Winnipeg Jets general manager, Kevin Cheveldayoff, and his front office staff continued to build the future of the franchise by signing another player yesterday afternoon.
Up until yesterday, the Jets had signed four players to entry-level contracts for the start of next season, but none of those signings were goaltenders. Those players that inked deals with the Jets are Daniel Torgersson, Henri Nikkanen, Wyatt Bongiovanni, and Chaz Lucius to entry-level contracts.
This all changed yesterday when the Jets announced they made their fifth entry-level deal and signed their first goaltender.
The Winnipeg Jets have signed Oskari Salminen to an entry-level contract
Most fans are probably unfamiliar with the twenty-two-year-old Salminen. This is because he was not drafted by the Jets nor was he drafted by anyone else.
The young netminder is coming to the Jets after playing his whole career in Finland, his home country. Most recently last season, he played for Jukurit in the top division in Finland.
Salminen impressed many during this past 2021-2022 season as he posted a 29-14-11 record with a 2.06 goals against average and a .920 save percentage in 55 regular season games. He also had an incredible nine shutouts this year.
One thing people will notice about Salminen is his size. Salminen is an opposing figure in net as he stands six-foot-four-inches tall.
Salminen’s entry-level contract will begin for the 2022-2023 season and will expire at the end of the 2023-2024 season. The contract carries an average annual value of $925,000 at the NHL level and a minors salary of $80,000. At the end of this deal, Salminen is set to be a restricted free agent.
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For more news about any of the other prospect signings the Jets have made during the past couple of weeks click the link here.
Winnipeg Jets Fans: What are your reactions to Winnipeg singing Salminen? Leave your comments below!
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