The Winnipeg Jets receive no nationally televised games in the 2025-26 season despite popularity being ahead of other notable teams.  

The NHL announced their national television schedule with 172 games being broadcast across ESPN networks and TNT, starting with a triple-header on October 7th for Opening Night. Some notable takeaways from the release show the league putting faith into some teams and their rising stock like the Detroit Red Wings, who will be featured in 17 nationally televised games this upcoming season despite not making the playoffs for nine straight seasons. 

When it came to the Winnipeg Jets, they didn't make the cut for any of the 172 games despite coming off a franchise-best season in which they won the President's trophy as the league's best team during the regular season. They’ve shown they can deliver an electric home atmosphere with their signature Whiteout tradition on select nights. Plus they’ve proven capable of producing unforgettable moments like when Cole Perfetti tied Game 7 of Winnipeg’s first-round series against the St. Louis Blues with just seconds remaining, creating one of the NHL’s most viral clips in recent years. 

The move by the networks was surprising considering the rise of the Jets as one of the league's top Stanley Cup contenders. It is worth noting that Winnipeg ranks near the bottom of the league in game attendance, however that’s not the case on social media. 

As of July 2025, the Jets have more Instagram followers than several teams that secured nationally televised games for the upcoming season, including the Ducks, Predators, and Sabres. On TikTok, the Jets rank among the NHL’s top eight teams, with just under 420,000 followers, surpassing the Penguins, Avalanche, and Golden Knights, all of whom also received national TV slots. 

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There are Winnipeg fans that should should be getting to see their team on nationally televised games in the United States but the networks aren't receiving the message and it leaves these fans in the dark, having to pay extra money for subscription services if they want to see the Winnipeg Jets at all. The growth of the NHL is still on the rise but isn't at a level that American fans can even watch certain teams on broadcast networks that the league has deals with. 

The hope is that the game continues to grow throughout North America and the rest of the world but as of the time being, Jets fans outside of Canada are seemingly left behind and will be forced to go out of their way to support their team.

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