The Winnipeg Jets have signed forward Parker Ford to a two-year, two-way contract with an average annual value (AAV) of $812,500 at the NHL level. The deal gives the organization further depth up front and brings back a promising young player who has shown flashes of NHL potential.

Ford, 24, signed with the Jets as an undrafted college free agent in March 2023 after a solid four-year collegiate career at Providence College. In his final NCAA season, he served as team captain and was known for his tenacity, strong skating, and two-way game. Despite not being selected in the NHL Draft, Ford’s work ethic and consistency earned him a contract with Winnipeg and a place within the organization.

Since turning pro, Ford has appeared in 121 AHL games with the Manitoba Moose, recording 34 goals and 66 points. During the 2024–25 season, he scored 14 goals and 21 points in just 41 games with the Moose before an upper-body injury in late February ended his season early.

He also made his NHL debut on Jan. 30, 2024, against the Boston Bruins — and made an immediate impact. Ford scored his first career NHL goal in the third period of that game, helping the Jets to a dominant 6–2 win. He went on to appear in two more NHL games before being reassigned to the Moose.

Now recovered from injury, Ford will be one of several young forwards pushing for a roster spot at Jets training camp this fall. His combination of grit, speed, and offensive upside makes him a strong candidate for bottom-six NHL minutes.

Ford’s previous contract carried an AAV of $867,500, making this new deal a modest cap-friendly commitment for the Jets as they continue to build toward the future.

Earlier today, the Jets also locked up forward Gabriel Vilardi to a six-year, $7.5 million AAV extension. With both Vilardi and Ford now signed, Winnipeg has just one restricted free agent left to deal with: defenceman Dylan Samberg.