Winnipeg Jets sign head coach Paul Maurice to contract extension

The Winnipeg Jets have signed head coach Paul Maurice to a multi-year extension, the club announced Wednesday morning.

Having spent over 500 games with the Jets, the process for his new deal began in the off-season, NHL.com reported.

“We had met in the summer and it was the direction we all wanted to go. We were excited about it,” said Maurice. “Then as we all know, a whole bunch of things happened. It was kind of on the backburner and eventually we all knew it would be taken care of and it has recently.”

Initially hired by the Jets on Jan. 12, 2014, Maurice has coached in exactly 503 games garnishing a record of 264-186-53 in that time. Having spent 20 years in total behind NHL benches, his .578 points percentage with the Jets is his career best.

Maurice is sixth on the NHL’s all-time games coached list with 1,587 and is seventh in wins with 724.

No word yet on how many years the deal is, or how much Maurice will make.

On Twitter: @zjlaing