Logan Stanley is leading the Winnipeg Jets defence with unexpected offence

Logan Stanley has been hard to miss in Winnipeg this season, for reasons that go beyond his 6’7” frame.

While the Winnipeg Jets were unsuccessful Monday night against the Ottawa Senators, falling in overtime, Stanley once again made his presence felt.

Late in the second period, Stanley jumped up on the rush, finished a strong zone entry and buried the puck past Linus Ullmark from distance with a hard wrist shot to give the Jets the lead. To say he’s been more engaged offensively would be an understatement.

Entering the season with just five career goals, Stanley has already doubled that total, scoring six times and showing no signs of slowing down.

On a team that has often struggled to generate secondary scoring, Stanley has delivered. He sits third among Jets defencemen in points while leading the group in goals — even holding a one-goal edge over Team Canada favourite Josh Morrissey.

Beyond the numbers, it’s the energy Stanley brings that has captured attention. Every time the puck finds his stick, the echoing chant of “SHOOT” reverberates through every level of Canada Life Centre.

Stanley is on pace to shatter his previous season highs, and it couldn’t come at a better time for a defenceman who has patiently waited to reach his potential.

Growing Up

Stanley was born on Dec. 26, 1998, in Kitchener, Ontario, and grew up in nearby Waterloo. From an early age, his love for hockey was undeniable, often arriving at Albert McCormick Arena at 6 a.m. before school.

“Usually, we didn’t have to wake him up to go [skating]. We’d wake him up for school but not for hockey,” joked his mother Lori, recalling those early mornings.

Stanley credits his parents for their unwavering support, regardless of the time commitment or financial cost. His father frequently coached his spring teams, while his mother adjusted her work schedule to ensure he made it to practices.

He has one younger sibling, Reese, three years his junior, who regularly checks in after games and attends whenever possible.

Stanley began to truly notice his size in high school, recalling frequent knee pain as he grew well beyond his peers. During that time, he leaned on his cousin, NHL forward Michael Latta, who helped him navigate the physical challenges and refine his coordination.

“As I got older, Mike started teaching me more, telling me about key things that I need to do in order to impress scouts. He’s been a great influence on me. We work out together. Seeing how committed he is, makes me want to push for the next level.”

Junior Career in the OHL

Stanley was selected in the first round of the 2014 OHL Priority Draft by the Windsor Spitfires.

“Logan plays the game hard and with skill,” said then-general manager Warren Rychel.

“He has big potential and we intend on helping him bring out the best in his game during his career in Windsor. We’re extremely happy to add him to our organization.”

His rookie OHL season was a learning curve. Stanley finished the 2014–2015 campaign as the lowest-scoring regular defenceman on the roster, posting four assists in 59 games.

Over time, he evolved into a difficult opponent — a physical presence capable of clearing the crease and imposing his big frame on opposing forwards.

The following season, Stanley took a step forward, recording 17 points in 64 games while playing alongside future NHLers such as Jalen Chatfield, Mikhail Sergachev, and future Jets Gabriel Vilardi and Brendan Lemieux.

The 2016–2017 season brought both adversity and growth. Injuries limited him to 35 games, but he matched his previous point total with 17. While the Spitfires fell short of an OHL championship, Stanley helped the host team capture its third Memorial Cup, defeating the Erie Otters 4–3 in the final.

That championship run marked the end of his time in Windsor, as he was traded to his hometown Kitchener Rangers. There, Stanley thrived, posting 42 points in 61 games, serving as an alternate captain and leading all Rangers defencemen in scoring by a wide margin. His playoff performance helped Kitchener reach the Eastern Conference Final, where they fell in seven games to the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.

Turning Pro

Stanley was selected 18th overall in the 2016 NHL Draft, becoming the Jets’ second pick behind Finnish phenom Patrik Laine. Winnipeg was so committed to landing him that they traded up from 22nd with the Philadelphia Flyers to make the selection.

Surrounded by family in Buffalo on draft night, emotions ran high.

“I had a tear, very exciting, just very proud, very exciting,” said Logan’s father, Jeff.

After being drafted, Stanley told media he modeled his game after Tyler Myers and Shea Weber, with inevitable comparisons to Zdeno Chara following closely behind.

Stanley signed his three-year entry-level contract on December 6th during his final OHL season.

After two more junior years, he transitioned to the AHL with the Manitoba Moose, spending two seasons there from 2018–2020 and recording 32 points in 117 games.

“I think the transition to the AHL went pretty smoothly my first year. I was able to jump in and play quite a bit.”

Breaking Into the NHL

Stanley cracked the Jets’ roster during the 2020–2021 season, aided by expanded rosters and the taxi squad during the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Jan. 18, 2021, the Ontario product made his NHL debut in his home province against the Toronto Maple Leafs, fulfilling a lifelong dream.

Though his family couldn’t attend due to restrictions, Stanley understood and hoped they enjoyed the moment from home.

March proved pivotal. Stanley recorded his first NHL fight on Mar. 24 against Zach MacEwen, then scored his first career goal three days later — beating David Rittich top shelf in a 4–2 loss to Calgary.

He finished the season with four regular-season points and added three more in the playoffs, including two goals against Carey Price, putting an exclamation point on his rookie campaign.

Finding His NHL Game

Stanley followed up with 13 points in 58 games during the 2021–2022 season, though the Jets took a step back, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2018.

The next two seasons tested his resilience. Injuries and inconsistency limited him to just 46 combined games in 2022–2023 and 2023–2024, where he managed only five points.

Despite his bruising on-ice style, Stanley’s off-ice life tells a different story. Now a father, he describes himself as laid-back and family-oriented.

The 2024–2025 season marked progress. Appearing in 63 games for the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Jets, Stanley posted 14 points and embraced a more physical role with 78 penalty minutes and four fights.

Still, it’s the 2025–2026 campaign that has truly flipped the script.

Jets head coach Scott Arniel isn’t surprised by Stanley’s surge. “You saw it early on when he first came up here — that shot of his and getting pucks to the net. He’s doing a good job reading situations, joining the rush, and finding ways to create offensively while still defending,” Arniel said.

There is no neat finish to Logan Stanley’s story — not yet.

Once viewed primarily as a long-term project, the 27-year old is now a fixture in the Jets’ lineup, playing every game and producing at a rate few could have predicted. Injuries, inconsistency and years of waiting have given way to confidence, opportunity and trust.

Where Stanley’s numbers ultimately land remains to be seen, but in the middle of a contract year as a pending unrestricted free agent, his ability to generate goals and create plays has made him an essential part of Winnipeg’s attack.