On the conclusion of the 2024-25 NHL season, the Winnipeg Jets can have six unrestricted free brokers (UFAs) and 4 restricted free brokers (RFAs). Final season, the Jets re-signed Nino Niederreiter in early December earlier than he might attain UFA standing, and it’s probably followers will see an analogous state of affairs once more. With so many pending free brokers this season, let’s check out a couple of gamers the Jets might re-sign earlier than the season involves an finish.
Nikolaj Ehlers
Chatter about Nikolaj Ehlers’ future with the Jets has been the discuss of the offseason. He scored 25 objectives and tallied 36 assists final season, bringing him to a grand complete of 61 factors in 82 video games. After some cryptic responses relating to a contract extension, most followers assumed he can be traded earlier than the beginning of the 2024-25 season, however that has but to occur.
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It’s onerous to say whether or not he’ll re-sign or not, however the truth that he hasn’t been traded but ought to give Jets followers a little bit of hope. With head coach Scott Arniel on the helm, Ehlers will most likely see an uptick in ice time, which could be sufficient for him to wish to keep. His present contract is value $6 million a yr, and if he retains up together with his present degree of play, he could be on the lookout for one thing related or extra. He’s somebody the Jets ought to prioritize conserving round long-term in the event that they wish to keep aggressive, particularly now that they traded Rutger McGroarty.
Dylan Samberg
Dylan Samberg is important to the Jets’ defence, normally enjoying on the second pair. With out Brenden Dillon round, it’s probably Samberg’s function with the staff will enhance. He recorded 111 blocked pictures final season, and the Jets might want to maintain onto him to take care of their sturdy defensive core.
He’s an RFA, so extending him as quickly as attainable probably isn’t one of many staff’s most urgent points proper now. His present contract is value $1.4 million a yr, and if he can sustain his present degree of play, he’ll undoubtedly be on the lookout for a pay elevate. Nonetheless, securing Samberg on an affordable deal can be a giant accomplishment for the membership this season.
Gabriel Vilardi
Gabriel Vilardi made waves in his first season with the Jets, scoring 22 objectives in solely 47 video games with the membership. He most frequently performed proper wing on the primary line with Mark Scheifele and both Ehlers or Kyle Connor. Like Samberg, he’s an RFA, so re-signing him isn’t pressing but, but it surely’s nonetheless attainable to see an extension signed through the season.
What an excellent first common season in Winnipeg for Gabriel Vilardi 😍 pic.twitter.com/hbKGQSZvsC
— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) April 19, 2024
He’s coming off a two-year, $3.4 million common annual worth (AAV) contract on the finish of the season, although he’s valued a lot greater. If he has one other nice season, he’ll most likely be on the lookout for a pay elevate. Nevertheless, Vilardi traditionally has bother staying wholesome; he has but to play a full NHL season since he’s been sidelined by damage so typically. It’ll be fascinating to see the place the ultimate quantity for Vilardi lies on the finish of all of it.
Vladislav Namestnikov
Veteran ahead Vladislav Namestnikov is about to be a UFA on the finish of the season. Whereas he usually performs on the fourth line, he bounced round all 4 strains final season. He completed the 2023-24 season with 11 objectives and 26 assists, bringing him to a complete of 37 factors, his highest for the reason that 2017-18 season.
Namestnikov has one high quality that separates him from the remainder of this record: he’s low cost. On the finish of the upcoming season, he’ll be ending a two-year, $2 million AAV contract. His final a number of contracts have all hovered across the $1 million to $2 million vary as nicely. Whereas he’s confirmed priceless to the staff, he’s additionally 31 and doesn’t generate as a lot offence as numerous the opposite forwards. Nonetheless, it’s not typically to discover a participant who can slot into nearly any ahead spot within the lineup. Assuming a few of the different, dearer UFAs get traded or head to free company, the Jets can be sensible to lock Namestnikov down for a pair extra years on an inexpensive, affordable contract.
The Remainder of the Free Brokers
Excluding the gamers on this record, the Jets can have two RFAs (Morgan Barron and Rasmus Kupari) and 4 UFAs (Mason Appleton, Alex Iafallo, Axel Jonsson-Fjalby, and Neal Pionk) left on the conclusion of the 2024-25 season. Each RFAs are form of up within the air — Barron is prone to get re-signed, however I can see Kupari getting traded if the Jets can’t discover a spot for him this season.
By way of the UFAs, my guess is that the majority of them must be keen to take cheaper contracts with the staff except they resolve to check free company. Iafallo and Pionk particularly have hefty contracts as it’s, and the staff is unlikely to increase them at a comparable pay. A few of the dearer UFAs will probably be off the roster by subsequent summer time if the staff prioritizes giving raises to gamers like Ehlers and Vilardi. Both method, the Jets actually have their work lower out for them this season with their pending free brokers.
