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Why One Analyst Says the Winnipeg Jets Can't Contend Without This Specific Player


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Daniel Lucente
October 18, 2025  (9:46)
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Winnipeg Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff listens to a question
Photo credit: Global News

NHL analyst Sean Reynolds said that if the Winnipeg Jets want to seriously compete for a Stanley Cup, they will need to acquire a "wow-type" of player.

The Winnipeg Jets are a solidly constructed team: deep, structured, and competitive on a nightly basis. They love chemistry, discipline, and the team concept.
But again, just as it is every spring, the same tale is retold: good performances that simply fizzle out too early. They may dominate today's game vs. the Nashville Predators, but that doesn't always mean major success in the playoffs.
Jets and NHL analyst Sean Reynolds spoke recently on 'Kyper and Bourne' about why. He believes Winnipeg requires more "wow-type players" to finally crack the postseason.
"If the Jets want to push through in the postseason, they might need to go shopping for some "wow-type players" at the trade deadline. Not just depth or complementary pieces but real difference-makers."

- Sean Reynolds

The system of the Jets is one of the best in the league: tight defensively, supported by solid goaltending, and fueled by full-team commitment. Structure alone, though, doesn't win playoff series, Reynolds said.
After seven games, opponents adapt, and predictability then becomes an issue. He used last season's disappointment, a Game 6 overtime defeat to Dallas that ended the Jets' Stanley Cup aspirations, as evidence that system play can only carry a team so far.

A wow-type player will turn the game around when it starts to dry up

When the ice gets tight and the goals dry up, it's often individual brilliance that is the difference-maker.
Winnipeg's chemistry and culture are certainly positives. Players enjoy playing for one another and for coach Scott Arniel. However, the same chemistry occasionally works against making major moves.
Management has opted for stability over blockbuster deals, hoping for internal development to push them forward.
That philosophy works during the regular season, but playoffs are won by teams that can flip momentum on a dime. That is where Reynolds' "wow-type player" shines best: a player who isn't just a system fit, but takes it to another level when it matters.
If general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff can find a way to add that kind of difference-maker without upsetting the core, the Jets may finally have the additional spark they require to turn excellent seasons into long playoff series.
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Why One Analyst Says the Winnipeg Jets Can't Contend Without This Specific Player

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