REPORT: Jets Have Yet To Begin Contract Negotiations With Any Of Their Upcoming Free Agents

julian gaudio

Wed, Jan 22, 2025, 1:54 p.m.·2 min read

The Winnipeg Jets have several upcoming free agents but are only focused on their current pursuit of a Stanley Cup.

The Jets lead the Central Division and the Western Conference, positioning themselves in a great spot to go on a playoff run. They'll need to improve their roster through trades before entering the playoffs and at the moment, their only focus is doing so.

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Despite having four upcoming restricted free agents and five unrestricted free agents, David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period reported that the Jets have not undergone any contract negations and are focused on adding players to their roster to help them in the playoffs.

"Negotiations haven’t begun yet for any of their pending free agents, restricted like Gabe Vilardi or unrestricted like Neal Pionk or Nikolaj Ehlers. And I think that’s because the mission at hand – go for a Stanley Cup. This is eye on the prize. 'We’ll worry about the contract stuff later,' said Pagnotta. "They’ve had loose discussions. There’s an understanding as to where kind of everybody sits, but I think the notion is, ‘let’s focus on competing for a championship. We’ll worry about that stuff after the fact.’"

Jets focused on adding, put free agent talks aside https://t.co/fXZyq27NLq
— The Fourth Period (@TFP) January 22, 2025

Prior to the start of the 2024-25 season, Ehlers' name had been brought up on a number of occasions. Reports had stated that the Jets could look to trade him because he was considering testing the market once his contract expired. Pagnotta also mentioned that the Jets are now treating the Ehlers situation similar to one of a rental.

The four pending RFAs include Vilardi, Rasmus Kupari, Morgan Barron and Dylan Samberg and the five UFAs are Pionk, Ehlers, Alex Iafallo, Mason Appleton and Vladislav Namestnikov. With interest in Philadelphia Flyers' Rasmus Ristolainen, Montreal Canadiens' Mike Matheson, Anaheim Ducks' Brian Dumoulin and Pittsburgh Peguins' Marcus Pettersson on the blueline and forwards like Brock Nelson of the New York Islanders and Yanni Gourde of the Seattle Kraken, the Jets could be adding names to their upcoming free agent's list.

Kevin Cheveldayoff and the Jets' front office have difficult decisions to make and seem to be approaching the situation with patience.

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