Anderson-Dolan felt warm embrace of Manitoba hospitality in 2024-25

Forward Jaret Anderson-Dolan hit free agency last summer at the age of 24 in search of a new home, and on June 2nd, the Winnipeg Jets stepped to the plate, inking the lefty to a two-year deal. 

The Calgary, Alta. native was selected 41st overall by the Los Angeles Kings in 2017 and went on to produce at nearly a point-per-game pace the remainder of his junior career. In the professional ranks, Anderson-Dolan has split time between the NHL and the AHL, skating in 134 and 166 games in each league, respectively. 

The World Championship gold medal winner saw his time in the Kings organization come to an end during the 2023-24 season when he was claimed off waivers by the Nashville Predators. That offseason saw Anderson-Dolan link up with the Jets for some stability after a tumultuous campaign.  

Naturally, when you spend as much time in one organization as Anderson-Dolan did, change is difficult. It took some time for him to regard Winnipeg as home, but eventually, the fit became natural. 

“I think you just get more comfortable with the group as time goes on,” he explained. “Everyone in the organization is so great, whether it's with the Jets or the Moose; the people they bring in are all great. Everyone is very welcoming and very easy to get along with.” 

Personally, the start to his Winnipeg tenure was akin to a gravel road; a little bumpy. Anderson-Dolan felt his camp with the Jets was “solid,” but he suffered a broken foot and was held out of the lineup until Nov. 10, when he made his Moose debut in Texas. 

Through 51 games, the 25-year-old potted seven goals, adding a further 12 helpers, finishing ninth in points-per-game among Moose players who played at least half of the team’s games. Those numbers weren’t where he wanted them to be, Anderson-Dolan admits, but says there were portions of the year where he felt his game was “in a pretty good spot.” 

Through a challenging season for the Moose as a whole, Anderson-Dolan was particularly impressed with how Manitoba’s young roster dealt with their hand. 

“Those are tough seasons, but I’m very proud of how everyone individually and as a group handled everything,” he expressed. “There was adversity, but guys didn’t quit or anything like that, everyone stuck together.”  

“In seasons like that, it's easier for guys to go off on their page or whatnot, but I don't think anybody did that. Everyone was a good teammate and had each other's backs. That shows that we have good character. I think you take the lessons, and it’ll be some good motivation for everyone to get better in the off-season and not allow that to happen again.” 

On March 31, with only eight games remaining on Manitoba’s schedule, Anderson-Dolan was recalled by the Jets, averaging around 10 minutes of ice time in seven games in April. 

His experience continued into the post-season, where Anderson-Dolan played five games in Winnipeg’s first-round series against the St. Louis Blues. In Game 1, the winger tipped home his first Stanley Cup Playoffs goal to give the Jets a 2-1 lead. The goal, along with the other contributions he made in the series, will live for a long time in his memories.

“It's so cool to see how much it means to the city of Winnipeg,” Anderson-Dolan said, remembering the goosebumps he felt stepping onto the ice. “I've played playoff games before, but nothing compared to that. It's just another level. Leaving the rink, people are on the street yelling and honking. It's pretty incredible.”  

With the taste of the playoffs on Anderson-Dolan's tongue, he has all of the motivation he could need to come back stronger in the second year of his contract. 

“It's an honour to be a part of that,” he said. “I wish it could've gone even further and gotten more of those games. But I think it was a good run and hopefully a building block to go even further next year.” 

See the next generation of Winnipeg Jets stars in action as they chase their dream of playing in the NHL. For more information on the benefits of becoming a Moose ticket member or to purchase a membership for the 2025-26 season, visit moosehockey.com.