Winnipeg Jets Secure Gabriel Vilardi’s Contract Extension
The Winnipeg Jets have officially secured a six-year contract extension for forward Gabriel Vilardi, valued at $7.5 million, announced on Friday. This agreement not only sidesteps arbitration for the 25-year-old player but also reinforces his importance to the team.
Vilardi’s Performance and Impact
Last season proved to be fruitful for Vilardi, as he recorded 61 points within 71 games, contributing significantly to the Jets’ offensive strategy and serving as a key member of their leading power-play squad.
This recent contract marks the second occasion that Vilardi has opted for arbitration and subsequently reached a resolution outside of a hearing. Previously, in 2023, he filed for arbitration, which led to a two-year deal with an annual average value of $3.4 million.
Despite facing injury setbacks that restricted him to just 118 games across two seasons with the Jets, Vilardi has showcased impressive productivity, amassing a total of 97 points during that timeframe while developing successful on-ice chemistry with teammates Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele.
Playing Style and Contributions
While he may not specialize in driving plays at even strength, Vilardi’s agile stick helps him intercept pucks, which contributes to prolonging offensive plays. His exceptional speed and agility in confined areas—especially near the net during power plays—are instrumental to his game.
He has tallied 49 goals, with 21 coming during power-play situations, and has also registered 48 assists, 18 of which were on the man advantage.
Future Outlook for the Jets
Following Vilardi’s extension, the Jets are estimated to have around $10.5 million remaining in salary cap space according to PuckPedia, with the organization still needing to finalize a deal for defenseman Dylan Samberg.
