Breaking: Jets have made their decision, announce a huge signing!

Everyone general manager in the National Hockey League has been waiting and watching to see what the Winnipeg Jets will do before making any big trades, because no one knew if Andrew Ladd or Dustin Byfuglien would be on the trade market.

It appears the Jets have made their choice, and we believe it to me the correct one, securing an elite defenseman in Dustin Byfuglien for 5 more years at $7.6 million on average per season.

From the Jetsofficial announcement:

The Winnipeg Jets today announced they have signed defenceman Dustin Byfuglien to a five-year contract extension with an average annual value of $7.6 million.

It's big money, but the term is only 5 years, and Winnipeg may have avoided a lengthier term by paying more up front, potentially avoiding any serious decline in Byfuglien several years from now. We get the feeling this is the guy fans in Winnipeg really wanted to keep, and we assume the Jets fan base will be happy with this news.

Now the real question becomes, who will trade for Andrew Ladd? Our money right now is on the Florida Panthers.