The Winnipeg Jets were among the favourites in Stanley Cup odds last season after winning the Presidents’ Trophy, but that quickly changed in 2025-26 as the club fell towards the bottom of the standings.
While the 2025-26 Jets are not statistically the worst team in franchise history, they are certainly one of the most disappointing.
Below, I’ll break down the five Jets teams of all time.
Worst Jets Seasons in Team History
5. 2025-26: In Progress
The 2025-26 season is not one of the Jets’ worst seasons, statistically speaking, but it is definitely one of their most disappointing, considering they won the Presidents’ Trophy as the NHL’s top regular-season team in 2024-25.
Goaltending has once again been a major part of Winnipeg’s downfall as Connor Hellebuyck, the reigning Vezina and Hart Trophy winner, is carrying a .900 save percentage through 45 games and on pace for his worst season.
4. 1985-86: 26-47-7 (59 points)
After finishing fourth overall in 1984-85 and defeating the rival Calgary Flames in the first round of the playoffs, the Jets looked like they were finally finding their footing in the NHL.
That success did not last long, however, as the Jets were back near the bottom of the standings in 1985-86.
The issues largely stemmed from goaltending as starter Brian Hayward posted an abysmal .843 save percentage over 52 appearances. That still stands as the worst single-season performance by any netminder (min. 10 GP) since 1985-86.
3. 1979-80: 20-49-11 (51 points)
The Jets dominated the WHA, winning the league championship in 1976, 1978, and 1979. However, the Jets’ first season in the NHL did not follow that same script.
Winnipeg finished the season with 51 points, tied with the Colorado Rockies for the lowest total in the league. The Jets also scored just 214 goals in 80 games – by far the worst offensive output of any club.
2. 2011-12: 37-35-10 (84 points)
There was a lot to celebrate ahead of the 2011-12 season as the Atlanta Thrashers relocated to Winnipeg and brought the beloved Jets home.
However, that excitement quickly waned when the players hit the ice as Winnipeg finished 22nd in the overall standings.
It took four seasons for the Jets to finally make the playoffs, and another three for them to win a series.
1. 1980-81: 9-57-14 (32 points)
The Winnipeg Jets joined the NHL from the WHA in 1979, but their second season was actually far worse than their first.
The Jets finished last in the league with just nine wins in 80 games and a points percentage of .200, tied for the 11th-worst mark in league history.
Winnipeg was doomed from the beginning after starting the season with just one win through their first 33 games. The Jets went through two coaches and five different goaltenders over the 80-game season.
What’s the Worst Jets Team in Franchise History?
The worst team in Jets history was assembled during the 1980-81 campaign, when the club finished dead last in the NHL standings and earned just nine wins in 80 games.
Winnipeg won its third contest of the season before going on a 30-game winless streak, which still stands as the longest run in NHL history.
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