The Winnipeg Jets had an unfortunate end to their 2024-25 campaign. Winnipeg stormed back against the St. Louis Blues in the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, but they could not pull off a similar effort against the Dallas Stars in the second round.
This offseason has been one of change for Winnipeg. Star forward Nikolaj Ehlers signed a contract with the Carolina Hurricanes this summer. He leaves a void in Winnipeg’s top-six, and it leaves some questions about how this team will perform without Ehlers in the lineup.
The Jets have spent their summer ensuring the future of their franchise is in good shape. For instance, they signed star forward Gabriel Vilardi to a long-term contract. Vilardi has emerged as a top-line forward for Winnipeg. And he’s motivated to help this team win a Stanley Cup.
Winnipeg then turned its attention to defenseman Dylan Samberg. Samberg, 26, has emerged as one of the more underrated defensemen in the league. It appeared the two sides would head to arbitration, however. They even exchanged dollar amounts they were filing for.
However, this will not be the case. The Jets and Samberg have agreed to terms on a three-year contract, according to The Athletic’s Murat Ates. It carries a cap hit of $5.75 million.
Dylan Samberg, Jets Were Far Apart Financially
Bruce Bennett/Getty ImagesDylan Samberg has emerged as one of the best defensive defensemen in the NHL.
This new contract is something of a surprise. Winnipeg and Samberg were quite far apart on their asking prices. Of course, these gaps can be resolved. At the same time, sizable gaps can indicate a major difference in valuation.
The Jets filed for $2.5 million, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. Samberg, meanwhile, filed for $6 million. Had this gone to arbitration, the 26-year-old defenseman would have received a one-year contract given how close he was to unrestricted free agency.
This new contract buys out some of his free agency years. As opposed to hitting the market as a 27-year-old, Samberg now won’t hit free agency until 2028. By then, he will be 29 years old and could be seeking a more significant payday on the open market.
Samberg Has Broken Out Over Last Two Seasons
Samberg’s journey in the NHL has been up and down. He was a second-round pick of the Jets during the 2017 NHL Draft. He didn’t make his debut in the league until the 2021-22 season. He found a home on Winnipeg’s third pairing for the first two full seasons of his career.
However, the Jets gave him more opportunity in 2024-25. The 26-year-old received a significant boost in ice time from new coach Scott Arniel. He played over 21 minutes a night as the Jets went on to win the Presidents’ Trophy for the first time in franchise history.
Samberg’s offense is not his calling card. In saying this, he has set new career bests offensively in each of the last two seasons. This past season saw him score six goals and 20 points over 60 games.
The Jets wanted to keep Samberg around, and they’ve achieved their goal with this contract. Now, Winnipeg can focus on building the rest of its roster for the 2025-26 campaign. They open the season on October 9th against the Stars.
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