General Manager John Ferguson replaced coach Barry Long late in the season and guided the club on an interim basis to a 7–6–1 record.
The Jets placed third in the Smythe, and despite their dismal 26–47–7 record, qualified for the playoffs only to lose to the Calgary Flames in the first round.
Winnipeg participated in the 1985 NHL Entry Draft on June 15, 1985, and with their first round pick, 18th overall, the Jets selected Ryan Stewart from the Kamloops Blazers of the WHL.
The only thing to keep fan interest near the end of the season was the three-way turtle derby between the Jets, Vancouver Canucks, and Los Angeles Kings for the final two playoff spots in the Smythe Division, since the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames were well ahead of them and had already locked up the top two spots in the division.
But since the Jets had more wins than the Canucks (26 to 23), Winnipeg won the tiebreaker and claimed third place in the Smythe, drawing the Calgary Flames in the first-round thus avoiding a matchup with the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion and Presidents Trophy winning Edmonton Oilers.