Winnipeg Jets Player News

Winnipeg and Dylan Samberg avoided arbitration on Wednesday after they announced the 26-year-old had signed a three-year contract extension worth $5.75 AAV ($17.25M total). The stay-at-home defenseman is entering his fifth season in Winnipeg after posting career highs in almost all statistical categories in 2024-25, including goals (6), points (20), plus/minus (+34), SOG (95) and average TOI (21:08). He is expected to play a big role on Winnipeg's back end in 2025-26.

Vilardi will avoid arbitration and cash in after the 25-year-old agreed to a six-year contract extension worth $7.5 million AAV ($45M total) with Winnipeg on Friday. The Canadian right-winger is entering his seventh NHL season after posting career highs in almost all major categories last season, including goals (27), assists (34), points (61), SOG (130), and PPP (25). He is expected to return to his role on the Jets' top line and powerplay for the 2025-26 season.

Manitoba (AHL) will bring back one of its most physical defenders after the team announced Tuesday that Winnipeg had re-signed Tyrel Bauer to a one-year, two-way contract extension. The 23-year-old defenseman is entering his fourth season with the Moose and has yet to make his NHL debut. In 59 games in 2024-25, he had just two assists and 105 PIMs to go along with his -21 plus/minus.

Barron had eight goals and seven assists (15 points) in 74 games with the Jets in 2024-25. Barron found a role on the Jets' fourth line but he will have more competition for minutes in 2025-26 after the signings of Gustav Nyquist, Tanner Pearson and Cole Koepke.

Toronto added to its defensive depth late Thursday night after they acquired Henry Thrun from San Jose for 38-year-old enforcer Ryan Reaves. Thrun is a 24-year-old mobile defenseman entering his third full NHL season. He put up two goals and 12 points despite an ugly -23 plus/minus across 60 games with the Sharks in 2024-25. He will battle for one of Toronto's final defensive spots to start the season.

Nyquist split the 2024-25 season between the Predators and Wild, finishing with 28 points (11G / 17A) in 79 games. With the Jets, Nyquist will likely serve as a middle-6 winger, who will see PP2 time. He's one-year removed from a 75-point season, so there's bounce-back potential in Winnipeg, although he'll be 36-years-old in September.

Walker Duehr will join his third NHL organization in two seasons after signing a one-year, two-way contract with Winnipeg on Wednesday. The 27-year-old undrafted right-winger appeared in 24 games between Calgary and San Jose in 2024-25, picking up two goals and three points alongside 15 SOG. He is expected to compete for a bottom-six role at Winnipeg's training camp to start this season.

Winnipeg added to its goaltending depth on the second day of Free Agency on Wednesday, signing Isaac Poulter to a one-year, two-way contract. The 23-year-old undrafted netminder struggled in his third season in Utica (AHL) in 2024-25, with his .898 SV% and 16-13-7 record. He is expected to report to Manitoba (AHL) for the start of the 2025-26 season.