in 1996 and became the Coyotes. However, on September 24, 2026, the NHL consolidated the statistical records and history of the original Jets (1972 to 1996), the Atlanta Thrashers (1999 to 2011), and the modern Jets (2011-present) all under the current Winnipeg Jets franchise. This means the franchise's official history now includes all three iterations.

Why did the original Winnipeg Jets leave for Phoenix in 1996?

The original Winnipeg Jets relocated due to persistent financial challenges in one of the NHL's smallest markets. After the 1995-96 season, owner Barry Shenkarow sold the team to American businessmen Steven Gluckstern and Richard Burke. The new owners originally planned to move the team to Minnesota but instead reached an agreement with Phoenix businessman Jerry Colangelo to relocate the franchise to Arizona. The Jets played their final game in Winnipeg on April 28, 1996, before becoming the Phoenix Coyotes.

How did the NHL return to Winnipeg in 2011?

The NHL returned to Winnipeg when True North Sports & Entertainment purchased the Atlanta Thrashers and moved the team. After a successful season ticket drive that saw 13,000 packages sell rapidly, the sale was confirmed in May 2011 and approved by the NHL Board of Governors in June. The reported purchase price was $170 million, with $60 million paid as a relocation fee to the league. True North then moved its AHL affiliate, the Manitoba Moose, to St. John's to make room for the NHL team.

What is the greatest playoff success for the Winnipeg Jets franchise?

The deepest playoff run occurred in the 2017-18 season. The Jets won their first playoff series by defeating the Minnesota Wild four games to one. They then advanced to the Western Conference Final for the first time by beating the Presidents' Trophy-winning Nashville Predators in seven games. The Jets won the first game of the conference final against the Vegas Golden Knights but lost the next four, ending their run. The 2024-25 season saw the franchise's best regular season, resulting in a Presidents' Trophy and a second-round playoff appearance.

What do the current Winnipeg Jets logos represent?

The primary logo for the modern Jets is a roundel design that pays direct homage to the Royal Canadian Air Force, specifically Winnipeg's 17 Wing. The logo features a silhouette of a McDonnell Douglas CF-18 Hornet fighter jet at its centre. The colour scheme of blue and silver is dominant, with red incorporated as a secondary colour through a maple leaf element, which was added with the permission of the Toronto Maple Leafs. This design represents a clear departure from the logos used by the original Jets franchise.

Sources: Wikipedia and current public reporting, checked by the Garbutt Disposal desk. Last updated 2026-10-19.