At the conclusion of the 2024-25 NHL season, the Winnipeg Jets will have six unrestricted free agents (UFAs) and four restricted free agents (RFAs). Last season, the Jets re-signed Nino Niederreiter in early December before he could reach UFA status, and it’s likely fans will see a similar situation again. With so many pending free agents this season, let’s take a look at a few players the Jets could re-sign before the season comes to an end.
Nikolaj Ehlers
Chatter about Nikolaj Ehlers’ future with the Jets has been the talk of the offseason. He scored 25 goals and tallied 36 assists last season, bringing him to a grand total of 61 points in 82 games. After some cryptic responses regarding a contract extension, most fans assumed he would be traded before the start of the 2024-25 season, but that has yet to happen.
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It’s hard to say whether he will re-sign or not, but the fact that he hasn’t been traded yet should give Jets fans a bit of hope. With head coach Scott Arniel at the helm, Ehlers will probably see an uptick in ice time, which might be enough for him to want to stay. His current contract is worth $6 million a year, and if he keeps up with his current level of play, he might be looking for something similar or more. He’s someone the Jets should prioritize keeping around long-term if they want to stay competitive, especially now that they traded Rutger McGroarty.
Dylan Samberg
Dylan Samberg is essential to the Jets’ defence, usually playing on the second pair. Without Brenden Dillon around, it’s likely Samberg’s role with the team will increase. He recorded 111 blocked shots last season, and the Jets will need to hold onto him to maintain their strong defensive core.
He’s an RFA, so extending him as soon as possible likely isn’t one of the team’s most pressing issues right now. His current contract is worth $1.4 million a year, and if he can keep up his current level of play, he will undoubtedly be looking for a pay raise. Still, securing Samberg on a reasonable deal would be a big accomplishment for the club this season.
Gabriel Vilardi
Gabriel Vilardi made waves in his first season with the Jets, scoring 22 goals in only 47 games with the club. He most often played right wing on the first line with Mark Scheifele and either Ehlers or Kyle Connor. Like…
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