Gabe Vilardi avoids arbitration with massive contract in Winnipeg!

Arbitration has been avoided as the Winnipeg Jets have just locked up Gabe Vilardi with a 6-year extension, carrying a $7.5M AAV.

This is a great contract for Vilardi, who is coming off his most productive seasonn, playing on the Jets’ top line with plenty of time on the top power play unit.

He recorded 27 goals 34 assists for 61 points in 71 games. Each one of those was the highest he’d ever achieved in the NHL since he was selected in the first round, 11th overall by the Los Angeles Kings in 2017. He was acquired by Winnipeg as part of the return for Pierre-Luc Dubois during the summer of 2023.

It has recently been confirmed that Vilardi and the Jets would be heading to arbitration to settle on an extension, however, they won’t have to with today’s announcement.

Earlier this summer, the Jets lost forward Nikolaj Ehlers to free agency as he went on to sign a six-year deal worth $51 million with the Carolina Hurricanes.

This is great news for the Jets and their fanbase knowing that Vilardi will be around for many years.