Winnipeg Jets Player News

Barlow was drafted by the Jets in the 2023 first-round (18th overall) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with Winnipeg worth $3.6 million ($1,200,000 AAV). The 18-year-old left-winger had an exceptional season captaining the Owen Sound Attack (OHL) as he picked up 46 goals, 33 assists, 29 PIMs and a +14 plus/minus through 59 games played. He is expected to return to Owen Sound for the 2023-24 season but will have a chance to make an impact in Jets camp.

Kupari had three goals, 12 assists, 53 SOG, 12 PIMs and a -5 plus/minus through 66 games with Los Angeles in 2022-23 and has signed a two-year, $2 million contract ($1,000,000 AAV) with the Winnipeg Jets. The 23-year-old centre's rights were a key piece alongside Gabriel Vilardi, Alex Iafallo and a 2024 second-round pick in the trade that saw Pierre-Luc Dubois head to Los Angeles. In three NHL seasons he has nine goals, 29 points and 112 SOG through 130 career games played.

Vilardi broke out in 2022-23 with Los Angeles scoring 23 goals, 18 assists, 122 SOG, 18 PIMs and a +10 plus/minus through 63 games and has signed a two-year, $6.875 million contract extension with Winnipeg. The 23-year-old centre was a key piece in the deal which saw Pierre-Luc Dubois head to Los Angeles. Vilardi was a 2017 1st round pick (11th overall) and has 41 goals, 78 points and 247 SOG through 152 career NHL games.

Barron had eight goals, 13 assists, 112 SOG, 31 PIMs and a +4 plus/minus through 70 games in 2022-23 with Winnipeg and has avoided arbitration by signing a two-year, $2.7 million contract extension ($1,350,000 AAV) with the Jets. The 24-year-old centre was a sixth-round pick in 2017 (174th overall) with the New York Rangers and has 11 goals and 27 points across 102 games played in his career.

Nyquist had 11 goals, 16 assists, 102 SOG, 16 PIMs and a -9 plus/minus through 51 games played with both Columbus and Minnesota in 2022-23 and has signed a two-year, $6.37 million contract ($3,185,000 AAV) with Nashville. The 33-year-old right-winger is entering his 12th NHL season with his fifth team, collecting 165 goals and 428 points across 703 games played.

Samberg had two goals, six assists, 49 SOG, 25 PIMs and a +10 plus/minus through 63 games played with Winnipeg in 2022-23 and has signed a two-year, $2.8 million contract extension ($1,400,000 AAV). The 24-year-old defenseman was Winnipeg's 2017 second round pick (43rd overall) and has 11 points (2G/9A) in 78 career games played.

DiVeincentiis was 36-9-2 with a .919 SV% and 2.33 GAA with Brampton (OHL) in 2022-23 and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract Wednesday with Winnipeg. The 19-year-old goaltender was Winnipeg's 2022 seventh-round pick (#207 overall) and is expected to return to Brampton for his third OHL season in 2023-24.

Namestnikov had eight goals, 17 assists, 108 SOG, 35 PIMs and a +5 plus/minus through 77 games played in 2022-23 with both Tampa Bay and Winnipeg and has signed a two-year, $4.0 million contract ($2.0M AAV) extension with the Jets. The 30-year-old veteran centre has 261 points (115G/146A) through 630 NHL games played.

Bjugstad had 23 points (13G / 10A) in 59 games with Arizona last season before being traded to the Oilers at the deadline, where he added another six points (4G / 2A) in 19 games. The 6-6, 209 lbs. centre provides some stability and a veteran presence in the Coyotes middle-6, but has not had more than 29 points in a season since 2018.

Wagner was drafted in the sixth-round in the 2022 NHL Draft. The 19-year-old centre split his time between Sweden's first and second league, failing to register a point in 22 games in the SHL. He represented Sweden at the 2023 World Juniors, scoring two goals with four assists (six points) in seven games.

Koepke had seven goals and 12 assists (19 points) in 52 AHL games last season. He also got the first NHL action of his career, scoring one goal in 17 games with the Lightning. The 25-year-old figures to start 2023-24 in the AHL but could be one of the first call-ups when the Lightning need a bottom-6 winger.

Chibrikov was selected in the second round (No.50 overall) in 2021 and spent the 2023 season in the KHL. The 20-year-old winger had one goal and one assist in 31 games for Moscow Spartak.

Ford was an undrafted free agent out of Providence College who just finished his senior season with 26 points (12G / 14A) in 37 games. He's expected to report to Manitoba (AHL).

Thrun was originally a fourth-round pick of the Ducks, but his rights were traded to the Sharks this February for a 2024 third-round pick. The 22-year-old blueliner, who had 31 points (7G / 24A) in 33 games at Harvard University this season, is expected to join the Sharks immediately.