2025 Winnipeg Jets Offseason Update

July 3rd, 2025 - Winnipeg, Manitoba

The 2024-2025 RHL season for the Winnipeg Jets was marred with disappointment from the top down. The initial roster to the season was loaded with talent from front to back and the team underachieved out of the gate. This forced rbk to make some changes up to the trade deadline, adding the likes of David Savard, Kyle Palmeri, and Patrick Kane in hopes of making a playoff push. This effort failed as the team failed to make the playoffs on the final day of the regular season. 

Rbk has had ample time to ponder the future of the team’s roster.The franchise’s longtime GM and front office personnel elected to take some drastic action in hopes of returning to the playoffs and challenging for a Stanley Cup in the always hypercompetitive Central division. The team secured it’s prized restricted free agent Morgan Geekie to a 3 year contract worth an average of $5,000,000 per season. A quick recap of the acquisitions and losses:

Out:

Mikko Ranatanen (traded to BUF)

Devon Toews (signed and traded to CGY)

David Savard (left via UFA)

Patrick Kane (traded to LAK)

John Marino (traded to TBL)

Nicolas Roy (traded to TBL)

Kyle Palmeri (left via UFA)

Mason Appleton (traded to VAN)

In:

Gabriel Vilardi (traded from BUF)

Brady Skjei (traded from BUF)

Colton Parayko (traded from NJD)

Brett Howden (traded from TBL)

Sean Monahan (traded from TBL)

Adam Lowry (traded from STL)

Luke Evagelista (traded from CGY)

Eric Cernak (traded from SEA)

Ilya Mikheyev (traded from VAN)

To say rbk changed the makeup of the Winnipeg Jets would be an understatement. Rbk has completely retooled the Jets heading into 2025-26, and mortgaged some of the teams future on the next year or two for the franchise, even being quoted as saying “f them picks” while walking out of the team’s draft headquarters. 

Looking ahead, sources indicate that rbk is not finished. Carrying on with the “f them picks” mentality, don’t expect to hear crickets in WPG. It is widely known in league circles that the team is shopping center/wing Nicholas Paul and defenseman Alec Martinez. Martinez, while under a no trade clause contract, has made it known to those around him that he desires a full time role in what will be his final RHL season. Rbk plans to honor the veterans request to seek a destination for him. Martinez is currently drafting his plea to the RHL council to allow him to play for another franchise next season, so that he can contribute.

RHL Free Agency is slated to begin this month, and while the Jets don’t many needs remaining, sources indicate that rbk will be “sniffing” around the market in search of depth. Due to the lack of performance last season, the franchise had to trade their way out of bankruptcy, and thus lack funds to be seriously competitive for the top free agents this year. “Bankruptcy is a hot topic this offseason, as it is every offseason. Don’t get me started on this topic. There has been contentious and hostile communication on this, and I’d rather not get into this publicly.” Fans suspect that rbk has a strong opinion on this matter, and that he has not hesitated to share it amongst league executives. 

Exciting times lie ahead in WPG, despite what the likes of CJO and Notor like to spread around the RHL. 

Happy Offseason all!