The Winnipeg Jets dodged a massive bullet by signing forward Gabriel Vilardi to a six-year, $45 million contract on Friday.
Vilardi had filed for arbitration earlier this month, given his RFA status. He and the Jets were headed toward an arbitration hearing at some point in August. However, the new contract precludes the need for such a hearing.
Friday’s agreement allows both parties to sidestep the unpleasantness that comes from arbitration. While an arbitration isn’t necessarily a bad thing in and of itself, it can lead to animosity. In some instances, going face-to-face in front of an arbitrator to argue dollars and cents can lead to bad blood between a team and a player.
Fortunately, that won’t be the case with Vilardi and the Jets
The deal also allows the Jets to keep one of their most talented young stars on the team. The Winnipeg Jets have struggled to keep young stars in the past. Cases such as Patrik Laine, Jack Roslovic, and Pierre-Luc Dubois highlight how hard it’s been for the Jets to hold on to some players.
Dubois’ case, in particular, stemmed from a trade request the forward made. The Jets obliged and sent him to the LA Kings. That trade led to Vilardi coming back the other way. The Kings traded Dubois after one season, while Vilardi flourished in Winnipeg.
Vilardi will hopefully slot in with Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor this upcoming season on the Jets’ top line. The trio will be expected to pick up some of the slack left behind by Nikolaj Ehlers’ departure this summer.
Winnipeg Jets still have pending RFA business this summer
Gabriel Vilardi’s signing is one major box the Winnipeg Jets can check off. That leaves the team with two other major RFA cases to deal with.
Firstly, there’s Rasmus Kupari. Kupari came over to the Jets in the Dubois trade and has also shown to be a valuable piece on the team. Daily Faceoff projects Kupari as the Jets’ fourth-line center this upcoming season.
Despite Kupari’s relatively low production (eight points in 59 games), his solid overall play in the bottom six outshines his lack of offensive output. Kupari will have a chance to prove he belongs in a full-time role next season.
The other RFA on the Jets’ docket is Dylan Samberg. Samberg has emerged as a solid shutdown center this past season. He became an integral part of the Jets’ blue line. Daily Faceoff shows Samberg anchoring the second defense pair with Neal Pionk.
Samberg filed for arbitration this summer. Like Vilardi, he’ll be on track for a hearing in August. That’s why the Jets hope they can avoid arbitration with Samberg as well. Keeping the 26-year-old in the fold will be another crucial objective for Winnipeg as the summer wears on.