The Winnipeg Jets extended two key restricted free agents (RFAs) last week: Gabe Vilardi and Morgan Baron. With these signings done, the Jets have about $8.14 million in cap space remaining according to Capwages.com calculations. Meanwhile, Puckpedia places the figure at $10.5 million of open cap space based on their projected roster breakdown.
Restricted free agent Dylan Samberg remains unsigned. He is the lone remaining Winnipeg RFA this summer.
Jets avoided arbitration with Vilardi
Gabe Vilardi signed a six-year, $45-million extension with the Jets. The deal carries a $7.5 million annual value (cap hit). Since his arrival, Vilardi has been a valuable to addition to the Jets’ top line with Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor. In fact, Winnipeg’s top trio was the highest scoring line in the entire league last year.
Meanwhile, in addition to his 5-on-5 production, Vilardi was a key piece on the Jets’ NHL-best PP last year. Overall, in two seasons with the Jets, Vilardi has played in 118 regular season games and posted 97 points (49 goals. 48 assists). In 14 playoff games, Vilardi produced eight points. That’s middling production. However, he managed just one goal against seven assists. He needs to bump up the postseason production moving forward.
Nevertheless, the Jets did very well with this signing. If Vilardi stays healthy, this deal is a bargain. Keep in mind that the salary cap is expected to rise significantly in the next few years.
With Scheifele and Vilardi both now locked up long-term for the Jets, I believe it’s only a matter of time before Connor puts pen to paper on an maximum-term extension with the team. He’d become the first player in franchise history to hit the $10-million annual cap hit.
Morgan Barron: Precursor signing ahead of Vilardi
A few days before the Vilardi extension, the organization extended incumbent fourth-line centre Morgan Barron to a two-year, $3.7 million deal. The cap hit is $1.85 million.
The big centreman posted 15 points (8G, 7A) in 74 games last year. He was also above the 50% mark in the faceoff circle, which I think is critical for any centreman on a contending team.
Dylan Samberg’s status
When the offseason began, I predicted that Dylan Samberg would be the first of the Jets key RFAs to come to an extension. I got it wrong. Instead, his contract is now the only one remaining to get done. However, I believe this one will get done soon.
With Adam Lowry slated to start the season on LTIR, Winnipeg should still have ample cap room left after the Samberg extension to compensate for the potential Jonathon Toews bonuses.
In a perfect world, I would still love to see Kevin Cheveldayoff swing for the fences and obtain the elusive alpha second line centre. Easier said than done? Yes. Impossible? No.
