Winnipeg Jets Morning Papers: Today’s Hockey Headlines | October 25, 2026

Note: It was another incredibly busy day in Jetsland on Saturday as the focus, for the most part, shifted away from the Connor Hellebuyck trade and towards the Alumni and Heritage Classic games. Of course, with Devils GM Sunny Mehta and Hellebuyck meeting with the New Jersey media, the trade wasn’t entirely absent from the day’s headlines.

Note II: The trade also had an impact on the organization’s depth as Jack St. Ivany, who had been placed on waivers the previous day to create roster space, was claimed by the Capitals. Shortly thereafter, Winnipeg announced it had recalled Elias Salomonsson from its AHL affiliate.

Note III: Once Jets practice got underway, we had a chance to see Dawson Mercer and Nico Daws skate with their new teammates for the first time, while also getting a look at the new line combinations following the trade. It was a newsy practice, so be sure to check out Saturday’s Practice Report to get all caught up on the new-look lines and defence pairs, as well as media availabilities with Daws, Viggo Björck, Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor, Adam Lowry & Dawson Mercer at the podium and head coach Scott Arniel.

Note IV: Then it was a race down Pembina Highway to get to Canada Life Centre where the Jets and Habs alumni were taking fans on a stroll down memory lane. It was a chance to see plenty of familiar faces back on the ice, hear the GST chants one more time and give Dustin Byfuglien a proper sendoff. While Montreal ultimately came away with the victory, the final score was hardly the focus of an evening filled with nostalgia.

Note V: That makes today a gameday with the Jets welcoming the 2026-27 version of the Canadiens to town for the Heritage Classic at Princess Auto Stadium this evening. The Jets will hold an optional practice (downtown) at 9:30 AM CT followed by a 3 PM CT media availability. Stay tuned for the pre-game report to ensure you’re up-to-date on the latest. Puck drop is at 6 PM CT.

Note VI: This evening, after the final buzzer sounds between Winnipeg and Montreal, we want you to be part of the conversation on the Illegal Curve Post-Game Show as we discuss and analyze the results of the game starting around 8:40 PM CT.

Note VII: Meanwhile, down in Iowa, the Moose continued their impressive start to the season as they completed the weekend sweep of the Wild with a 2-0 shutout victory. Brayden Yager picked up right where he left off with a goal and an assist, Lucas Wahlin scored a beauty and Domenic DiVincentiis made 34 saves for his second shutout in just five games this season. Manitoba improves to 7-2-0-0 and remains unbeaten against Central Division opponents not named the Grand Rapids Griffins. They will travel to Chicago today.

Jets news:

Winnipeg Sun: ‘Down memory lane’: Byfuglien, Jets OG’s back where it all started. Folks in this city love number 33 and they showed it from the start to the end of the game.

Winnipeg Free Press: New Jet looking forward to ‘special’ debut. (Paywall). What a way to make an impression playing in front of 30,000+ fans in your debut.

Winnipeg Free Press: ‘Tough part of the business’. (Paywall). The players are definitely relived to no longer have to talk about this (until the Devils visit Winnipeg on November 10th).

Winnipeg Free Press: Dustin Byfuglien gets warm welcome at alumni game. (Paywall). The Byfuglien chants rained down on the ice throughout the hockey game.

Winnipeg Free Press: Connor Hellebuyck breaks silence after trade from Jets. (Paywall). He didn’t say much about his former team although he did sidestep a loaded question that should definitely have been phrased differently.

The Athletic: Jets relieved to no longer have Hellebuyck ‘cloud hanging over our heads’. (Paywall). Translation to no longer have us in the media asking them about it.

The Athletic: Connor Hellebuyck joins Devils pledging he’s ‘here to win’ but avoids addressing Jets fans. (Paywall). Yeah I’m not really sure how his sending a positive message to the city that supported him since he was drafted back in 2012 would have distracted from anything this weekend. In fact, if anything, his decision to withhold his comments until a later date only seems to add a cloud.

Jets video:

Sportsnet: Why Jets, Devils made Hellebuyck trade now. Elliotte Friedman joined Sportsnet Central to break down the Winnipeg Jets trading Connor Hellebuyck to the New Jersey Devils, discussing why each team made the trade at this moment, the Devils’ direction after the big move, and more.

Jets audio:

Sportsnet (32 Thoughts Podcast): Connor Hellebuyck trade insights with Winnipeg Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff. In this edition of 32 Thoughts, Kyle Bukauskas and Elliotte Friedman sit down with Winnipeg Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff following the blockbuster trade that sent Connor Hellebuyck to New Jersey.