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Winnipeg Jets Sign Key Forward to Massive Six-Year Deal

Originally posted on House of Hockey | By Tom Banks | Last updated Jul 18, 2025 4:49 PM ET

Gabriel Vilardi has been a rising star for the Winnipeg Jets over the past few years, and now, the team have inked him to a massive six-year contract extension.

The Winnipeg Jets lost one of their key pieces this summer when Nikolaj Ehlers opted to leave in free agency, but there is still plenty of belief in this core group that they can go deep in the Western Conference.

Part of that optimism comes from the young core emerging in Winnipeg led by 25-year old Gabriel Vilardi, who was acquired as part of the Pierre-Luc Dubois trade with the Los Angeles Kings.

In 2024/25, Vilardi posted a career high 27 goals and 61 points in 71 games played, and now, the restricted free agent has officially signed a long-term extension, as announced by the team on social media.

Shortly after, NHL Insider by Elliotte Friedman revealed the details of the contract, noting that the six-year deal worth $7.5 million per season as the two sides officially avoid arbitration with a deal that appears fair for both parties.

While Vilardi hasn't shown the ability to be a genuine star in the NHL throughout his tenure in the league yet, he has rapidly improved every single year, and with 99 points in two seasons with the Jets thus far, it's easy to see why they wanted to lock him up for the long haul.

With Ehlers' departure, Vilardi is likely to play on the top line alongside Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele, and if he continues to produce at the level we saw last season, this deal will end up being one that works out for both parties.

This article first appeared on House of Hockey and was syndicated with permission.

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