Winnipeg Jets: Predicting What Happens with Pending UFA Defensemen
The Winnipeg Jets have three defensemen that are pending unrestricted free agents. Here are our predictions on if they will resign with the Jets.
As we have written about this topic multiple times so far in the past couple of weeks, the Winnipeg Jets will definitely be in the market to add a defenseman or two this offseason as it was their weak spot this past season.
But what about the Jets defensemen whose contracts are set to expire on July 28- Will the Jets resign them?
Those defensemen are Jordie Benn, Tucker Poolman, and Derek Forbort. Each of these defensemen is a pending unrestricted free agent (“UFA”) this offseason and here are our predictions on if they will sign a new deal with Winnipeg that will keep them here or if the Jets let them walk to free agency:
3. Jordie Benn
To kick off our list, we have a player who was the lone trade deadline day acquisition of the Winnipeg Jets.
Jordie Benn joined the Jets, as they geared up for a postseason run, from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for a sixth-round pick in this summer’s NHL Entry Draft.
Unfortunately, Benn did not have a big impact as he only appeared in eight games out of fourteen down the stretch for the Jets. In those eight contests, he picked up one assist and registered a plus-two plus/minus.
Benn did go on to appear in games two through four in the Jets’ second round playoff matchup against the Montreal Canadiens but again, he did not have the biggest of impacts as the Jets got swept.
The thirty-three-year-old is coming off a two-year contract with an average annual value (“AAV”) of $2,000,000.
Prediction- Winnipeg will not resign Benn. There will be cheaper options in free agency of players who play a similar shutdown style to Benn and the Jets may also give a chance to younger prospects including Ville Heinola and Dylan Samberg.
2. Tucker Poolman
This is the second time our site is writing about Poolman and his contract situation. In early July, I wrote an article called “Should the Jets Extend Tucker Poolman or Let Him Walk?” and you can read that article by clicking the link here or the link below this paragraph.
One of my main points in that article was that the Jets showed last season that they can succeed without Poolman. The twenty-eight-year-old missed a considerable amount of time last year, eighteen games in total, and the Jets had a great record of 10-6-1 in those games in which Poolman did not play.
The Dubuque, Iowa native is also coming off a three-year contract with an AAV of $2,325,000. There is an argument that can be made that his contract carries a heavy cap hit for someone who finished the regular season with one point (one assist) and a minus-two plus/minus.
Poolman did pick up his game in the postseason as he registered one goal and one assist in eight games including amassing a plus-two plus/minus while playing mostly on the Jets’ third pair with Logan Stanley
Prediction- The Jets will not resign Poolman. Expect Winnipeg to go in a different direction and sign a different player in free agency.
1. Derek Forbort
The Winnipeg Jets signed Derek Forbort to a one-year contract with an AAV of $1,000,000 last offseason after he completed the 2019-2020 season with the Calgary Flames.
The six-foot-four-inch defenseman wound up being a terrific signing for the Jets as he appeared in every game this past season and primarily played on a pair with Neal Pionk.
The former 2010 first-round pick played his role well as a shutdown defenseman especially getting paired up with the offensive-minded Pionk.
Forbort led all Jets players in time on ice on the penalty kill and flourished in this role as the Jets’ top penalty killer.
The twenty-nine-year-old also had a solid stat line of two goals, ten assists, and a plus-one plus/minus throughout the regular season.
Forbort showed this past season that he can be a valuable asset for the Jets and could be considered as a steal with his most recent deal.
Prediction- Winnipeg will resign Forbort. We could see him play on the third pair next season in a shutdown role. Expect the new deal to have similar terms to his last contract.
Winnipeg Jets Fans: Do you think the Winnipeg Jets should resign any of these three players? Leave your comments below!
*All Stats Provided by the NHL and All Contract Information Provided by Cap Friendly*