The 2011–12 Winnipeg Jets season was the 29th season of play for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established on June 22, 1979, and 37th season for the organization overall. After 12 seasons as the Atlanta Thrashers, the franchise relocated back to Winnipeg and returned to their original identity following the conclusion of the 2010–11 NHL season. The relocation of the Thrashers to Winnipeg was confirmed by NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman on May 31, 2011, and approved by the NHL Board of Governors on June 21, 2011.NHL Board of Governors Approves Thrashers' Sale to WinnipegNHL Board of Governors approves sale of Thrashers to True North Sports & Entertainment At the end of the regular season, the team failed to qualify for the 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs.
As of 2026, this is now considered the 37th season overall of the Jets franchise after reacquiring the franchise records of the original Winnipeg Jets from the Arizona Coyotes.
Off-season On May 31, 2011, at a press conference at the MTS Centre, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman confirmed that the Atlanta Thrashers had been sold to True North Sports and Entertainment and would relocate to Winnipeg for the 2011–12 NHL season after a unanimous vote favoring the sale and relocation at the Board of Governors meeting on June 21, 2011.True North Buys Thrashers, Set to Move Team to Winnipeg. TSN. Retrieved 2011-05-31. On June 4, 2011, the new owners informed general manager Rick Dudley that he would no longer be general manager of the franchise, and that the last four years of his contract were to be bought-out.Thrashers' Dudley Not Retained As GM By True North
On June 8, 2011, Winnipeg named Kevin Cheveldayoff as their new general manager, having previously been serving as the assistant general manager for the Chicago Blackhawks.Cheveldayoff Takes Winnipeg General Manager's Job Additionally, on June 20, 2011, new ownership informed Craig Ramsay that he was no longer the coach of the team. Former Edmonton Oilers head coach Craig MacTavish was also informed he was out of the running for the head coaching position.Ramsay Informed he Will Not Coach Winnipeg Franchise On June 24, True North announced that Claude Noel would be the first head coach of the new team in Winnipeg. Noel had spent the previous season as the head coach of the American Hockey League's Manitoba Moose.Claude Noel Named Head Coach
The team's name was revealed to be the "Jets" at the 2011 NHL entry draft before the team made their selection.True North Announces Team Name is "Winnipeg Jets" On August 15, Rick Rypien was found deceased at his home in Alberta. Rypien had signed a contract with the Jets in the off-season. He was 27 years old.Former Canuck Rick Rypien found dead The Jets unveiled their new jerseys at an event held on September 6 at 17 Wing in Winnipeg.Winnipeg Jets unveil Home & Away Jerseys
Regular season The Winnipeg team retained the Thrashers' place in the Southeast Division. The team played six games against its division opponents; four against other Eastern conference teams; and one or two games against Western conference teams.
Standings
Schedule and results
Pre-season
|- align="center" bgcolor=#FFBBBB | 1 ||rowspan=2 bgcolor=#EEEECC| September 20 || @ Columbus Blue Jackets (split-squad) || 1–5 || || Chris Mason || Nationwide Arena || 8,855 ||rowspan=2 bgcolor=#EEEECC| 1–1–0 |- align="center" bgcolor=#CCFFCC | 2 || Columbus Blue Jackets (split-squad) || 6–1 || || Ondrej Pavelec || MTS Centre || 15,004 |- align="center" bgcolor=#FFBBBB | 3 || September 24 || @ Nashville Predators || 3–4 || || Chris Mason || Bridgestone Arena || 14,701 || 1–2–0 |- align="center" bgcolor=#FFBBBB | 4 || September 25 || @ Carolina Hurricanes || 0–4 || || David Aebischer || Time Warner Cable Arena || N/A || 1–3–0 |- align="center" bgcolor=CCFFCC | 5 || September 26 || @ Ottawa Senators || 3–1 || || Ondrej Pavelec || Mile One CentreThis game is part of the Kraft Hockeyville series. The game was originally scheduled for Conception Bay South while the Jets were still the Thrashers, but the Jets' relocation to Winnipeg, the subsequent relocation of the Manitoba Moose as the St. John's IceCaps, the IceCaps' affiliation with the Jets, and the IceCaps' close proximity (less than 30 km) from Conception Bay South prompted a move to the IceCaps' home arena. || || 2–3–0 |- align="center" bgcolor=#CCFFCC | 6 || September 28 || Carolina Hurricanes || 1–3 || || || MTS Centre || 15,004 || 3–3–0 |- align="center" bgcolor=#EEEECC | 7 || September 30 || Nashville Predators || 3–2 || SO || || MTS Centre || 15,004 || 3–3–1
Regular season
|- align="center" bgcolor=#FFBBBB | 1 || October 9 || Montreal Canadiens || 1–5 || || T. Plekanec || O. Pavelec || MTS Centre || 15,004 || 0–1–0 || 0 |- align="center" bgcolor=#FFBBBB | 2 || October 13 || @ Chicago Blackhawks || 3–4 || || P. Kane || O. Pavelec || United Center || 21,175|| 0–2–0 || 0 |- align="center" bgcolor=#FFBBBB | 3 || October 15 || @ Phoenix Coyotes || 1–4 || || O. Ekman-Larsson || C. Mason || Jobing.com Arena || 17,132 || 0–3–0 || 0 |- align="center" bgcolor=#CCFFCC | 4 || October 17 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2–1 || || O. Pavelec || O. Pavelec || MTS Centre || 15,004 || 1–3–0 || 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="white" | 5 || October 19 || @ Toronto Maple Leafs || 3–4 || OT(SO) || J. Lupul || O. Pavelec || Air Canada Centre || 19,514 || 1–3–1 || 3 |- align="center" bgcolor=#FFBBBB | 6 || October 20 || @ Ottawa Senators || 1–4 || || C. Anderson || O. Pavelec || Scotiabank Place || 17,919 || 1–4–1 || 3 |- align="center" bgcolor=#CCFFCC | 7 || October 22 || Carolina Hurricanes || 5–3 || || C. Mason || C. Mason || MTS Centre || 15,004 || 2–4–1 || 5 |- align="center" bgcolor=#FFBBBB | 8 || October 24 || New York Rangers || 1–2 || || M. Biron || C. Mason || MTS Centre || 15,004 || 2–5–1 || 5 |- align="center" bgcolor=#CCFFCC | 9 || October 27 || @ Philadelphia Flyers || 9–8 || || N. Antropov || O. Pavelec || Wells Fargo Center || 19,588 || 3–5–1 || 7 |- align="center" bgcolor=#FFBBBB | 10 || October 29 || @ Tampa Bay Lightning || 0–1 || || D. Roloson || O. Pavelec || St. Pete Times Forum || 19,204 || 3–6–1 || 7 |- align="center" bgcolor=#CCFFCC | 11 || October 31 || @ Florida Panthers || 4–3 || OT(SO) || A. Ladd || O. Pavelec || BankAtlantic Center || 11,855 || 4–6–1 || 9
|- align="center" bgcolor=#CCFFCC | 12 || November 3 || @ New York Islanders || 3–0 || || O. Pavelec || O. Pavelec || Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum || 10,157 || 5–6–1 || 11 |- align="center" bgcolor="white" | 13 || November 5 || @ New Jersey Devils || 2–3 || OT || A. Henrique || O. Pavelec || Prudential Center || 14,952 || 5–6–2 || 12 |- align="center" bgcolor=#FFBBBB | 14 || November 6 || @ New York Rangers || 0–3 || || D. Stepan || O. Pavelec || Madison Square Garden || 18,200 || 5–7–2 || 12 |- align="center" bgcolor="white" | 15 || November 8 || @ Buffalo Sabres || 5–6 || OT || J. Pominville || O. Pavelec || First Niagara Center || 18,690 || 5–7–3 || 13 |- align="center" bgcolor=#FFBBBB | 16 || November 10 || Florida Panthers || 2–5 || || K. Versteeg || O. Pavelec || MTS Centre || 15,004 || 5–8–3 || 13 |- align="center" bgcolor=#FFBBBB | 17 || November 12 || @ Columbus Blue Jackets || 1–2 || || R. Johansen || O. Pavelec || Nationwide Arena || 15,581 || 5–9–3 || 13 |- align="center" bgcolor=#CCFFCC | 18 || November 14 || Tampa Bay Lightning || 5–2 || || D. Byfuglien || O. Pavelec || MTS Centre || 15,004 || 6–9–3 || 15 |- align="center" bgcolor=#CCFFCC | 19 || November 17 || Washington Capitals || 4–1 || || E. Kane || O. Pavelec || MTS Centre || 15,004 || 7–9–3 || 17 |- align="center" bgcolor=#CCFFCC | 20 || November 19 || Philadelphia Flyers || 6–4 || || D. Byfuglien || O. Pavelec || MTS Centre || 15,004 || 8–9–3 || 19 |- align="center" bgcolor="white" | 21 || November 23 || @ Washington Capitals || 3–4 || OT || J. Chimera || O. Pavelec || Verizon Center || 18,506 || 8–9–4 || 20 |- align="center" bgcolor=#CCFFCC | 22 || November 25 || @ Carolina Hurricanes || 3–1 || || A. Ladd || C. Mason || RBC Center || 15,718 || 9–9–4 || 22 |- align="center" bgcolor=#FFBBBB | 23 || November 26 || @ Boston Bruins || 2–4 || || C. Kelly || O. Pavelec || TD Garden || 17,565 || 9–10–4 || 22 |- align="center" bgcolor=#FFBBBB | 24 || November 29 || Ottawa Senators || 4–6 || || E. Kane || O. Pavelec || MTS Centre || 15,004 || 9–11–4 || 22
|- align="center" bgcolor=#CCFFCC | 25 || December 1 || Phoenix Coyotes || 1–0 || || O. Pavelec || O. Pavelec || MTS Centre || 15,004 || 10–11–4 || 24 |- align="center" bgcolor=#CCFFCC | 26 || December 3 || New Jersey Devils || 4–2 || || E. Kane || O. Pavelec || MTS Centre || 15,004 || 11–11–4 || 26 |- align="center" bgcolor=#CCFFCC | 27 || December 6 || Boston Bruins || 2–1 || || O. Pavelec || O. Pavelec || MTS Centre || 15,004 || 12–11–4 || 28 |- align="center" bgcolor=#CCFFCC | 28 || December 9 || Carolina Hurricanes || 4–2 || || B. Wheeler || C. Mason || MTS Centre || 15,004 || 13–11–4 || 30 |- align="center" bgcolor=#FFBBBB | 29 || December 10 || @ Detroit Red Wings || 1–7 || || V. Filppula || O. Pavelec || Joe Louis Arena || 20,066 || 13–12–4 || 30 |- align="center" bgcolor=#CCFFCC | 30 || December 13 || Minnesota Wild || 2–1 || || O. Pavelec || O. Pavelec || MTS Centre || 15,004 || 14–12–4 || 32 |- align="center" bgcolor=#FFBBBB | 31 || December 15 || Washington Capitals || 0–1 || || M. Neuvirth || O. Pavelec || MTS Centre || 15,004 || 14–13–4 || 32 |- align="center" bgcolor=#CCFFCC | 32 || December 17 || Anaheim Ducks || 5–3 || || Z. Bogosian || C. Mason || MTS Centre || 15,004 || 15–13–4 || 34 |- align="center" bgcolor="white" | 33 || December 20 || New York Islanders || 2–3 || OT(SO) || N. Antropov || O. Pavelec || MTS Centre || 15,004 || 15–13–5 || 35 |- align="center" bgcolor=#CCFFCC | 34 || December 22 || Montreal Canadiens || 4–0 || || B. Wheeler || O. Pavelec || MTS Centre || 15,004 || 16–13–5 || 37 |- align="center" bgcolor=#FFBBBB | 35 || December 23 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 1–4 || || C. Kunitz || O. Pavelec || MTS Centre || 15,004 || 16–14–5 || 37 |- align="center" bgcolor=#CCFFCC | 36 || December 27 || @ Colorado Avalanche || 4–1 || || E. Kane || O. Pavelec || Pepsi Center || 18,007 || 17–14–5 || 39 |- align="center" bgcolor=#CCFFCC | 37 || December 29 || Los Angeles Kings || 1–0 || OT || C. Mason || C. Mason || MTS Centre || 15,004 || 18–14–5 || 41 |- align="center" bgcolor=#CCFFCC | 38 || December 31 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 3–2 || || B. Wheeler || O. Pavelec || MTS Centre || 15,004 || 19–14–5 || 43
|- align="center" bgcolor=#FFBBBB | 39 || January 4 || @ Montreal Canadiens || 3–7 || || L. Eller || O. Pavelec || Bell Centre || 21,273 || 19–15–5 || 43 |- align="center" bgcolor=#FFBBBB | 40 || January 5 || @ Toronto Maple Leafs || 0–4 || || J. Gustavsson || C. Mason || Air Canada Centre || 19,514 || 19–16–5 || 43 |- align="center" bgcolor=#CCFFCC | 41 || January 7 || @ Buffalo Sabres || 2–1 || OT || J. Oduya || O. Pavelec || First Niagara Center || 18,690 || 20–16–5 || 45 |- align="center" bgcolor=#FFBBBB | 42 || January 10 || @ Boston Bruins || 3–5 || || N. Horton || O. Pavelec || TD Garden || 17,565 || 20–17–5 || 45 |- align="center" bgcolor=#FFBBBB | 43 || January 12 || San Jose Sharks || 0–2 || || Couture || O. Pavelec || MTS Centre || 15,004 || 20–18–5 || 45 |- align="center" bgcolor=#FFBBBB | 44 || January 14 || New Jersey Devils || 1–2 || || P. Elias || O. Pavelec || MTS Centre || 15,004 || 20–19–5 || 45 |- align="center" bgcolor=#CCFFCC | 45 || January 16 || @ Ottawa Senators || 2–0 || || T. Enstrom || C. Mason || Scotiabank Place || 19,927 || 21–19–5 || 47 |- align="center" bgcolor=#FFBBBB | 46 || January 17 || @ New Jersey Devils || 1–5 || || I. Kovalchuk || C. Mason || Prudential Center || 14,129 || 21–20–5 || 47 |- align="center" bgcolor=#CCFFCC | 47 || January 19 || Buffalo Sabres || 4–1 || || T. Enstrom || O. Pavelec || MTS Centre || 15,004 || 22–20–5 || 49