The 2011–12 Winnipeg Jets season was the 13th season for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise and the first in Winnipeg, after 12 seasons as the Atlanta Thrashers. The franchise played in Atlanta since the 1999–2000 NHL season, and relocated to Winnipeg 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. The 2011–12 season also marks the first appearance of the Winnipeg Jets name in the NHL since the previous franchise moved from Winnipeg to Phoenix in 1996. At the end of the regular season, the team failed to qualify for the 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs.
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. 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.
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. 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. 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.
The team's name was revealed to be the "Jets" at the 2011 NHL Entry Draft before the team made their selection. 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. The Jets unveiled their new jerseys at an event held on September 6 at 17 Wing in Winnipeg.
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.
Playoffs
The Jets failed to qualify for the 2012 NHL Playoffs, finishing eleventh in the Eastern Conference.
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 Centre || || 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 |-