Winnipeg Jets sign prospect Fabian Wagner to three-year, entry-level contract

The Winnipeg Jets have signed forward Fabian Wagner to a three-year, entry-level contract.

Wagner, the team’s sixth-round pick (175th overall) in 2022, split the season between Linkoping’s SHL and U-20 teams this year. The 19-year-old had no points in limited ice time over 22 games with the men’s team, but had a point per game in 33 outings with the junior squad. That’s after putting up 38 points as a rookie a year ago, as well as an additional eight-game stint in the pro league.

One of Sweden’s better players at the world juniors this year, Wagner had six points in seven games and 15 points in 15 games overall at the U-20 national team level. Other international accolades include bronze at the 2021 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and gold at the U-18 World Hockey Championship.

Wagner is scheduled to join the team for its 2023 development camp from July 4-8. Wagner is expected to remain in Sweden for the season.

Wagner is the team’s second off-season signing after they signed Nikita Chibrikov back on May 1. He is the fourth player signed from Winnipeg’s 2022 NHL Draft crop, behind forward Brad Lambert and defensemen Elias Salomonsson and Danny Zhilkin.

According to CapFriendly, the Jets have $12.992 million in projected cap space. The Jets are in for a wild summer, with speculation surrounding some of the team’s top players, including Connor Hellebuyck, Blake Wheeler, Mark Scheifele and Pierre-Luc Dubois.

Dubois is the team’s top RFA, leading a group that includes Morgan Barron, Kevin Stenlund, Dylan Samberg and Logan Stanley. Pending UFas include Sam Gagner, Karson Kuhlman, Saku Maenalanen, Vladislav Namestnikov, Axel Jonsson-Fjallby and David Rittich.

The Jets made the Stanley Cup playoffs as the second wild-card team, only to lose out to the Vegas Golden Knights in the first round.