After leaving fans — myself included — on the verge of a panic attack, the Winnipeg Jets and Dylan Samberg finally agreed to terms on a new contract just hours before his scheduled arbitration hearing. A one-year deal through arbitration could’ve put the Jets in a tough spot, as it would’ve made Samberg an unrestricted free agent next summer. Thankfully, we’ve got three more years of Sammy.

So, let’s break down this deal.

The Jets locked Samberg in on a three-year contract with a $5.75 million AAV, totaling $17.25 million. Right off the bat, this feels like a big win for Samberg. When both sides filed their arbitration numbers, Samberg asked for $6 million, while the Jets came in at just $2.5 million — a massive gap. The fact that Winnipeg ultimately agreed to $5.75 million before the hearing shows just how much more they were actually willing to pay, despite their low initial number. It’s an interesting turn of events.

And make no mistake — Samberg absolutely deserves this deal. If he wasn’t going to get paid here, someone else would’ve thrown money at him next summer in free agency. The Jets didn’t overpay at all. He’s already a top-four defenceman and, in my opinion, their second or third best on the blue line. Plus, he’s still getting better.

He appeared in 60 games last season, putting up 6 goals and 14 assists for 20 points. He missed time with an injury in November, and it really hurt the Jets’ defensive depth. But when he came back, it was like he never left. His point totals don’t fully capture his impact — he’s one of the team’s most reliable defensive players.

The only downside? The term. Three years feels a little short. I expected something in the five-to-six-year range, especially for a player of his caliber. Now, the Jets will need to be proactive about extending him before he hits UFA status in 2028 — a year where Josh Morrissey and Dylan DeMelo could also hit the open market.

All things considered, I’d give this deal a B. The term isn’t ideal, but the AAV is right where it should be. Samberg makes a real difference in the top four, and with how much he’s still developing, this deal should age like fine wine. I don’t see a world where the Jets regret this one.