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.