Major Update Emerges in Dylan Samberg's Contract Negotiations With the Winnipeg Jets

A big development has emerged in the Dylan Samberg-Winnipeg Jets contract negotiations, and there appears to be mutual interest in a long-term deal.

The Winnipeg Jets and defenceman Dylan Samberg have a lot of work to do if they are going to avoid a July 30 arbitration hearing, which is now only two days away.

Dylan Samberg was one of three Jets players who filed for arbitration earlier this summer, along with forwards Gabriel Vilardi and Morgan Barron.

Though both forwards signed brand new contracts well in advance of their respective hearings, Samberg is still unsigned with the deadline looming large.

Now at the age of 26, Samberg is coming off a two-year contract that paid him $1.4 million per season and is in line for a substantial increase.

Samberg had the sixth-best plus/minus rating in the entire NHL

He was a vital contributor on Winnipeg's blue line last season, recording six goals, 14 assists, for 20 points in 60 games, but what really stood out was his +34 rating, which was sixth-best in the entire league.

His consistent play and growing responsibilities on the back end have established him as an integral component of the Jets' top-four defensive corps, and the team will want to do whatever they can to retain him for the long haul.

There's a lot of interest in getting a long-term agreement done on both sides. NHL insider Murat Ates doesn't see why it wouldn't get done, and believes the Jets need to value Samberg's defensive game, rather than just his point totals.

'Lots of interest in a long term deal. I don't see why it wouldn't get done.

That said, a lot of people assume it will be easy. In practice, it's tough to price such a positive defensive impact. Pay Samberg for points+TOI and you don't pay him enough.

Big day.'

- Murat Ates