Jets’ new deal for Gabe Vilardi makes sense for both sides

A big extension for a rising star looks to be a good deal for both sides.

Last Friday, the Winnipeg Jets locked in forward Gabriel Vilardi to a six-year contract, which will carry an AAV of $7.5 million through the 2030-31 season.

It was a big signing for Vilardi, who wrapped up his second season with the team since coming over from the Los Angeles Kings in the trade that sent Pierre-Luc Dubois to Hollywood in 2023. After an injury-riddled 2023-24 campaign, Vilardi’s game stepped up, along with the rest of the Jets. In 71 games, the 25-year-old set career highs in goals (27), assists (34) and points (61), as Winnipeg won the Presidents’ Trophy for the first time in franchise history.

On Wednesday’s episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, Michael Remis of Winnipeg Sports Talk joined Tyler Yaremchuk and Matt Larkin to explain why Vilardi’s new contract makes sense for both the player and the team.

Michael Remis: The surprising part, I think, was the years. Maybe not a total surprise. You just weren’t really sure what it was gonna be. Would it be four? What do you want to take a short-term deal? Six [years], really nice number for the player and the team. For Vilardi…he hasn’t played a full season, never played 82 games. He was on his way last year to a career year… but the knock on him in LA was, he couldn’t stay healthy…Last year, again, injured, and I think that injury carried over into the playoffs, where he was not 100%. So, for him, getting six years, you do have that security. ‘[$7.5 million], I think that was in the ballpark.

So, this is a really nice number. I think it will age well…with the cap going up. If he can stay healthy, it can certainly be a value contract. 27 goals last year, could touch 30. We’ll see how this power play looks without Nikolaj Ehlers, but a lot of opportunity for him to play this contract playing on the top line along Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor.

You can watch the full segment and entire episode here…