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Winnipeg Jets Sign Two Forwards Over the Weekend

By Kieran Hurley

May 20, 2021; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward Riley Nash (20) looks to pass the puck against the Montreal Canadiens during the first period of game one of the first round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
May 20, 2021; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward Riley Nash (20) looks to pass the puck against the Montreal Canadiens during the first period of game one of the first round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Winnipeg Jets were extremely active before free agency in making some huge trades to acquire two veteran defensemen, but since free agency has begun, the Jets were one of a handful of teams that have yet to make a big splash.

On the first day of free agency, the Jets front office made two signings as both players were signed to two-way deals, while Winnipeg also lost a total of four players from this past season’s roster. Since then there has not been much news regarding the Jets.

Over the weekend the Jets finally made news again as they signed two more forwards to their roster for the 2021-2022 season.

Winnipeg Jets have signed Riley Nash and Austin Poganski

Riley Nash can be considered the Jets’ most high-profile signing of the offseason. The thirty-two-year-old signed a one-year deal with the Jets with an average annual value (“AAV”) of $750,000.

This upcoming season will be Nash’s eleventh in the NHL and he has proven to be a reliable and consistent bottom-six centerman.

Nash started last season with the Columbus Blue Jackets and appeared in 37 games before being traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs at the trade deadline.

Unfortunately upon his arrival in Toronto, the Alberta native did not play in any regular season games for the Leafs. Finally, he got to make his team debut in the first round of the playoffs against the Montreal Canadiens.

Nash finished the regular season and postseason with a combined total of 39 games played, two goals, five assists, four penalty minutes, and a minus-one plus/minus.

The Jets’ other free agent acquisition from the weekend, Austin Poganski may be lesser know to fans.

Poganski was originally a fourth-round pick of the St. Louis Blues in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. After he completed his outstanding four-year career at the University of North Dakota in 2018, Poganski then finished the season with the San Antonio Rampage of the American Hockey League and skated with them again in the 2018-2019 season.

The twenty-five-year-old made his NHL debut during the 2019-2020 season with the Blues, but that was the only NHL game he appeared in during that campaign as he played a total of 56 games in the AHL that season.

This past season, Poganski skated in five games with St. Louis and did not register a point. The right-handed shooting forward spent most of the season on the taxi squad and primarily plays on the wing.

Winnipeg announced that Poganski’s contract with the Jets is for one season and is a two-way deal with a $750,000 AAV at the NHL level.

With the Jets signing these two forwards, the Jets have now signed four forwards this offseason and have yet to sign any defensemen or goaltenders. Check back to our site as we will have all your need-to-know Winnipeg Jets offseason news!

Winnipeg Jets Fans: Are you happy with the signings the Winnipeg Jets made over the past weekend? Leave your comments below!

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