Winnipeg Jets: Predicting Contracts for 3 Jets RFAs this Offseason
1. Neal Pionk
Neal Pionk arrived in a trade with the New York Rangers back in the summer of 2019 and subsequently signed a two-year deal with the Jets with an AAV of $3,000,000.
Since that time, Pionk has shown his worth as a great skating puck-moving defenseman. In two shortened seasons with Winnipeg, Pionk has scored only nine goals but has a whopping 68 assists. Also, the Omaha, Nebraska native has amassed a +16 plus/minus in his 154 career games with the Jets.
Pionk was named our site’s pick as the Jets’ 2021 Best Defenseman of the Year with his consistent play this past season.
With Pionk’s production last season and including the fact he averages a lot of ice time for the Jets, he is due for a big raise this offseason.
When looking at comparable players to Pionk we can look at players including Alec Martinez, Devon Toews, Nick Leddy, and Samuel Girard. Each of these players is more of an offensive defenseman and are known for their skating and passing abilities.
These players’ contracts are all longer-term deals between four and seven years and have an AAV from Alec Martinez’s $4,000,000 up to Nick Leddy’s of $5,500,000.
As the Jets look to the future of their team, the twenty-five-year-old, Pionk is one of those players that Winnipeg will want on their blueline for the considerable future.
With that being said and looking at players similar to Pionk, we predict the Jets will sign Pionk to a four-year deal with a $5,250,000 AAV.
Winnipeg Jets Fans: Do you agree with our predictions? Leave your comments below and let us know what you predict the terms of each of these contracts will be!
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