The Winnipeg Jets and the rest of the NHL are now fully into off-season mode. With the 2025 NHL entry draft rapidly approaching, this will be the 2nd last edition of this year’s Jets Nation year in review series. I was going to do one on Vladislav Namestnikov and Dylan DeMelo, but I decided in order to get to more draft and free agency topics out as soon as possible, I’ll make one final article on all the remaining Jets players, quickly recapping each of their 2024-25 seasons. But before that, it’s time to look back at the “3rd” member of the Jets top line who had himself a career best season: Gabriel Vilardi.

Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele also had themselves career best seasons, but of the three Jets 1st line forwards, Vilardi is the “least” talked about. Obviously you need to appreciate how each of these three players contributed to each other’s success, and that includes Gabriel Vilardi. Although it doesn’t seem like it, this was only Vilardi’s 2nd season with the Jets, and he’s still only 25 years old. This Jets top line is only going to keep gaining more chemistry in the coming years, and there appears to be more good seasons coming soon from Vilardi.

Gabriel Vilardi’s “main” nickname is “Gabe” but some of the other lesser known nicknames of his include “Gabardi”, “Gino” and “Lardo”. Drafted 11th overall in the 2017 NHL entry draft, Vilardi was traded to the Jets in the deal that sent Pierre-Luc Dubois to the L.A Kings. The 25-year old dealt with some injuries during his years with the Kings, and the most games he has played in a season was 63 prior to this season.

Looking back at a graphic I posted for Jets Nation before this season, my predictions for Gabriel Vilardi were actually pretty close. I predicted a 30 goal, 28 assist season for 58 points from Vilardi. Those predictions were assuming he played a full or near full season, which is just what Vilardi ended up doing. In 71 regular season games, Vilardi scored 27 goals (a career high) and added 34 assists (a career high) for a career high of 61 points. Vilardi’s previous career high for points was 41 in 2022-23, so this could easily be seen as Vilardi’s “breakout” season. Vilardi didn’t have the best playoff success, missing a few games to injury, as he finished with 9 games played, 1 goal and 3 assists for 4 points.

Gabriel Vilardi no longer has a current contract, as he is now a restricted free agent. Vilardi’s previous contract (that started with the Jets) was for 2 years, $6.875 million. Teams must present a “qualifying” offer to all restricted free agents before the deadline or else they will be unrestricted free agents on July 1st. Vilardi’s qualfying offer must be at least $3.6 million, but with the way Vilardi played this season, he is expected to be worth an average annual value of $6.5-7.5 million. It is unknown if the Jets will sign Vilardi to another short term “bridge” deal, or if they will lock him up long term. Both options would be beneficial for the Jets, and you know that he will be a top priority this off-season.

Vilardi is a versatile, scoring and playmaking forward that truly seems to round out the Jets 1st forward line. Even though Vilardi used to play centre, he’s been able to fully adapt to playing on the wing with Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele. On the powerplay, Vilardi is the one who excels in cycling the puck below the net, and you could often see him getting in the right spot to set up scoring chances. Vilardi is a key piece of this Jets roster, and after he signs his next contract, I’m confident he will be back on the Jets top line to have himself another 60+ point season.

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