The Winnipeg Jets announced today that they have signed restricted free agent defenceman Ville Heinola to a two-year contract extension with an average annual value in the NHL of $800,000.

Heinola, 23, was drafted in the first round, going 20th overall in the 2019 NHL Draft. Since being drafted, the Finnish-born defenceman has played only 35 games, scoring 1 goal and 10 assists, and has picked up 18 penalty minutes. Injuries and COVID-19 have kept him off the ice with the Jets in the past few seasons, including an ankle fracture in the final preseason game last season against the Ottawa Senators.

He scored 23 goals and 79 assists in 152 regular season AHL games with the Manitoba Moose. In the post-season, he has one goal and seven assists in 11 games.

He will be looking to secure full-time NHL minutes this season, as he has been hungry for the chance to play in the NHL since he first suited up in a Jets jersey in 2019.

Heinola is not waiver exempt, so the Jets will not be able to send him to the AHL without him clearing waivers.  he will most likely remain with the NHL club this season and will be looking to overtake 6’7 defenceman Logan Stanley.