Jets, Dylan Samberg $3.5 million apart in arbitration filings

Per Friedman, Samberg could only receive a one-year deal since the two sides have now filed, with the player becoming an unrestricted free agent next year.

Samberg is coming off his latest contract with the Jets, a two-year, two-way deal with had an NHL cap hit of $1.4 million. Over that time, he had two of his best seasons in the NHL. After posting 18 points during the 2023-24 season, the Saginaw, Minnesota native notched career highs in goals (6) and points (20) this past year. That all came while he was limited to 60 games after suffering a broken foot in late November, which kept him out of action until January.

Samberg also led the Jets in plus/minus, registering a career-best +34 rating while averaging over 21 minutes of ice time per game, a new high for the 26-year-old. Across four NHL seasons, Samberg has appeared in 216 regular-season games, scoring nine goals and 42 assists for 51 points. He has also played in 23 Stanley Cup Playoff affairs, posting three assists during this past year’s postseason.

While many simply project that the two sides could meet in the middle, with Samberg and the Jets agreeing to a salary of $4.25 million for the 2025-26 campaign, the cap hits filed are strategic, with the two sides still having the chance to settle prior to their hearing on Wednesday.

Samberg was one of 11 players who filed for arbitration, with seven having their hearing dates scheduled. So far, Kaapo Kakko, Arvid Soderblom, Maxim Tsyplakov, Connor Timmins and Jayden Struble have all settled over the past week.